After graduating from college in 2001, I made the decision to enter the trades in order to maintain flexibility. Throughout college, I had worked at a coffee shop. While life as a Barista was fun, marriage now meant it was time for a change. As I began my next job venture, I decided to explore the trades. After asking a handyman what might be worthwhile, he suggested tiling. To make a long story short, I was hired by a reputable company, and soon found myself not only enjoying tiling, but desiring to learn the details and “tricks” needed to achieve the best installations. This eventually led to a longing to start my own business. Hence, Tiling By Santana was born in 2006. My desire to produce great craftsmanship and esthetically pleasing work has only increased with time, and is the standard on which I approach each new project.

TILING TO REDUCE ALLERGIES

At best, allergies may have you sniffling and sneezing when the flower blooms announce, “It’s spring.” At worst, allergies can keep you stuck at home, feeling miserable, sometimes all year long. But what if being stuck at home is actually making the problem worse? Thanks to pet dander, dust mites, molds, mildews and other aggravators, …

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MATCHING OTHER SURFACES

Check out the other surfaces in your home. If you’ve got wood floors in your living room, and want tile for your entry, you need to think carefully about where you’ll transition from wood to tile, and about the look of the wood itself. For example, the grain of wood forms a pattern, and one …

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CHOOSING TILES

Tiles are a combination of clay, minerals and solvents that are shaped and sized and then heated to very high temperatures. At this point, the tile can just stay as is and is considered finished. It’s unglazed and without decoration. Without the glaze, the tile is very porous and, though attractive in a rustic way, …

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DETAIL MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Good design and attention to detail make these areas look polished. Wrapping means that the tile used to finish the wall and return the short corner is the same tile. This allows the grain of the tile to continue around the corner and makes for a more polished look.

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DOUBLE-CHECK TILE SIZES

The single biggest mistake I see people make in tile layout is assuming a 12-inch by 24-inch tile is in fact 12 inches by 24 inches. Most tile is sold in European sizing, and the tile size is 30 centimeters by 60 centimeters. This size could also have a grout joint factored in, so your …

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PLAN IT OUT!

Make sure your plumber and electrician know where you’ll need space to include a niche in your shower or bathtub wall for your shampoo bottles. Mark the wall studs with spray paint or mark all sides with a permanent marker, informing all tradespeople that the space is reserved for your tiler. Other details, such as recessed …

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