tiles, ceramic tiles, custom tiles, handpainted tiles

Terry Chatwin, owner-operator of Terry's Tile & Wallcoverings

Hi! I'm Terry Chatwin, owner of Terry's Tile & Wallcoverings.

During my 18 years in the tile business I've enjoyed helping many, many clients find the right solutions for their personal tile, wallcovering and fabric needs.

And they all have at least one thing in common: QUESTIONS.

This page has been created to share some of the more interesting questions I've been asked over the years. And I'll be adding to it as time goes on, so be sure to visit us again to see what's new!

Q:	Is there a difference between floor tiles and wall tiles?

A:	Yes - and it's an important one! Wall tiles are a lower fired product and are intended for walls only, whereas floor tiles are suitable for both walls and floors.

Q:	I want to tile my patio area. Can I use regular tiles for this?

A:	If you have an unheated outdoor patio you must be careful. Porcelain tiles are always rated for outdoor use, but ceramic tiles need to be the frost-resistant kind. And by the way - we have a wide variety of both porcelain and frost-resistant ceramic tiles!

Q:	We plan to tile the foyer floor at our office. Do we need special tiles?

A:	Tiles have different ratings, depending on their intended use. I recommend tiles with a "PE5" rating. And of course porcelain is always ideal as well.

Q:	We're confused! We can't decide between using marble or granite for our kitchen floor and countertops. Any suggestions?

This is a good question. Where you plan to put tile can make a real difference. Marble tiles are suitable for bathrooms, entryways and fireplaces; but they're not recommended for kitchen floors and counters. Marble is a luxurious product, but it's also softer than other tiles, and in the wrong situation can become scratched and stained (even when it's well sealed). Granite however is ideal for kitchens and for just about anywhere you can imagine.

Q:	We've heard that slate is back in style. Is this true?

Actually slate never really went out of style, although there is a wider choice available than ever before. Slate is a more rustic product, often displaying wonderful, dramatic shading characteristics over a range of colours. If you do decide to go with slate be sure to apply several coats of good quality sealant.

Q:	I've been to other tile stores but just can't get the information I need about grouts and sealers. What can you tell me about them?

I see you live in Prince George, so you're forgiven for not coming in to our showroom!
Here are some random thoughts. While grouts are fortified with "sealer" additives, we continue to recommend sealing the grout in certain areas such as in bathroom showers, kitchen splash and counters. Epoxy grout is another alternative and is mainly used on kitchen counters and pools because of its superior stain resistancy.

And we caution against using inexpensive sealers. We have a sealer that, while water based (easier cleanup!) will last for about 15 years. We always keep an opened bottle on hand so you can get just the amount you need and so save some money in the process.

We want our customers to have the best sealer because, as with many other things in life, you get what you pay for.

Q:	Preparation, preparation, preparation! Is preparation really all that important?

Yes - I know most people hate it, but where a tile job is concerned it doesn't pay to cut corners. It's a MUST that areas to be tiled be clean, dry, sound, level and properly secured.
What does all this involve? Why not drop in to our showroom or call us and we'll answer your questions. Just click on "To Contact Us" below for our address, business hours, telephone number and more.

We look forward to helping you!