Our Services.

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Installation:

When renovating or building a new home, flooring is one of the most important considerations.  Many homeowners ask us which is better: ceramic or porcelain. Since both tiles offer an endless array of styles, sizes, colours and textures, the answer is less about aesthetics than it is about functionality.
Ceramic tile is made from a mixture of clays that are pressed into shape. Tiles have either a glazed or unglazed surface. Glazed tiles have a special ceramic coating that is applied to the body of the tile and then fired under tremendous heat. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous, resulting in a flooring that possesses the following characteristics:

Stain resistant
Scratch resistant
Fire resistant
Won’t fade from sun light
Slip resistant
Easy to clean
Porcelain tile is actually a form of ceramic tile, but made from a much finer clay.  Available in matte, unglazed or high polished finishes, porcelain tiles are made in an array of different sizes. Ranging is sizes from mosaics, to a more modern 12"x24" look, to an 18"x36" slab-like effect.  Porcelain tiles can accommodate any style.

Marble, Granite & Slate Tile Installation:

Natural stone can vary drastically from one another. Marble and granite tiles create a very rich and stylish looking space while Slate, tumbled marble and limestone give you a more rustic, earthy look.

When working with a natural stone, a sharp eye and years of experience are crucial elements to perfecting this art form. It takes more time than usual and patience from an installer, but the finished product is breathtaking.

Glass Tile Installation:

Commonly used as an accent border in the bathroom or as a backsplash, glass mosaics offer that extra flare that will have everyone complementing.

Thin Stone Veneer Installation:

These are lightweight stone alternatives and can be composed of natural or manufactured stone. Whether you're looking to create a fireplace masterpiece or spicing up a wall in your home or office, thin stone veneers create an effect suitable for any style from modern to rustic.

See www.realstonesystems.com for more information and design ideas.

Custom Bathroom Renovations:

A bathroom is one of the most personal spaces in your home. Creating a space which reflects your style and needs is what we do best. From simply updating tiles to a complete overhaul, we can turn your regular 3 piece bath into the luxurious master suite you've always dreamed of.

Complete Basement Renovations:

Not only can a finished basement add value to your home, it will also give you the extra space you want and most probably need. When it comes to designing your basement, the possibilities are endless. Whether it's building an entertainment area, your "Man Cave", a playroom for the kids, the gym you have always wanted and so on…we can create the right space for you and your family.

Schluter Ditra, Kerdi & Kerdi Drain Installation:

Schluter Ditra:
Used in place of plywood to strengthen a floor for install.

Function
Ceramic and stone tiles are durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic, representing the ideal surface coverings. However, today's lightweight construction methods can make the installation of hard surface coverings particularly challenging. In order to protect the integrity of the tile assembly, an underlayment that performs multiple functions is required.

Schluter-DITRA is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration, and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. Schluter-DITRA is bonded to the substrate using thin-set mortar. The anchoring fleece on the underside of Schluter-DITRA is fully engaged in the mortar to provide a mechanical bond to the substrate. Tile is installed over Schluter-DITRA using the thin-bed method in such a way that the mortar becomes mechanically anchored in the square, cutback cavities of the Schluter-DITRA matting.

Designed specifically for ceramic tile and dimension stone installations, Schluter-DITRA serves as an uncoupling layer, waterproofing membrane, and vapor management layer that accommodates moisture from beneath the tile covering. Further, DITRA performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering.

a) Uncoupling Tile has been successfully installed for thousands of years by incorporating an uncoupling layer, or forgiving shear interface, within the tile assembly. Schluter-DITRA provides uncoupling through its open rib structure, which allows for in-plane movement that effectively neutralizes the differential movement stresses between the substrate and the tile, thus eliminating the major cause of cracking and delaminating of the tiled surface.

b) Waterproofing Schluter-DITRA provides reliable waterproofing in interior and exterior applications. Its polyethylene composition protects the substrate from moisture penetration, which is particularly important in today's building environment where most substrates are moisture sensitive.

c) Vapor management The distinguishing feature of Schluter-DITRA is the existence of free space created by the configured channels on the underside of the matting. The free space provides a route for excess moisture and vapor to escape from the substrate that could otherwise cause damage to the tile layer above. Thus, DITRA effectively manages moisture beneath the tile covering.

d) Support/load distribution When placed on a solid foundation, columns or pillars can support tremendous loads. The same physical principle applies to Schluter-DITRA installations. Columnlike mortar structures are formed in the cutback cavities of the matting. Loads are transferred from the tile covering through these column-like mortar structures to the substrate. Since DITRA is virtually incompressible within the tile assembly, the advantages of uncoupling are achieved without sacrificing point load distribution capabilities. The ability of DITRA installations to support and distribute heavy loads while preserving the integrity of the tiled surface has been verified through extensive laboratory and field testing, including applications exposed to vehicular traffic.

Source: http://www.schluter.com/6_1_ditra.aspx

Schluter Kerdi:
A waterproof membrane used in showers and other wet areas.

Function
Schluter-KERDI is a bonded waterproof membrane with limited crack-bridging capabilities. It is made of soft polyethylene, which is covered on both sides with a special fleece webbing to anchor the membrane in the thin-set mortar.

Schluter-KERDI was developed as a waterproofing membrane to be used in conjunction with ceramic and stone tile coverings. Tiles can be installed directly on Schluter-KERDI using the thin-bed method. Other trowel-applied covering materials, such as plaster, can also be used.

Pre-cut sections of Schluter-KERDI are available for inside and outside corners, as well as for pipe collars. Use Schluter-KERDI-BAND, in widths of 5" (12.5 cm), 7-1/4" (18.5 cm), or 10" (25 cm) to seal butt joints or corner joints. Schluter-KERDI-FLEX, in 5" (12.5 cm) or 10" (25 cm) widths, is used to seal expansion joints or flexible edge joints.

Source: http://www.schluter.com/8_1_kerdi.aspx

Schluter Kerdi Drain:
A waterproof membrane used in showers and other wet areas.

Function
Schluter-KERDI-DRAIN is a floor drain specifically designed to allow connections to Schluter-KERDI or other load-bearing, bonded waterproof membranes, typically in shower applications. Bonded waterproof membranes represent the current state of technology and are increasingly used for ceramic tile and natural stone coverings. Schluter-KERDI is adhered to the drain's large, trapezoid-perforated bonding flange, which is covered with a fleece webbing, to form a waterproof connection at the top of the drain assembly. KERDI-DRAIN features a square, fully adjustable grate to accommodate 1/4" (6 mm) to 1-1/4" (32 mm) tile thicknesses. The grate assembly allows lateral and tilt adjustment as well. KERDI-DRAIN is designed to simply integrate with standard 2" (51 mm) drain pipes, making it suitable for new construction and renovation.

Source: http://www.schluter.com/8_2_kerdi_drain.aspx

Heated Floors

One of the downfalls of tiled floors is just how cold they can get.  Adding a heat to you floor from underneath the tiles allows for a much more comfortable feel. 
Warm Tiles Floor Warming cables installed over plywood, cement backerboard subflooring, and embedded in thinset provide thermal storage for comfort and potential energy savings.

see www.warmtiles.com for complete list of products and details.