Gosh shopping for tile sucks

[karinothing]

We are re-doing both our bathrooms. I keep seeing all these gorgeous pictures online and am somewhat obsessed with this. But finding similar tile that is somewhat affordable has been tough. Lowes had one I feel in love with in store, but it is only available in store and there aren't enough pieces unless i travel to 20 plus Lowes (which I am not doing). HD has some online but it takes a week to get a sample and then two plus weeks to get the tile delivered if I decide I like it. Then its online so if there are issue or stuff comes broken it is difficult. HD had NOTHING in store. Floor and Decor had nothing that gave a similar vibe and only had two lighter blue tile options. Everything is white and gray over and over. Of course I can find beautiful color tiles in stores that don't list prices so I assume it is out of my budget. It is just all a bit depressing. 

[orval]

I think I used something similar in a shower. This is the one I used from Tile Bar. Their samples ship quick. I think Home Depot had the same tile and it was cheaper? Can't remember exactly. But once you find the one you like, search and you may find it cheaper for shipping. We had no broken tiles out of about 6 boxes btw.

www.tilebar.com/chips-2-0-brick-azur-3x16-polished-porcelain-tile.html

ETA:  I actually got it  from Wayfair. If I remember the shipping was cheaper so it made the overall total less expensive.

www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/bond-tile-tint-295-in-x-1574-in-polished-porcelain-subway-wall-tile-142-sq-ft-case-sost4926.html?piid=60149274&csnid=A9796FEF-7F7A-4CE8-8178-487EF953F38B&_emr=472e9b8b-6420-4f09-b1a3-c9c5b544d196&_eml=0f017ab1-0950-4985-bb10-b86c9d222ab2&refid=EML_50624&source=graymatter

[karinothing]

Thanks! I just wish that there were more place you could order and see stuff in person. I do like teh tile that dove used and picked up a sample of that yesterday. I did order these yesterday from tile bar. www.tilebar.com/portmore-sky-3x8-glazed-ceramic-tile.html

So hopefully it comes in fast.

[EvieEthelGarland]

Tile stores are going to have better options, better service and likely better quality. They have all price ranges so don't assume it's all pricey.

Also, depending on the size of your project the total cost of a $$$ tile vs a $ tile could be minimal. On my first bathroom remodel I fell in love with a natural stone but it was twice the cost of what we'd set the budget at (based on nothing more than it seemed midrange). The tile I liked was twice the price but it only took the cost from $300 to $600-something totally doable for our budget. $3k to $6k couldn't have happened though.

[karinothing]

Jul 1, 2024 11:51:59 GMT -5 EvieEthelGarland said:

Tile stores are going to have better options, better service and likely better quality. They have all price ranges so don't assume it's all pricey.

Also, depending on the size of your project the total cost of a $$$ tile vs a $ tile could be minimal. On my first bathroom remodel I fell in love with a natural stone but it was twice the cost of what we'd set the budget at (based on nothing more than it seemed midrange). The tile I liked was twice the price but it only took the cost from $300 to $600-something totally doable for our budget. $3k to $6k couldn't have happened though.

Yeah, home depot was a mess. I asked the guy if he could help me find something and he was just like "if you don't see it, its not there" well everything is like 8 feet above my head so its hard dude! lol. 

I will go check out one more tile store tomorrow. I did just call and the one I liked started at $7 so not so bad, but it has a 2 week plus delivery time, so we shall see. I love the internet but sometimes I realy miss just being able to go somewhere and having everything there in store 

[dancingirl21]

Do you have a Tile Shop or Floor & Decor near you? I would try those.

Also, Bedrosians online has a lot that might be similar. You can get samples from them. We used them for our kitchen backsplash and had a good experience.

[simpsongal]

I feel you, I think I went to like 8 tile stores every time I did a big project. Conestoga tile has a great selection, but the prices really vary. There's a Best Tile in Falls Church, I got our mudroom floor tile there - high quality and very nice (also can trend pricey though).

Ditto the tile bar rec. I was underwhelmed with Tile Shop's colorful choices, they have a few but still limited selection IMHO. Same for floor and decor, super limited. I end up using a glass tile from Lowes for our kitchen backsplash - they seemed to have a good selection (sorry to hear they're making you drive all over to get something you like, not cool).

[dove]

Jul 1, 2024 11:21:12 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Thanks! I just wish that there were more place you could order and see stuff in person. I do like teh tile that dove used and picked up a sample of that yesterday. I did order these yesterday from tile bar. www.tilebar.com/portmore-sky-3x8-glazed-ceramic-tile.html

So hopefully it comes in fast.

I used that same tile in 2 of my bathrooms - In a shower where we installed vertically and a tub where we installed horizontally. Let me know if you want close up pics

[karinothing]

Jul 1, 2024 15:20:13 GMT -5 dove said:

Jul 1, 2024 11:21:12 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Thanks! I just wish that there were more place you could order and see stuff in person. I do like teh tile that dove used and picked up a sample of that yesterday. I did order these yesterday from tile bar. www.tilebar.com/portmore-sky-3x8-glazed-ceramic-tile.html

So hopefully it comes in fast.

I used that same tile in 2 of my bathrooms - In a shower where we installed vertically and a tub where we installed horizontally. Let me know if you want close up pics

I would love to see close up pictures! Thank you

[karinothing]

Jul 1, 2024 14:30:39 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I feel you, I think I went to like 8 tile stores every time I did a big project. Conestoga tile has a great selection, but the prices really vary. There's a Best Tile in Falls Church, I got our mudroom floor tile there - high quality and very nice (also can trend pricey though).

Ditto the tile bar rec. I was underwhelmed with Tile Shop's colorful choices, they have a few but still limited selection IMHO. Same for floor and decor, super limited. I end up using a glass tile from Lowes for our kitchen backsplash - they seemed to have a good selection (sorry to hear they're making you drive all over to get something you like, not cool).

Yeah the store we went to had 13 in stock lol. Super helpful. But even if I went to every lowes in the DMV I don't think we would have enough. It's very low stock, which sucks.

I am headed to Mosaic tile tomorrow which seems to have a lot of color options

[dove]

Jul 1, 2024 16:20:48 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Jul 1, 2024 15:20:13 GMT -5 dove said:

I used that same tile in 2 of my bathrooms - In a shower where we installed vertically and a tub where we installed horizontally. Let me know if you want close up pics

I would love to see close up pictures! Thank you

[karinothing]

Thank you dove! I like it a lot. May have to steal your idea!

[litasail]

We had a fantastic experience with TileBar!

[karinothing]

Jul 1, 2024 21:30:10 GMT -5 litasail said:

We had a fantastic experience with TileBar!

I do really like some of their tiles, I am just not sure the timing works for us. We are really hoping to get the project done by the end of July and both the contractor and I are gone pretty much all of August. So btwn waiting for samples to arrive and then waiting for tile to arrive I think it will take too long

I wish they had actual stores!