tile counter tops

[keiregan]

I am ready to do my kitchen counter tops.Does anyone know a good place to get granite tiles?
It's my first attempt at tileing. Any advise would be helpful on this also. thanks!

[wyatt]

Try Planet Granite in Hilo. They are good to work with. Many choices.

Wyatt



Edited by - wyatt on 08/17/2006 16:09:07

[keiregan]

Thanks!!

[Fishboy]

I tiled my counters with granite also, but only after getting some experience by tiling both bathrooms, the laundry, and the hearth (yeah, I'm a mainlander). I recommend you educate yourself thoroughly before diving into your project, and ask LOTS of questions. Here are three recommendations:

1) Home Depot sells a relatively inexpensive tile saw (less than $100). This is indispensible.

2) Before you get too far into the plans, think about what you'll do with those rough edges around the perimeter. I used brass rails designed to border granite tiles on the floor. Be careful in selecting these if you go this route, be certain to select the ones designed for granite tiles.

3) Use a carpenters level to ensure all the edges of your tiles are level. I got a couple wrong and it's obvious when you slide stuff across the counter (BANG!).

Granite tile is available in a ton of colors and appearances, so get into this slowly and deliberately. Careful and thorough planing will pay big dividends.

Best regards,
Brian (Fishboy)

[keiregan]

Thanks for the insight, i have watched to much hgtv and am ready to tackel it. Seams like the bathrooms would be much harder to start. My kitchen is so straight no crazy angles.Thanks for the tips.

[Scott_S]

Does anyone know if you can get Bennissimo granite tiles or something similiar in Hilo?

Thanks, Scott

[keiregan]

Scott, I called planet granite and they have a wide variety of tiles with good prices. check with them on that one!

[Hazen]

keiregan,

I have laid a lot of granite and do it professionally, feel free to ask me anything. Doing things the right way the first time will save you a lot of work in later stages. Good Luck, have fun and enjoy your handiwork!

hazen

[Hazen]

PS Check out
http://www.floorstransformed.com/
They have a simply awesome set of tutorials, and a big forum of codgy old retired tilesetters who live to answer the most elementary and esoteric of questions.

[Carolann R]

Thanks for that awesome site, Hazen! We're gonna add a very large lanai to our home in HSRE...I will tile it myself. After watching our tile guy do 1200 sq.ft. of it here in our Arizona home...I know if I am careful and methodical I can do that...but I just love that website - LOL - it's like Tile Setting For Dummies!


Carrie

"The opportunities to reach into the lives of others in an inspiring way arise in countless ways every single day..." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

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