Happy Friday! In this blog, let me take you around to a tile shop. Thanks to #MarketFriday of @dswigle, I am able to share this shopping experience.
As I mentioned before, my aunt is currently building her home, and so she is on the hunt for the best tile deals in town. One of the shops that she was eyeing is called Floor Center. It is not far away from where she lived, so it is an extra convenience. We accompanied her to help in choosing tiles. Maybe she trusts my taste when it comes to designing, lol.
Facade of Floor Tile
The shop is not that big at all but sufficient enough for the reason why we were in the shop. I noticed that it is an open-air building with no air conditioning installed.
In the Philippines, it feels like Summer all the time. So perhaps, installing a few air conditioners might attract more buyers.
I was drenched in sweat and my cheeks were blushy as apples. Good thing that I have a refreshment on hand. The shop is along the Highway so it is easily potted for the consumers.
On the right side, there were tiles displayed. I think these displayed tiles are their best ones. Of course, you will show your best ones to attract buyers, right? Some unboxed tiles were also in front of the facade probably freshly delivered.
Tiles and Tiles
There was so much to see! I cannot decide where to start actually. I can see some good designs, and some are just so-so. I believe they were stacked based on the make, style, and use of the tile.
I find this design sleek and minimalist. I really love a design that is simple and neutral. For example, these tiles have a marble pattern and rough texture. The gray color is almost universal and complements all colors since it belongs to the shade of black. For these tiles, the price is $3.07 a piece.
Another tile that I find fitting in my preferences. The price for this neutral-colored tile is $1.03.
Aside from tiles, Floor Center also sells sinks and toilets. These are just displays and they have to call their warehouse to order new pieces. The visual displays are beneficial for buyers too.
Look how big these pieces of tiles are. I bet these are for mansions or offices. Aside from breakable tiles, they also offer vinyl floorings. Basically, these are planks with a tongue and grove linkage. When I touched it, it feels like it is made of hard plastic. The price per piece is $4.98.
On this side were the smaller tiles about 30x30 cm or 12x12 inches. These are best for residential and outdoor flooring. The abstract rock design is perfect for your patio or walkway. A piece is $1.14.
This design is fitting for farmhouses or costal homes. Rustic design is the opposite of modern and contemporary design. Not really my taste so I will pass for this for now. Colors for rustic design is mostly found in nature such as brown, beige, green, and orange. A piece is $2.64.
More tiles were displayed in the cashier. A small television was playing for promotions. The video just played over and over.
It was getting late and the store is about to close. In the end, we did not get any tiles because we might visit some tile shops to compare other deals. My aunt had a few picks in mind so we might visit again this shop.
What did I learn from the shopping trip?
Our helper Hans was so kind enough to part us some knowledge about tiles. There are few kinds of tiles, but commonly, households in the Philippines use either ceramic or porcelain. You can say right away if the tile is porcelain when the bottom is color dirty white or beige. On the other hand, the ceramic bottom is orange or reddish.
Porcelain is tougher and has a distinct sound. It is advisable to use these in earthquake-prone places. It does that crack easily. On the downside, it is more expensive compared to ceramic. Hence, ceramic is cheaper but not that durable.
I am happy that I accompanied my old aunt on this shopping trip. I learned something new and was able to share my experience.
That is it for this article. I will see you at the next one!
📸 All photos are owned and taken by me, otherwise credited. ©️jijisaurart