Introducing Progress Profiles

Looking for an alternative to the higher priced German named edging products? Look no further. UCTD is proud to introduce Progress Profiles to it’s collection. Progress Profiles are made in Italy and the company has been in business since 1985. Progress Profiles features a full line of various profile edges, metal listellos, metal baseboards, transition strips, as well as the revolutionary Proleveling System. Also in the works is an uncoupling membrane that should be introduced later this year. Progress profiles are unique in that they are longer than the competitors profiles as well as being less expensive. They also have a fabulous selection of colors in various types of materials ranging from higher end chrome, stainless steel to the more practical anodized aluminum which come in polished, satin, and brushed finishes. Progress also carries a large selection vinyl edging products.

Universal Ceramic Tile will be stocking a small portion of the profile and listello collections in our Hartord, CT warehouse. Color choices will be Titanium, Copper, Black, Chrome, Silver, and White. Progress has a relatively new US location in New Jersey which we will be able to special order from for items not stocked in our warehouse. We are excited to bring Progress to the UCTD collection and look forward to using their products on upcoming projects.

To read more about Progress Profiles you can visit their website at http://www.progressprofiles.com

Coverings 2012 – “The Ultimate Tile & Stone Experience”

Ever wonder where all this great tile comes from? Well besides sales visits from our vendors there is a show held annually that highlights all the  new tile lines from many of the top suppliers in the industry. Coverings 2012 is just around the corner and this years show will be held in Orlando FL at the Orange County Convention Center from April 17-20, 2012.

When I think of Coverings I think of a tile fashion show. A masterful event where suppliers from all around the world gather together under one roof to showcase some of the industries latest and greatest. You will find it all at Coverings from, tile to natural stone to setting materials and tools. For Universal Ceramic Tile the show gives us a great opportunity to meet with our suppliers. The main focus of the trip is to find new lines that will fit our already great product selection. Universal Ceramic Tile is committed to bringing in lines that are unique and different but also are sell-able.  Being both a retailer and distributor it is important to bring in lines that can sell in various markets.  Much of the homework is already done by the manufacturers so then it is up to us to take these new lines and bring them to the market. Of course trends dictate market demands and every market is slightly different so it is important to bring in lines that cater to a range of customer types. Trend setting is also important to us and on occasion we will bring in a line that is very different than the norm. Two of our biggest suppliers Ceramica Gazzini and Unicom Starker will have booths at the show and will be highlighting their new products. Of course life cannot be all about business so while we work hard during the day the night brings on some time for fun! To show thanks and gratitude many of our suppliers hold dinners for their customers at various restaurants or venues in the Orlando area. It gives us a chance to relax and break with people we consider not only business associates but friends. Relationship building is very important to us and we strive to work with suppliers that share the same attitude.

This year myself, Enzo, and Tony Jr. will be attending the show. For those of you who do not know, the three of us are brothers. This means the Faienza Brothers will be in full force at Coverings this year! So our competition better watch out! Our hopes are to have a successful show on the business side but to also take a day to enjoy a little R&R. Orlando is a big tourist attraction so I’m sure we will find some fun stuff to do.

For more information on Coverings you can visit their website at www.coverings.com   As always you can find Universal Ceramic Tile at www.universaltile.biz

STOP! Before you do your next bathroom remodel project, consider this……

How nice would it be to get out of bed, walk into your master bath and feel the warmth of a nice radiant heat floor? I bet the answer is GREAT! Before you do your next bath remodel project you may want to consider having a radiant heating system installed. Radiant heating floor systems are becoming more popular and affordable today. In fact running your radiant heated floor for four hours a day in let’s say a 40 s/f bathroom could cost you as little as $30 for the whole winter. A small price to pay for the warmth and luxury a radiant heat floor can bring.  Not to mention the joy it will bring not only to you but your whole family! There are two types of radiant heat wire systems. The first being “loose” wire and the second being a  “mat” system. The loose wire is more affordable and in my opinion a much better way to go. Installation is a breeze and can be done by the do it your self types or by a qualified tile setter (which we would be happy to refer). We recommend embedding the system with either a skim coat of mortar or a self leveling mortar. This is to ensure that if there is a problem down the road and a tile needs to be pulled up that  it won’t affect the integrity of the system. Honestly though if installed properly there should not be any issues. We highly recommend having a certified electrician run the wiring to your box. Systems are available in 120V and 240V setups depending on the setup you have in your home. 240v systems do run more efficiently and use less energy.

Now you might ask how do I know what size kit I need for my bathroom? Well that is easy. The company we feature called Warmup has a variety of different kits that are available in sizes to fit the square footage of your room. Universal Ceramic Tile stocks over 12 different kit sizes in both 120v and 240v setups. We can also special order in only a few days the mat systems. A fully programmable thermostat is available as well and in stock. The programmable thermostat is great in that it can be programmed to come on before you wake up, go off when you leave, come back on before you get home, and go off before you go to sleep. How great and simple is that!

For more information on Warmup and radiant heat flooring systems please come by our showroom at 301 Murphy Road in Hartford, CT. One of our highly qualified sales associates will be happy to assist you and answer and questions you may have. You can also give us a call at 860-525-3644 or email at info@universaltile.biz. New to our showroom is a vignette set up that features the loose wire system. Come on down to “Feel The Warmth”.  Also be sure to check out our large selection of in stock ceramic and porcelain tile. We feature a wide range in selection and pricing to fit any budget. You can always check out our online catalog at our sister company Jet Tile which can be found at www.jettile.com

We hope you enjoyed this bit on radiant heat flooring. Stay tuned for more tile related posts down the road from your friend,

Joe “The Tile Guy”

Our Products

Our Showroom

Products (taken from our website):

– Tile: For floor, wall, backsplash, and countertop applications.

– Types of Tile: Glazed and unglazed, full body porcelain, glazed porcelain, polished porcelain, metal, glass, hand painted tile.

– Natural Stone: Granite, Marble, Limestone, Onyx, Tumbled Marble, Slate, and Quartzite. Variety of sizes, and finishes.

– Tools: MK wet saws, Montolit Italian hand cutters, Tavy & Precision Tile Spacers. Superior Bilt trowels, floats and more.

– Fixtures: towel bar holders, corner shelves, soap dishes, paper holders. Porcelain, natural stone, and composite finishes.

– Aqua Mix & Miracle Tile/Stone Care Products: sealers, stone enhancers, grout sealer, problem solvers, cleaners, etc…

– Mapei brand setting & grout materials: wall & floor grout, epoxy grout, mastic, thinset/mortar, rapid set mortar, water proofing membranes, patching and leveling agents, acrylic mortar additives.

– Hardi-Backer Cement Board: Available in 3’x5′ sheets in 1/4″ and 1/2″ thickness.

– Blanke: metal and plastic edging, transition strips.

– Noble Seal: crack isolation membrane, waterproofing membrane. Shower benches and niches.

– Warm Up: radiant floor heating system and thermostats.

Check out our store on Murphy Road in Hartford, CT for more of our products – there’s much more than we could ever list!

Ceramic Tile: Durability

Ceramic tile is extremely durable. Over the years, the ceramic tile industry has improved the way tile is produced and manufactured. New methods of glazing and new raw materials used in the manufacturing of ceramic/porcelain tile have vastly improved durability. Tile is meant to last for a long time – well over 20 years. Compare that statistic to vinyl tile or hardwood flooring (which needs to be refinished over time) and you will be shocked! Ceramic tile will never shrink, fade or expand. For those of you who say, “I have had ceramic tile and it cracked on me!”, there are several reasons that tile can crack. A common cause of a broken tile is a heavy object falling and cracking the ceramic material. Believe us when we tell you: it takes a VERY heavy object dropped on the tile to crack it! More often than not, whatever you drop on the tile will break first. Improper installation is the number one reason why ceramic tile cracks. Several simple steps can be followed to ensure that your ceramic tile is properly installed: having a proper 1 ¼ sub floor, using the right setting material, and utilizing the proper tools. Although exterior grade plywood has been used for years and is still being used as a sub floor, there are much better alternatives. We carry only the best when it comes to your sub floor. The tile industry has grown significantly in its technological department over the past 15 years and will continue to do so as the years go on. Most tiles being manufactured today are made of porcelain, which is a stronger denser ceramic product. There are also many newly improved stronger bonding setting material alternatives on the market designed for various applications.  Come check out our store in Murphy Road in Hartford, CT.  We can walk through and find you the exact tile you are looking for!

– Universal Ceramic Tile

Our New Blog!

Welcome to the new Universal Ceramic Tile blog!

Here at Ceramic Tile, we are moving into the 21st century!  This blog will allow us to post tons of information on a wide range of subjects.  Check back with us periodically  to see info about different tile manufacturers, upcoming sales and events, personal stories of staff members, before/after shots of clients’ homes, and even a few videos here and there.

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook!