Frequently Asked Questions

Over 20 years! Concept II Tile is a family owned business with a team of passionate, dedicated professionals.

We accept cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks and money orders. Credit card payments are limited to $500.00.

Absolutely, we are happy to work with you and your builder or contractor to both design and supply your tile products for a remodel or new home project.

Being a local and independent retailer provides a major advantage to our customers. We are competitive with our pricing and lead time, supplying products from vendors we know and trust. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with a designer who can walk you through the individual pricing of your project.

Our experienced designers will guide you toward selections that fit with the era of your home or compliment the choices you’ve already made. Our designers are practiced professionals who will help you choose the right tile for your budget and vision.

When you purchase tile from us, we will communicate the design with your installer through a drawing or clearly written instructions. From there, it is the responsibility of the contractor or installer to measure the space and determine the quantities needed.

We do not install tile. Once tile is selected we will provide the names of our favorite installers and ones we feel would be best to work with your specific selections.

All the manufacturers and distributors we represent disclose to us the recommendations and limitations of their products. When shopping for tile, please be prepared to provide full disclosure on the conditions of the area to be tiled. For example, make sure to let your tile designer know if the area is outdoors or subject to freezing and we can steer you toward the products that will be best suitable for this area.

The most important difference is that a natural stone will need to be sealed and requires more care and maintenance. Stone is also likely to cost two or three times as much as a porcelain that looks similar. Porcelain tile has come a long way with its authentic imaging patterns; some consumers simply prefer the beauty of natural stone.

We think it’s imperative that you see your tile selection on location whenever possible. We allow most tiles to be borrowed for 1 week and boards to be borrowed for 3 days. In some cases, a sample of your own can be procured for little to no cost.

We are happy to provide care and maintenance instructions with every purchase.

If it’s new construction or a blank slate, we recommend that you start with the finishes that have fewer choices. Often these will be choosing cabinetry color, followed by selecting a countertop and so on. For a more in-depth look, you can read our blog on this subject; Making Tile Selection Stress Free. If the tile is going to have to relate to some existing finishes, for example, rugs, paint colors, art, furniture, etc., it is very helpful to have pictures or samples of those when you come in.

The more prepared you are, the better we are able to help you. Floor plans, elevations, dimensions and swatches of finishes that have already been selected make the process easier. Thinking about your budget for tile before you come in is also very important during the designing phase.

Yes! We are fortunate to have relationships with some of the most progressive companies interested in green building products and sustainability. There is a maker of handmade ceramic tile right here in Rochester and we love to support them by specifying their tile. We are fortunate to be located within 500 miles of several stone quarries that would qualify your project for LEED certification if desired.

Standard size porcelain tile can generally range from $4.00 – $15.00 per square foot. Standard size natural stone can generally range from $6.00 square foot to $30.00 per square foot. Mosaic, or any small tiles mounted on sheets start at $15.00 per square foot (for commercial ceramic) to $150.00 per square foot (for waterjet cut marble). A good rule of thumb is the more special it looks, the more it will cost per square foot. When setting a budget, it is imperative to know the number of square feet that need to be tiled.

Unfortunately, all our tile is special order, brought in specifically for your project, we are unable to take returns. This is why we stress the importance of getting the quantities needed directly from your tile installer.

Yes, you must have grout lines. All tile, even rectified tiles are not perfectly square and straight. Any micro imperfection on a tile could throw off an installation. Additionally, any substrate that tile can be set upon is likely to shift as the building naturally expands and contracts. Grouting between tiles buffers these innocuous movements, preventing cracks. The manufacturer of the tile has tested the product and made a recommendation on the grout joint, and it is in your best interest to adhere to that. As far as looking good, you should seal the grout and then use the recommended products to clean the grout.

Yes! You only have to tile a ceiling when it is a steam shower, otherwise it is just an aesthetic choice.

Tile is a resilient material and will hold up better than other surfaces, such as wood floors or waiscoating. Long term, tile is more economical than vinyl because it lasts longer and withstands more wear. Tile in your bathroom also increases the value of your home.

Tile can be used in any application. It is a common misconception that there is specific tile to be used in bathrooms. The only differences between tiles that should be noted when choosing for your bathroom is the type of tile and whether it can be used on walls, in areas with water (shower or tub walls), or in steam showers.

The shower floor and/or tub surround and bathroom floor should be tiled. Optional areas could be walls, feature walls, backsplash and ceilings.

Bathroom tile is calculated by taking the square footage of the space. To do this, you measure the length and width of your space in inches, then multiply the length by the width and divide that number by 144. We recommend adding at least 10% to this number for errors in cutting and setting tile.

Different tools are required for cutting different types of tile. At Concept II Tile, we recommend having a professional tile installer cut and install your tile.

Tile for your bathroom can range from $4/sqft to $400/sqft. Most people will buy tile in the $6.50/sft range.

Usually tile is removed with a hammer and chisel.

When you feel like the tile is dated, you may want to replace it. If the tile was set incorrectly, it may crack and then need replacing.

Yes, tile can be regrouted. All of the grout needs to be dug out to a pre-set depth based on the type of tile. There are specialty tools required to do this.

Natural stone, crackle tile and polished porcelain tile often need to be sealed. We recommend consulting the manufacturer or distributer of the tile for sealing instructions.

Consult a tile installer to make recommendations about whether your tile can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

Come to our showroom to meet our tile designers for assistance with choosing tile. Bring with you your existing finishes or selections, particularly cabinet color/style and countertop.

Yes, if the tile is going on a dry area. There is special substrate necessary for wet applications (like shower/tub walls).

To tile a kitchen counter, you’ll need to first choose a floor rated tile for your counters. Options could be porcelain, handmade ceramic tile, and stone. Next, you’ll want to consider how you will address the exposed/unfinished edge of the tile. Options for this could be a metal edge, like Schluter, bullnose or chair rail. An important design feature to consider is your kitchen sink, which will need to be a drop-in style with a tile counter. Then, for installation of your tile kitchen counters, we recommend contacting a tile installer.

We recommend using a professional tile installer for your tile setting and grouting needs. In the Rochester area, there are grout specialists who can assist you.

We strongly advise against painting tile - replacing tile is always a better choice for ethestic and durability.

Usually tile is removed with a hammer and chisel.

You can clean kitchen tile grout using a pH neutral cleaner. It’s best to start with the mildest cleaner first (diluted dish soap) and then step up the intensity of the cleaner as needed. If you have used something acidic or basic to clean your grout, you will need to reseal it.

Kitchen backsplash is typically ended at the edge of the upper cabinet (and not the countertop).

Minimally, you’ll want to put backsplash tile anywhere you want to protect the wall from water, food, etc. You can also use backsplash tile as more of a statement piece and continue it around the windows and up the walls to the ceiling.