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decent calcatta marble-like tile

Posted by kcts (My Page) on
Tue, Oct 9, 12 at 15:21

Hello. I am in the process of remodeling my bathroom due to water leaking. Because I did not expect this happening, I cannot afford to use expensive, real marble tiles that I like. Could you recommend good quality, but not expensive alternative? I like the look of calcatta gold marble. I checked the past forum discussion, but I found only expensive alternative. Thank you for your advice!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Hi! I just got done with a marble look alike search and am going with a company called peronda. The biggest issues I had with all other manufacturers were:

1. printing process showing-look at a magazine/newspaper up close and you'll know what I mean. (being that I'm in the marketing/printing field- this is the first thing I see)

2. Ripples in the surface...when certain angles hit the tile you can see tiny ripples sort of like roller mark texture on walls which screams fake to me.

Peronda is mirror smooth..and the printing process they use is awesome-in other words,... very realistic.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

I forgot to mention go to their site and look for the versalles tile.. thats the calacatta look. The "museum" version is more like carrara.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

I found two recently. I think these are hard to come but ask your tile store.

Marmi di Napoli - this was really quite good. I had to keep touching it to be sure it wasn't marble. The texture is great and it has a good white color to it.
This is the only link I could find on the Internet to the tile and I don't think it does it justice.
http://www.bedrosians.com/files/resources/brochures/Porcelain.Creme_Br ulee.Creme_Brulee.T.pdf

Marmo D (similar name as above). This one is very good too.
http://www.italgranitigroup.com/dettaglio.php?_serie=91&_search_type=3 &_search_by=&L=EN

Eleganza Gemstone also is pretty good, but it's a little creamier in color and not as white.

http://www.eleganzatiles.com/products/residential/gemstone_white.html


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

I can attest that the Marmi from Bedrosians (mentioned above) looks really good. If you can find a showroom, it's definitely worth a trip to take a look.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Just want to tell you that I just found another tile that is glass smooth without ripples/ or printing process showing (not quite as nice as the Peronda but better than the rest)... AND the best part is that I found it at home depot ( I originally found it at a tile showroom-looked up the manufacturer and searched like crazy to see if anyone else sold it for less-HD does but under a different name) Anyhoo, I'm going to install this in the spare bathroom. Comes in several sizes: 12 x 12, 12 x 24, 18 x 18, 2 x 2 mosaic and bullnose.

Below you can see some pics of it, hard to tell in the pics but the reflections
are smooth, plenty of variation so it doesn't look fake (that was another issue I had with other brands) Please excuse the mess in the pic-in the middle of gutting the bathroom -also I did't take off the plastic on all the pieces yet.

Here's a link to the HD tile:

http://www.msistone.com/porcelain-pietra/calacatta/

This is what tile showrooms sell (same manufacturer/different tile name):

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202943512/h_d2/ProductDisplay? catalogId=2&langId=-1&keyword=calacatta&storeId=10051#.UJbKprQuLs0


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

oops... I flipped the the links above. And should say that this tile is not sold at all home depots. I had to go to two different stores one in PA and one in NJ (an hour away from each other) to find the different sizes.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

That's very nice looking tile, kali. Unfortunately, the website shows that I can't even buy it from HD online where I live in FL, so availability must be pretty local.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Try going to a tile store and asking them to order a sample (or see if they carry it) from MS INternational- that is the distributor/manufacturer. Oh and ps...when I did the store inventory search they all showed zero,, but I called and had an employee locate the tile for me which was in one of the stores that showed "0" inventory.

Did you see the peronda brand? The only issue with that brand is that it comes only in 18 x 18.. it is rectified so that you can cut it down if you want. (both brands are actually).

Seriously other brands mentioned above do not compare...I've looked at about 20 brands -some of which were mentioned on garden web- and they all had that porcelain ripple look, a dead giveaway.

A "close" third (although the printing is visible and not as smooth but better than others) was Porcelanosa. This is NOT rectified though.

http://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/home/products/tile/floor.aspx


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Here's a blogger who directed me to Peronda. Although not calacatta you can see how perfectly smooth the tile is.

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/?s=peronda&submit=Search

OK. Done posting.... Sorry I'm just super excited as I spent weeks and so much gas traveling to stores to find the perfect look alike and finally found two brands. : D


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

What was the price/sf foot? I can't even see a price on the HD site, since it's an unavailable item.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

12 x 24= $39.84 per case (8 per case)=$4.98 / Sq. Ft
12 x 12= $32.37 per case (13 per case) =$2.49 /Sq.Ft
18 x 18= $33.62 per case (6 per case) = $5.60 / Sq. ft

Not too bad price wise. I just picked up the 12 x 24 for the walls and I'm in love. It's the same tile you can get at a tile store - ask for MS International Pietra Calacatta.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Thanks, That's very reasonable.


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

That looks lovely kali and I can't wait to see it all installed!


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

I'm a little late, but I did my master bath in the 18x18 tiles from Mission Stone & Tile. $4.35 sq. ft.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Michelle16 used the same tile in her laundry and she loves it too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Calacatta Porcelain


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Here is the Calcutta from our hall bath. It is a curb less shower. The smaller mosaic is in the shower area. The larger rectangles are in the main area.

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Lalitha...what brand is that? Assuming it's a honed look? Can you see the printing process on the tile?


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Beekeeperswife, those tiles look great in your bath.
following the link, the tiles are described as matte. Is this a honed type of finish or are they shiny?


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

jules they don't have a shine. If you contact MS&T they will send you a sample.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mission Stone & tile


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Does anyone know how much the Marmi from Bedrosians runs per square foot?


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RE: decent calcatta marble-like tile

Floor and Decor has beautiful, well priced marble like porcelain tiles. The product I've linked to also came in a 12x24 and 3x6 subway. I was in store today and they are very nice in person--at least worth a sample if you are going for this look. Another plus is this particular tile wasn't super glossy/slick. They had a lot of different marble like porcelain tiles, most of which were super slick/polished.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marble like Calcutta porcelain tile


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