Remodeling your home can be a long and involved process; sometimes exciting, other times daunting. But there is one central theme that will run through your remodeling conscious…getting what you want versus what’s in your budget.

Home improvement costs can quickly escalate and at times it can be hard to determine what areas provide you the truest value and what areas can easily be cut to get your remodel completed within your budget.

Here at Surfaces USA our design team is adept at helping you achieve your design goals within your budget without sacrificing quality.

When deciding how to achieve your design aesthetic on a limited budget we always look towards creativity and quality of workmanship.

A theme I always go by is a great quote form legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden “If you don’t have time to do it right...when will you find the time to do it over”?

This is of central importance because placing emphasis on doing the job right the first time and not cutting corners is the surest way to guarantee your next remodel project will be amazing! We always advise placing a premium on craftsmanship and installation.

When cutting cost, focus on reducing material specs and details, never cut corners or go with cheap labor. A good installer or fabricators work will always shine through no matter what material they are using. The most expensive materials installed improperly will be an eye sore, completely diminishing the value of the materials you utilized.

Remember a professional installation will make even more economical materials look amazing and fabulous while not putting a hurt on your pocket book. The emotional investment of a remodel is often front loaded, so once you’re invested you really owe it to yourself to commit to having the job done right the first time because in the long run it is a lot less costly than doing the job over again down the road.

Come down to Surfaces USA today and learn more about our quality tile, stone and granite installation services. We are always dedicated to ensuring that your job is performed the right way with no corners cut.

1) When creating a mosaic, it is a good idea to lay out the tiles first on a flat surface before you fix them with adhesive. This way you get an idea as to how the colors and shapes look together in the design.

2) Always lay tiles for the main subject first ( for example, the inside of a niche or a centered mural mosaic) and then do the border- as these tiles are the most important. If you need to cut or move tiles around each other it is easier to do so without the background getting in the way.

3) When laying the border tile of your mosaic, start in the corner and work your way out as the corner tiles are often a little more intricate than the normal side mosaic.

4) If you are going to grout your mosaic (which most people do) remember to use proper grout which can be sanded or non sanded depending on the material the mosaic is made from.  Either natural stone or glass  requires opposite grout materials that can prevent your tile from scratching the mosaic surface if used improperly.

5) When laying mosaic tile using the "direct method", you can either butter glue on each individual piece or lay each one down one-by-one. This process is slow however the results will be very accurate and you can see the effect each individual tile has immediately. OR, the alternative approach is to put a small amount of glue on the base (enough for about 6 pieces) and then quickly lay the tiles down.

Please leave questions or comments below and i'll make sure to respond ASAP!

Mosaics range in sizes from 1/2" to 5/8" and larger pieces mounted on netted sheets. These mosaicsare available in popoular shapes such as Octagons, honeycomb, Circular, Oval , and your conventional square - which is most commonly seen.  Using mosaics in your design not only adds an artistic touch, but adds interest in the specific surface that it's being applied to.

For example, if you needed a mosaic that you wanted to add to your backsplash in a bathroom you would most likely want to choose a mosaic that carries a color that is similar to the countertop as a cohesive design that would be able to pull the colors and compliment both countertop and mosaics chosen as well. For any questions or comments please leave a message for me below and i'll be sure to answer it for you!

- Mosaics generally are sold in 12x12” sheets that come on a fiberglass mesh that have been glued on for easier installation process.

- Knowing how many lineal or square feet you will need for your project is THEE most important aspect. For instance, if your project requires the use of 4” strips for borders then when cutting them off a 12x12 sheet you have 3 strips of 4x12. or as I call it "a bang for your buck." Also, if you have the need for insert keys of 4’x4” you will have a number of 9 inserts that came from that 1 sheet that look terrific in combination with your field tile in mind.

Just be creative, think outside the box. And if you cannot, then just stop by or call one of our five southern California showrooms to pick our creative brains!

Please leave your comments or questions below!

Please feel free to post any comments or questions below.