Collin's Tile and Stone

This past week my class visited Collin’s Tile and Stone in Lubbock, TX. The company carries many types of tile and stone and they specialize in Granite and other hard surfaces that can be used for flooring or countertops.

In the store Granite ranged in price and although some were lower in price than others, it seemed to me that the granite that they carried was of good quality. Granite can get expensive but I think that you are getting what you pay for because when applied in the home, granite can make a space very beautiful. And the store has a variety of patterns and colors so that it can be applied to a space with every kind of style.

Marble was also one of the kinds of stone carried at Collin’s Tile and Stone. It has a vein like look and is not as granular as granite. Marble comes from all over the world and looks very nice in a kitchen setting but it is not as durable as granite can be in the kitchen. This is because marble is very absorbent and can stain and scratch fairly easily. A good idea would be to get a honed finish on the marble to help with the stains and scratches.

Travertine was another stone that was available at the store. It has a fibrous appearance and exists in white, tan, and some cream colors. Travertine is known for the pitted holes and troughs in its surface. These characteristics help to see if the stone has undergone wear and tear. When installed the holes can be filled with grout and smoothed with a shiny finish. It is most commonly used in floor tiles.

Next, many companies try to imitate granite but are not successful. A material that can be used to imitate granite is Cambria and can look very close to the real thing. This material is very popular and because of the high demand it has become just as expensive as real granite.

The trip to Collin’s Tile and Stone was very informative and I learned about the many options that are available and the many different applications in which stone and tile can be used. The store has many products for the public and for designers and I am glad to know about a new resource that can be used in the future.