Fridays After Five

Join us this Friday, 29 May at 5:30pm at the West Columbia facility for a cookout!

This event is geared toward installers but anyone interested in increasing their tile/design knowledge is welcome to attend. No training seminar is scheduled, just join us for some free food, free drink, and talk.

149 Queen Pkwy. off Chris Dr. in West Columbia. 803.796.4861

Cinderella Project

Bring your old prom/bridesmaid gowns (all sizes and styles accepted) by either Creative Tile location by Friday, 22 May for donation to the Cinderella Project of the Midlands!

West Columbia store hours: 7:30-6 Mon-Thurs. and Fridays 7:30-5

Northeast store hours: 10-5 Tues-Sat

Trailer Theft

Though I would have liked to start the morning with a newsletter to post here, I am unfortunately writing this to let you know that one of our steel dump trailers was stolen on Saturday, 2 May at 12:30pm from our West Columbia location at 149 Queen Pkwy., off Chris Dr. I've attached photos from one of our security cameras. Both the truck and trailer are rather distinctive. The truck is a 1988-91 Ford F-series, missing its tailgate, and has notable window covers on the extended cab windows. Two black males were involved. A trailer was also stolen from the lot behind us over the weekend, but there is no information as to the description of the vehicle or the men/women involved in that incident.

We have filed a report with Lexington County, and we will be posting flyers in our immediate area and with CMC Recyclers. If you have any information or see the truck and trailer on your daily drive, please call us at: 796-4861. Or, you can contact the Lexington County Sheriff's Office at: 785-8230

Natural stones in bathrooms...

Natural stone is a beautiful addition to any bathroom whether it's on the countertop, floor, or walls. Cared for properly, it will last forever! People are often scared of natural stone because it will stain, scratch, weather, etc. However, did you know that Michaelangelo's David stood outside for more than 300 years (with poor grade marble), and well, he still looks pretty good...so do the walls and mosaics of Pompeii, the columns of the Athenian Temple, and the tower of Pisa (despite its angle). Marble, travertine, and limestone are easy to care for, as long as you use the proper cleaning products. These stones are composed of calcium carbonate which is easily susceptible to acidic products, and whatever you do, never use CLR on a soft natural stone. CLR stands for Calcium Lime Remover, and if your stone is composed of calcium, well, you get the idea. Acidic products such as certain foods and cleaning products can etch the stone. Therefore, you must use a pH neutral cleaner. It's best to find a product that is specifically formulated for natural stone such as DuPont's StoneTech Professional cleaning and restoration products. StoneTech is available for purchase at both Creative Tile locations, and if you need to find out more about their products and how to care for natural stone, visit www.stonetechpro.com or the Marble Institute of America at www.marble-institute.com. If you have natural stone anywhere in your home, it's a good idea to keep all pH-neutral cleaning products on hand so that another family member or cleaning person cannot accidentally grab a bleach or ammonia bottle and ruin your beautiful installation.

Natural stones are no more difficult to care for than a fine wood, and as long as you have the proper cleaning products, they'll offer you no trouble at all. We regularly recommend and install natural stone showers, floors, and countertops in bathrooms, not only in customers homes but our own as well, and as you can see below, and the results are stunning!

Granite is also applicable to bathrooms but is most often used on countertops alone due to its slippery nature when wet. However, it is much more durable than your softer marbles, travertines, and limestones, as discussed above, and is not as difficult to care for...more on that in the next installment. :)

Luna Blend Travertine with 5/8" Dune Carrara Mosaic and an Ivory Pencil.

12" Crema Marfil Marble and Mosaic.

Ivory Travertine

Bacagli Blend Travertine with Dune Vetra Mosaico Hielo glass mosaics.

Fun with glass...

Beck Master Bath

Mr. and Mrs. Beck wanted a serene, monochromatic master bath. Becca aided them in choosing 18" Luna Blend Travertine, Ivory Kerdrai Tumbled Mosaic, and a Noce Pencil. The Becks are very happy with the way their project has turned out and were glad they chose travertine...a classic and enduring material.

More from Ferguson

Ferguson's Thermador vignette features 2cm Blue Pearl Granite on the countertops, black cabinets, and Solistone's Piano Glass on the backsplash. Designed by Becca Bertok of Creative Tile and Meredith Elliott and Cynthia Lancaster of Ferguson. Installation by Precision Tile.