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TILE TIPS
understand what you are buying...
Confidently selecting tile with shade variation
A few years ago a single piece of tile allowed you to visualize the final installation. Why? Because every piece looked the same. Today, manufacturers producting rustic and stone looks understand there is a new challenge. Since no two pieces of stone look alike, the only way to create an authentic replica is to have variation designed into the product.
This leave the consumer with another dilemma. If, as is often the case, they see only one or two pieces of tile, how can they understand the entire range of what they are considering?
Recognizing this problem, the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) developed a Color/Shade Variation Program. They created a scale of ranges that helps the consumer better understand what they are selecting. Following is the the Color/Shade Variation Program scale and an explanation of each rating:
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V1 = UNIFORM APPEARANCE: Differences among pieces from the same production run are similar
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V2 = SLIGHT VARIATION: Clearly distinguishable differences in texture and/or pattern with similar colors
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V3 = MODERATE VARIATION: While the colors present on a single piece of tile will be indicative of th colors to be expected on the other tiles, the amount of color on each piece will vary significantly
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V4 = SUBSTANTIAL VARIATION: Random color differences from tile to tile, so that one tile may have totally different colors from that on other tiles. Thus, the funal installation will be unique.
United Tile fully supports this program and is establishing a "V-rating" for all our products. If you see a tile marked with a V3 or V4 designation, you may want to request a photo or several pieces of the tile before making your final selection. It's a little extra effort, but it if it helps ensure you get what you want in the long run, it is well worth it. Shown below are two examples of V4 shading. On the right is Jack Multicolor Slate; on the left is NovaBell "Terra Scurra Blend in the Terra di Siena Series.
