[ Flooring ] Step On It
Think ceramic tile is just for kitchens and baths? Manufacturers say think again.
By Nigel F. Maynard
CERAMIC TILE IS SO DURABLE THAT IT is likely to outlast the houses you build¡ªwhich may explain why home buyers love the material so much. Ubiquitous in kitchens and baths, ceramic is water resistant, hard wearing, and (relatively) easy to clean, which is why manufacturers say it should not be restricted to the wet areas of the home....More...

[ Flooring ] Newly  Demand of Tiles Market from USA
US demand to grow 1.8% annually through 2010
US demand for brick and block products will increase 1.8 percent annually through through 2010. While strong growth in home building activity has been the primary demand driver over the last decade, an expected decline in new single-family home building over the next five years will lead to slightly lower demand levels in this key market segment. However, the nonresidential building market, which languished for much of the latter 1990s, is now poised for a strong rebound and will emerge as the primary engine of growth through 2010.
Concrete block to offer greatest growth potential
By product, concrete block products will offer the greater growth potential through 2010. This is in part a reflection of the industry£§s increasing dependence on nonresidential markets, which consume considerable quantities of concrete block as structural materials. Brick products, on the other hand, are usually used in siding (nonstructural) applications, and tend to be more heavily dependent on the slowing residential segment of the market. ...More...