Archives for June 2010:
Jun. 25, 2010
Beautiful Ceramic Tile, Designs, and Delicious Food!
On June 24 Fireclay Tile celebrated a huge achievement and showcased our newly designed San Jose Tile Showroom. Roughly 5 months after starting this project and after investing close to $30,000 on the remodel, we are so thrilled to showcase our beautiful locally manufactured products and other favorite vendors.
Fireclay's tile and surface materials Factory Showroom features an enormous display of Fireclay products in hundreds of colors, shapes and sizes. We designed and custom built a beautiful new bathtub, shower, and kitchen backsplash installation, and designed over 100 new concept boards to provide design inspiration for any environment. We will feature LOTS of pictures in a follow-post after they have been properly photographed, but if you want to come visit for yourself to see the wonderful creations, you can find directions here.
We also celebrated the achievement by inviting some of our local customers and fans and sharing one of our most favorite Fireclay experiences - BBQ!!!
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Martin, a Fireclay Founder, and Steve |
Paul, Founder and Chief Ceramicist, with guests |
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Carlos (far L) and Meika (far R) with friends |
Paul with Laura (graphic designer) and her husband |
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Erika, Joy (Merchandizing) and Lindsey (Intern) |
Delanie (seated), our mosaic teacher |
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Guests got to "Make their own" Cuerda Seca |
Steve, Paul, and Martin - The 3 Amigos! |
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Alex, our Customer Solutions expert! |
Guests enjoying the delicious BBQ |
We are already planning our next Customer Appreciation BBQ and look forward to seeing you there!
Jun. 17, 2010
Ever wonder what makes the variation in our tile colors so beautiful and unique? Curious why tiles that have been fired in the same batch sometimes vary in texture, color, etc? Why is it that every individual tile is unique to a certain degree? This can be a common question in the tile world and one we at Fireclay are quite familiar with. BUT it is also one of the reasons we love what we do and the uniqueness of the products which we make. Color variation is what makes Fireclay so special and wonderful! The key things to know are:
- It happens! Because of this we grade each of our Debris and Vitrail Series colors V1 to V4 to indicate potential range of color
- Color variation and range in ceramic glazes is beautiful and one of the many reasons people choose Fireclay Tile
- Educate yourself or your customers about color variation so you know what to expect and can fully appreciate the beauty
- Order ~10% extra in case your job requires more than you originally anticipated
- Matching color or a control sample is a very challenging task and is not a guarantee. Hence, we have a $350 color set-up fee for custom work or non-standard colors.
At Fireclay Tile we custom manufacture each and every order we receive. Rather than stocking product and limiting our selection, which means your tile may look mass produced, we have developed a proprietary process to ensure a quick (~4 week) turnaround that allows an infinite range of possibilities and uniqueness for your tile. It’s a great process and one that produces absolutely stunning ceramic tile, but being that it is a handmade tile we want to make sure you, our customer, are aware of color variation – why it happens and what it means.
Why Color Variation Happens…
Color variation occurs in high-fired ceramic tiles where the glaze reacts slightly different at high temperatures and the amount of O2 circulating in the air. Certain colors react more than others, producing more color variation within an individual batch. Unlike paint which is mixed and then dries a final color, glazes only show their true colors when combined with a heat catalyst that brings forth beautiful, deep, rich colors. People are drawn to glazes because of this richness and depth – it’s something you will never get from glass, plastic, or paint products. But because of inconsistencies in heat and because our tiles are handmade, many of our colors experience subtle color variation that one must understand so as not to be surprised when they see it. We and others believe it is this variation which truly brings forth the beauty of Fireclay Tile – it’s not mass made, rather it’s made for you by Fireclay Tile!
Some glaze colors are more effected by differences in heat. An example is a color with a peach tone or green/yellow, which will be more effected by the temperature. White, on the other hand, does not vary much because there is almost no color, and black which has a very strong stain does not vary much either. To help you better choose your colors we have ranked each color V1 to V4 to express how much variation to expect for each Debris Color and Vitrail Color. The ratings are:
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V2
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V3
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V4
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Little Color Variation |
Subtle Tone Shifts |
Tonal and Subtle Hue Shifts |
High Tonal and Hue Shifts |
Here are some examples (note: computer monitors do not always show exact color match):
Debris Series Example Colors & Color Variation Grade
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Tusk (V1) |
Brown Bear Satin (V2) |
Bryce Canyon (V3) |
Bamboo Matte (V4) |
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Vitrail Series Example Colors & Color Variation Grade
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Ebony (V1) |
Cranberry (V2) |
Prussian Blue (V3) |
Basil (V4) |
What This Means for You…
We guarantee you an absolutely stunning product that is beautiful, vibrant, and unique. Understanding variation ensures that you are not surprised when you see slightly different shades on certain colors, and do not view those shades as imperfections but rather benefits of purchasing a handmade tile. We've included a few shots highlighting some subtle variation which we love!
What We Recommend...
- Always refer to our Color Variation Grades and compare those grades with the Debris Series and Vitrail Series colors you are interested in.
- If you are looking at a V3 or V4 color, feel free to ask us for a sample to purchase or visit a retailer near you.
- Purchase your tile first and then follow with paint colors, countertops, or cabinetry. The tile will be the focal point, and it sets the tone for the rest of the space. Plus, it will certainly out-last any other product because of its durability and strength.
- When placing your order, we suggest ordering an additional 10% more than you need just in case something should happen or you mis-measured. We can try our best to re-make part of your order, but it may come out looking slightly different.
- Don't expect an absolutely perfect match to your sample. We will always give our best effort and our quality control department will try its best to always catch true imperfections. It is a handmade product, though, which means exact matching will almost never occur. We will come close, but when ordering colors you must realize that matching is not a guarantee.
- Order from our current set of Standard Colors. Old or discontinued colors should not be considered unless you pay a $350 color set-up fee.
We hope this provides a better explanation of color variation in ceramic tile! Any questions please never hesitate to email us.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kathy Norton and Mitchell Keith
Jun. 14, 2010
San Jose Is Making It A Mission To Educate and Train Young Adults for "Green Jobs"
On Monday, June 14, we had visitors from San Jose’s Work2Future’s Green Cadre. These are young adults (18-24) who are being trained for “Green Jobs” and are a direct beneficiary of stimulus funds to help get individuals prepared to be part of the “Green economy”. Gary Wolf, the group’s instructor, had done some research on San Jose Green Companies and Fireclay Tile had been at the top of the list.
The Green Cadre’s mission is to “Develop a cadre of low-income young adult leaders, 18-24 years old, who will receive leadership and civic engagement training that allows them to become environmental stewards and ambassadors for the City of San Jose’s Clean and Green Vision and allied efforts.”
Monday’s guests at Fireclay got a tour of the San Jose Factory Tile Showroom from Eric, our business guy, heard Paul, our founder and Chief Ceramicist, discuss his background and commitment to sourcing recycled materials to incorporate into our ceramic tiles, and each guest was treated to a make-your-own free Cuerda Seca decorative tile to be used as a hot pad or trivet. The goal was to educate them about green businesses, what it means to be green, and how important their involvement in this program is to setting a future course for more sustainable businesses in the United States.
A big thank you to all the people like Gary associated with Work2Future and the Green Cadre program – we were thrilled to share our story with you.
For more information be sure to visit the Work2Future website or email work2futureyouthprogram@gmail.com
Jun. 13, 2010
A Visit with - Maker of 100% Recycled Glass Tile
Last week Eric, our business guy, had the pleasure of traveling to Boise, ID to meet with Terri and Jim Raudebush, the owners and founders of Sandhill Industries, and their team. Yes, Sandhill is a competitor of ours in the tile market, but its product is 100% recycled glass tile whereas Fireclay Tile makes ceramic tiles – very different looks. What we have in common is that we are both deeply committed to US manufacturing using sustainable materials and manufacturing practices, and of course making absolutely beautiful tile products. We both make products by up-cycling waste materials, glass in the case of Sandhill and glass and other materials in the case of Firelay, and we both make products for the commercial and residential markets and sell through retailers and to the trade.
Background: Sandhill was originally incorporated in Fairbanks, Alaska, and early development was sponsored by a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to perfect the technique and purchase some equipment. (YES, SBIR grants do work!!) Terri and Jim developed the product with the help of Bob Kirby, also a friend of Fireclay Tile and an incredible expert in the world of recycled waste glass. After refining the product and process, the team moved to Boise, ID, where they would be closer to both the end user and a great supply of waste glass. Sandhill has been on the market since 2001, and their product has been specified for thousands of installations and many LEED projects throughout the country.
The Process: Terri, Jim and Bob have developed a lean manufacturing process that produces a great product using sustainable principles, they pay their staff a fair living wage (and those are US dollars!), and the process uses a very low amount of energy compared to other glass tile manufacturers. Again, 100% of the raw materials (aside from a very little color pigment) is recycled glass (post-industrial), and because of the proprietary process they designed, the energy required to melt the glass into tile is far less than many of its competition. While I was sworn to secrecy about how they do it, trust me when I say that the process works and that for the customer it should provide a lot of confidence that your tile will look as beautiful and work as well as you think it should.
Above (L to R - Waste Glass i nsuper sacks, Waste Glass after proprietary all-natural coloring process, glass tiles coming off
The Product: Sandhill’s 100% recycled glass tile is unique in the industry. It is a 100% recycled glass tile made in the USA, and the tile has a specific rounded corner look that is exquisite and different. Available in 36 colors and in sizes ranging from 1x1 to 3x6 with special shapes like triangles and circles, the offering is extensive and will work for anyone looking for the glass tile look. Blend patterns are available, and Sandhill will even make custom blends and pre-mount them for you. Starting at $31 per square foot (retail), the product is affordable and competitive with others in the industry such as Ocean Side. Sandhill is also great for LEED projects, and can earn you points for a) recycled materials, b) regional manufacturing, and c) other points such as for low-VOC materials.
Why We Love Sandhill: We love Sandhill because of a) its commitment to making their product in the US, b) the devotion to using a 100% waste material, which they up-cycle into a stunning product, and c) their product is made-to-order just like Fireclay. No other glass tile company on the market does this, and while many other glass tile companies make claims about using recycled materials, no one comes close to doing it the way Sandhill does or in it being consistently 100% recycled.
Terri and Jim – hats off to you both. We at Fireclay are proud to call you our friends and think you have done a great job with your product. For those interested in leaning more, email them or visit the Sandhill website.
Jun. 9, 2010
SFMade is Devoted to Manufacturing Companies in Urban Environments Such as San Francisco
SFMade, a San Francisco non-profit, hosted its first fundraiser last night in San Francisco and Eric, our business guy, was on hand to check it out. As a local manufactuer ourselves, though in San Jose, we love to support other local manufacturers and think it is one of the greatest parts of small business in the United States.
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Kate Sofis took over SFMade after Mark Dwight, formerly the CEO of Timbuk2 and now a founder at Rickshaw Bags, founded the organization several years ago. From the website:
"SFMade.org is a not-for-profit organization established to promote San Francisco-based companies that manufacture products within the San Francisco county limits. These companies share an increasingly uncommon trait – local manufacturing. The purpose of SFMade is to support these companies to and endorse San Francisco as a place that can, and does, foster innovative manufacturing companies. Local manufacturers understand there’s a certain “pride of place” that comes from actually making a product within a defined geographic, social and historic region. And San Francisco plays an integral part of the overall value proposition of these companies, their brand, and their products.
The event was hosted by Ritual Coffee and was full of local San Francisco manufacturers including some great ones like Ritual, Rickshaw Bagworks, Cordarounds, and numerous others including one of our favorites, Anchor Steam Brewing Company. I also had a chance to talk to some wonderful folks, including one budding entreprenuer looking to start a new furniture restoration business and another looking to leave high tech and get into this small, local manufacturing sector. A highlight was a great chat with Chris Sofis of Sofistry, a craft-based custom remodeling company based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We think organizations like SFMade are ESSENTIAL to helping both keep old and spur new manufacturing in the United States and in the state of California. We think other urban environments should follow the lead of SFMade and use their example as a way to further promote manufacturing small businesses in the urban environment.
For more information check out SFMade's Website.
Jun. 1, 2010
We were thrilled to be showcased in the Summer 2010 Arts & Crafts Homes magazine for our beautiful Ceurda Seca handmade tiles. Arts & Crafts Homes is one of our favorite DIY resources, and we were proud to be shown alongside some other great tile companies and to have our Cuerda Seca Barcelona (in Tuscan Colorway) tile chosen as one of the few tiles featured.
Cuerda Seca decorative tiles are something we have been making for over 20 years. We hand design and handmake each and every Cuerda Seca decorative tile using our Debris Series clay body as the base and then using our own technique to first mark the tiles and then handpaint the design using either a Standard Colorway or a custom colorway chosen by the customer. Prices for a 4x4 are around $24 per piece and $28 per peice for a 6x6, though we also have offerings in 2x2 and can go as large as 12x12.
Cuerda Seca decoratives make for perfect accents to kitchen backsplashes, fireplaces, stair risers, fountains, and pools. Check out our Flickr gallery and search for cuerda seca to see examples of our work
To see our entire selection of Cuerda Seca please visit our Debris Series offering and select Cuerda Seca.
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