Articles

Natural stone has a timeless beauty that has captivated homeowners for generations. This versatile material can be used in various rooms of the home, including walls, floors, fireplaces, showers, and backsplashes by adding color, interest, warmth and style to any space. Read More

The backsplash is the perfect finishing touch to any kitchen design. Backsplashes add color, texture, interest, and pattern to the kitchen, and are considered the most decorative part of the design. Read More

Caesarstone Ltd. will close its original quartz-surfaces factory as part of a major revamp of the surfacing company. Company CEO Yos Shiran announced the action today after reporting a net revenue loss of $3.8 million in this year’s first quarter. “It is clear that Caesarstone has been lagging behind in its ability to generate profit and increase value for its shareholders,” Shiran said in a corporate statement. “We believe that swift actions, taken as part of a comprehensive restructuring plan, will allow us to leverage our strong brand and best-in-class products to address these issues.” Read More

U.S. floor coverings manufacturer sales began to feel the full impact of the current housing downturn in the first quarter of 2023. Catalina estimates first quarter dollar sales (shipments minus exports plus imports) could have declined by 2.5 percent, while square foot sales could have decreased by 4.7 percent. Read More

New data from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey is revealing the latest trends in kitchen and bathroom design. Read More

The global flooring market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.77% during 2022-2028. The flooring demand is mainly concentrated in countries such as the US, Japan, China, the UK, Germany, and France. However, developing Asian economies such as India is witnessing increased adoption of flooring products owing to developing industrial or non-residential sector. Read More

Three weeks remain until Coverings, and we hope you’re getting as excited as we are. To share our enthusiasm and continue our National Tile Day celebration, we’re highlighting yet another 2023 tile trend. This week’s trend: statement stones. What makes a “statement” stone look? In design, we are seeing a significant effort toward individual expression as people are choosing materials that speak to them personally instead of falling back on safe-for-resale designs. And when porcelain provides a multitude of options, including floor-to-ceiling sizes, why go small? Floor-to-ceiling stone-look porcelain exudes sophistication and will make a lasting impression. And thanks to its superior durability, it doesn’t require the regular maintenance or upkeep marble, granite, or other natural stones do to stay looking its best. This material selection will also be much nicer on your budget than thick slabs of stone. Inspired by precious and rare marbles from classic calacattas to linear zebrinos, porcelain stone looks can be understated, elegant and neutral or bold, rich in movement and in attention-commanding colors. A statement stone look can elevate a run-of-the-mill room into a well-appointed work of art. Read More

For several years now, the U.S. ceramic market has been going through a period of transition with the expansion of U.S. manufacturing, removal of Chinese imports from the market through tariffs, significant instability in raw material sourcing and increases in raw material costs, and developments in technology that have enabled advancements in aesthetics and formats. And over the course of the last year, the market has worked to fi nd its footing as a result of these dynamics. At the same time, ceramic manufacturers and importers are fighting the same battles that many other flooring categories are—working to maintain ceramic’s market share, as LVT continues to steal square footage from virtually all other flooring categories; seeking solutions to the shortage of flooring installers; and communicating its value to the various end user groups, many of which do not yet understand that, while costly up front, ceramic carries a significant useful life, offers great durability, and has a strong green story. Read More

The truth of the matter is that for many aspects of residential construction such as framing, tiling and finish carpentry, construction techniques haven’t changed a lot over the years. A recent academic paper titled “The Strange and Awful Path of Productivity in the U.S. Construction Sector” points out that while labor productivity has doubled across the U.S. economy over the past 50 years, it has been falling or, at best, stagnant for the construction sector. Read More

Lowe’s announced Q4 2022 sales were $22.4 billion, a 5% increase compared to $21.3 billion in Q4 2021. Comparable sales for Q4 decreased 1.5%, and comparable sales for the U.S. home improvement business decreased 0.7%. Read More