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Are you trying to
match a tile color you have already found or already
own? Or are you trying to find a tile color that matches
a color you've selected?
Are you tearing your hair out
yet? |
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We may be able to help, and offer a
service to try to match your tile. We are often but not
always successful, but may be able to help you avoid having to
re-tile an entire room for the lack of a handful of
tiles. For those of you with beautiful older homes, we may be
able to help you maintain the look of fine craftsmanship after a
remodel.
There are many reasons why matching tile
is difficult -- almost impossible:
- Manufacturers often don't label
their tile so you know who made the tile or what the style and
color are. Further, most tile is made outside the U.S., so
U.S. customers have a complex research
project.
- Tile colors are fashion items and
may only be on the market for a few years.
- Even if the tile color is still
being manufactured and you find out how to get it, tile colors
vary from batch to batch.
- Tile glazes are proprietary with
ingredients that may no longer be available. Even if
formulas were available, tiles with these glazes would need to
be fired exactly the same way on the same kind of clay to
get the same results.
- Glaze formulation is a specialized
chemistry job that most manufacturers will not do for smaller
orders (or even bigger ones), since much testing and
experimentation is required, as well as specialized knowledge
and chemical ingredients.
So - what to
do?
1.
I
can see if I can come close with the glazes I have or some
combinations. We
have many more glaze colors than you will typically find from other
manufacturers, and am willing to do some experimentation, even for
small orders. I'll let you know quickly if I can or cannot do
the job for you.
A.
If
you want a color “something like”
and I am able to get you a sample or two of my stock glazes that
satisfy your requirements in one sample mailing, there is no
charge. After 5
samples, the cost is $1 per sample plus mailing expense.
B.
If
you want a pretty-much dead-on match
that is not among my stock glaze colors, I charge $80 up front
for the matching service, which I will only charge once I see
your sample and agree to try to match it. That
service includes up to 3 sample mailings (regular mail) to you
and a return of your sample if you request it.
The remaining charge is to cover my time, materials, and
noodling capabilities. I do not guarantee I can achieve your
target but will work to get you an answer one way or another
as fast as possible. If you order tiles from me, that
cost will be additional, and may vary from my standard prices if
materials and methods are different.
C.
Be aware that the time required for multiple tests can be
extensive. Mixing of glaze
ingredients, recordkeeping, firing, and adjusting of the
next round of glaze recipes takes time. Glazes
usually look very different unfired than fired, so, unlike
paint, adjustments in glaze recipes cannot be guided by
eye. Each glaze firing takes at least 24 hours and several can
be done every week, but dozens of firings may be needed to achieve a
close match.
2. Important: your “commercial” tile will
be flatter and more square and more “perfect” than handmade
tile! This may
result in an unsuccessful match on your wall or floor, even if the
color can be matched.
Please feel free to discuss this when requesting a glaze
match.
A. If you want
flat, perfectly sized tile, we can produce colors on commercially
produced tile in a limited number of sizes, along with a variety of
special shapes like bullnose, liner, and cove. Please inquire. The most common wall tile
size of 4.25” square is available, for
instance.
3.
You
can try to find handmade or high-volume manufacturers via internet
search engines. Handmade tile makers would be more likely to
have unusual or bright shades, and might be more willing to try to
match a color than the big companies. There are many talented
artist-chemists out there.
4.
Talk
to tile distributors - especially the high-end ones - and see if
they have any leads.
5.
If
you have need of only a few tiles for an existing installation, see
if you can remove some tiles from hidden or less-obvious areas and
use those.
6.
Go
to the Tile Heritage Foundation website for some
options. This non-profit organization in California may be able
to help you find resources, investigate historical tiles, etc. (www.TileHeritage.org).
I hope this is of some help.
Don't hesitate to contact me if I can help, or if you only wish
someone could. |
