Only a sample will tell you if the color you are looking for will work in your project.
We are happy to send samples. Please ask, either through the Contact Us page or by phone.
Each sample is glazed and fired to order. This process takes a few days.
Samples are typically mailed First Class or Priority Mail, unless they exceed the Small Flat Rate Box size. FedEx Ground or Home then is used. These are the lowest-cost shipping options, but expedited shipping can be used if you pre-pay for that.
Glazes are brushed onto all samples except small hex tiles. This can result in a somewhat uneven surface. However, most tiles, once ordered for your project, are glazed with a spray application, which results in more uniform glaze coverage. (In contrast, even samples for small hex tile samples are sprayed, not brushed.)
Samples are on handmade sample tiles, about 2" to 4" in length and width, square or rectangular, about 3/16" thick. These sample tiles are of the same ceramic material used for most of our tile, and the same thickness as a typical field tile, but are not as square, flat, or imperfection-free as a production tile. Please use the samples to assess color and the character of the tile body, not for edge quality, flatness, or other imperfections.
Ordering samples: 1. The first five samples per customer are at no charge (except 1" and 2" hex tiles).
2. Additional samples are $1 each, plus shipping of the sample set. Samples are about 2.75" square.
3. Small hex (1" and 2") tile samples are $2 for 3 tiles of a single color plus shipping cost for any quantity.
4. You may wish us to select some glazes for you, since we can see the colors best and we usually have glazes not yet posted in the website. We suggest that you specify a "Not To Exceed" amount for the samples and shipping, and we will select the glazes that seem to best match your requirements. (For instance, you may want "satin or matte finish, lemon yellow," with a NTE of $15.) A NTE of $20, for instance, will cover up to about 15 samples of (non-hex) tiles. We will charge less if we have fewer samples to send.
5. An invoice for sample requests requiring payment will be emailed to you.
6. A PayPal Request for Money will be emailed to you if payment is due, allowing you to pay securely by eCheck, PayPal, or credit card. If you wish to pay by paper check, just let us know.
Special requests? Need a thicker tile sample? Need a sample on a commercial base tile? Need a tile sample with an odd shape? Need a sample of a through-body colored porcelain? Or anything else… just ask, and usually we can assist.
