Blog 8-Collins Tile & Stone

Collins Tile and Stone is a business based out of Lubbock, Texas that specializes in tile and stone application. The owner, Tim Collins, gave us a tour of their location and educated us on tile and stone. His business is highly diversified with a wide variety of materials and the ability to serve both the residential and commercial worlds. I found it very interesting that a business like Collins Tile and Stone would concentrate more on the commercial world. It seems like most self-made businesses would be more successful on the residential side, but Tim has built a very diverse company, and has been rewarded by staying in business for over 27 years.

              While Tim first started with tile, his business now is in majority stone application. He educated us on the different durability and maintenance levels of a wide variety of stones. Granite is the most durable with quartz coming in a close second. Both can withstand heavy use and are stain and heat resistant. Granite however is more natural looking because quartz is an engineered stone. They are both comparable in price with a wide variety of cost options. The “builder grade” granite is relatively budget-friendly starting around $40 per square foot installed. These colors are normally neutral and are found often in nature. More exotic granites would be much more expensive running anywhere from $100 per square foot installed and up.
           Laminate and solid surface materials are also offered at Collins Tile and Stone. Laminate isn’t as durable as granite and quartz. It is easily burned and scratched. On the positive side, laminate is a cost efficient option. It runs anywhere from $10-$30 per square foot installed and is much easier to install. Solid surface materials are more expensive than laminates and are more burn and stain resistant. Solid surface countertops give a more uniform stone look and are seamless as opposed to laminate. Solid surface countertops range anywhere from $35 per square foot installed and up.
             Marble is another option available at Collins Tile and Stone. Mr. Collins said that it is a very popular choice in kitchens, but also stains very easily. Some people like the look that marble acquires over time, while others would think of it as dirty and old. This type of material would need to be sealed often and is in the same price range as granite.
             Mr. Collins also showed us around the stock he keeps of stone and the shop where the stone is cut and prepared for installation. He has many different options in stock, allowing the customer to see what you really get when it comes to natural stone. Many times a sample isn’t a good example of all the movement and color that you would see in an entire countertop. Often, his workers will measure the space that needs to be covered and make a clear plastic template of it. The customer then comes into the store and they can lay the template over the full piece of granite so the customer knows exactly what they are getting. They have two large, expensive machines in the shop that actually cut the stone for them. The template is first designed in a computer program like CAD and then taken to the machine for cutting. While this type of machinery isn’t cheap, it allows for a higher and more efficient production volume.
            Collins Tile and Stone is a very successful business. Tim Collins knows a lot about the materials offered and was very helpful in educating us on the pros and cons of each material. Mr. Collins seemed to genuinely care about imparting this knowledge on us and I learned a great deal from his tour. It is much more helpful to actually see and experience the materials and the knowledge gained will be helpful in all stages of my career as an interior designer.