Porcelain tile: a hot commodity

If you’ve been shopping for building supplies recently, you might have noticed very low inventories of porcelain tile at some of the local, big-box building supply stores.

For a variety of reasons, porcelain tile has become an increasingly hot commodity around the United States. At Rui Building Supply, you can still find a good selection of tile — but it’s flying off the shelves, according to manager Jon Xie.

“Our tile is going very fast!” Xie says. “We have new tiles coming in and selling really quickly. There are a lot of pre-orders. Homeowners really like porcelain tile.”

HYGIENIC AND EASY TO CLEAN

Porcelain tile has become more popular than ever, thanks in part to new hygiene standards of the pandemic era.

“Porcelain tile is really easy to clean, because each tile is glazed on the surface and solid underneath,” Xie explains. “And, because it isn’t porous, porcelain tile is resistant to the growth of mold and mildew.”

Thanks to its hypoallergenic surface, porcelain tile doesn’t retain bacteria or odors. It’s simple to clean and maintain, too. A tiled floor can be swept and damp-mopped with hot water for light cleaning; for heavier cleaning, mopping with a quarter cup of white vinegar mixed with a gallon of water works just fine.

“Tile is a classic flooring solution, and one of the most trusted floor coverings available,” says Xie. “We’ve had people come in and pick up more than 10,000 square feet of tile at a time to cover commercial and residential areas.”

TILE FOR COMFORT, FUNCTION AND VERSATILITY

People have spent more time at home than ever over the past two years, and many have decided to make their homes more comfortable, functional and versatile.

“Homeowners have embraced tile as the perfect flooring for dining rooms, living rooms, exercise areas, outdoor showers and lanais … it’s not just for bathrooms anymore,” says Xie.

Located on Sand Island Access Road in Honolulu, Rui Building Supply’s main showroom offers tile and much more. The company sells cabinets and cupboards; manufactured quartz countertops; showers and vanities; apothecary cabinets; chrome and bronze towel racks, bars and rings; sinks and basins in porcelain and glass; classic and contemporary LED lights; and vinyl plank flooring in a dozen shades.

“We’re a one-stop shop,” says Xie. “If you’re doing a renovation and need supplies, you’ll likely find them in our showroom. And if you shop for materials and find you need assistance with your project, our sister company, Rui Construction, can help. We’re very flexible.”

Contact Rui Construction for new builds, rebuilds, renovations and everything in between. And, when you’re ready to shop for materials, visit Rui Building Supply, Rui Construction’s sister company, at 155 Sand Island Access Road in Honolulu. The showroom is open 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

RUI CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING SUPPLY INC.
CONTACT 808-848-8820
ADDRESS 155 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu
WEB ruisupplyandconstruction.com