Stone-Look Entryway Floor in Vermont Knolls
About This Project
This Vermont Knolls home needed an entryway floor that could handle daily foot traffic and the occasional tracked-in grit without showing wear. The homeowner selected a large-format gray stone-look porcelain — 18x36-inch rectified tiles with a natural matte finish and a textured surface that provides grip without a rough feel underfoot. Rectified tile has precisely cut edges (machined after firing) which allows for the tight 1/16-inch grout joints that make the floor read as nearly seamless from a standing height.
The entryway transitioned from the existing hardwood floor in the hallway, which required a Schluter RENO-T aluminum transition strip set flush to both surfaces. The concrete slab at the entry was in good condition but required a thin skim of floor leveler over a 4-foot section where a previous threshold had been removed. After leveling and priming, tile was set with medium-bed modified thin-set appropriate for the 18x36 format.
What We Did
Assessed and leveled concrete slab, addressed low spot at former threshold location
Planned layout to center tile symmetrically on the front door and minimize perimeter cuts
Set 18x36 rectified stone-look porcelain with medium-bed thin-set and leveling clips
Grouted with matching unsanded grout, installed Schluter transition strip at hardwood boundary
