5 stores to buy tile in Toronto

Want to buy some tile in Toronto? Whether you're looking to re-tile a backsplash, a floor, or an entire bathroom, you'll need quality materials, and luckily Toronto is teeming with terrific tile stores. From the standard places like Tile Solutions and Weston Tile to unique shops like Tigro Restoration, a specialty tile and grout restoration company, Toronto is definitely a tile aficionado's paradise.

Here's my take on some of the better places in Toronto to shop for tile:

Olympia Tile (1000 Lawrence Avenue West)
Olympia Tile is a well-known Toronto hot spot for all the tiling materials one could possibly need. Olympia has sold tile for over 50 years, and with 28,000 square feet of space, the selection is unbeatable. They also run a Clearance center next door to their head office location, which is a mecca for thrifty renovators looking to complete a project on budget.

Saltillo Tiles (115 Tycos Dr.)
With products featured on HGTV's Sarah's Cottage, Saltillo Tiles is has a reputation for solid workmanship. They import materials from a variety of international locations and offer a unique array of patterns and products including natural stone, glass, terracotta, and mosaic materials. Stop by their showroom to take a look at what they have to offer.

The Tile Store (20 Bermondsey Rd., Unit 1)
If you're looking to save a little cash on your tile project, check out The Tile Store. With a wide range of products, offered at below retail prices, it's definitely worth a visit to their showroom. They offer porcelain, stone, mosaics, glass and metal tiles, and consultants are available on-site to discuss your tiling project.

Dufferin Tile (6911 Steeles Ave. West)
Dufferin Tile offers a variety of tile materials, but specializes mostly in ceramic. The vast majority of their product comes from Italy and includes porcelain, marble, granite, slate, travertine, and ceramic. Their 40,000 square foot warehouse is located in north-west Toronto and offers samples on a deposit system, so you can take a bunch of tiles home, decide which ones work best, and return the rest for your money back.

Keramin Tile (4400 Dufferin St. Unit-B2)
Sustainability and environmental consciousness is key to the operations at Keramin Tile. They have been green-certified by the International Organization of Standardization, an independent, non-profit body that publishes standards for a variety of industries. Keramin offers high quality ceramic, porcelain, granite and marble materials.

Writing by Julie Palmer. Photo by xSilentRob in the blogTO Flickr pool.