Frequently Asked Questions

Buying and accounts

• Where can I buy Pera Tile products?
  Pera Tile is a wholesale designer, importer and distributor. Our products are sold through authorized dealers and showrooms across the United States and Canada. Use the Dealer Locator to find the dealers closest to you, or contact us and we will point you to one.
• Do you sell to homeowners?
  We sell through our authorized dealers, who handle homeowner orders, samples and pricing. Find a dealer near you with the Dealer Locator.
• I am a designer, architect or contractor. Can I open an account?
  Yes. Trade professionals can apply for a trade account. The Trade Program gives you free samples, spec sheets, installation guides and line sheets, and project support. Trade accounts are serviced through a local authorized dealer where there is one; if there is no dealer near you, we work with you directly.
• How do I become a Pera Tile dealer?
  Tile showrooms, flooring stores, kitchen and bath showrooms, building material yards and pool supply stores can apply for a dealer account. Dealerships are not available everywhere; where an area already has dealers, we will tell you what is possible.
• Can I see prices online?
  No. Pricing is available to authorized dealers and trade accounts. Contact your dealer or contact us.

Stock, lead times and samples

• Are your products in stock?
  About 1,300 items are stocked, including clearance items, in our warehouses in Carson, California, Phoenix, Arizona and on the East Coast. Every collection page shows what is stocked first, under Standard Program, and lists the special-order items after it with their lead time.
• How long do special orders take?
  Most special-order items ship in 1 to 5 weeks; the lead time is shown under each item. A few lines take longer, for example the special-order colors of Slimline Terrazzo (12 to 14 weeks).
• How do I get samples?
  Trade accounts can order up to 5 free samples per request, shipped within 5 to 7 business days. Homeowners can get samples through an authorized dealer.
• What is on clearance?
  Clearance items are stocked and sold while supplies last. The collection pages say which items are on clearance.
• Do your products have a warranty?
  Pera Tile products are sold as first-quality material, free of manufacturing defects at the time of delivery. Natural stone and porcelain vary in color, shade, veining and texture; this variation is part of the material and is not a defect. Please inspect all material before installing it: installation means the material has been accepted. Any claim must be made through your dealer before installation. Our responsibility is limited to replacing the material or refunding its purchase price; we are not responsible for labor, installation, removal or any other costs or damages. Install according to industry standards and our installation guides.

Materials

• Porcelain or natural stone: which should I choose?
  Porcelain is dense, low-maintenance and consistent from tile to tile, and many of our porcelains are frost-proof and rated for outdoor use. Natural stone (marble, travertine, limestone) has one-of-a-kind variation and can be honed, tumbled or refinished over the years, but needs sealing. Read more in our article Porcelain vs. Natural Stone.
• What is the difference between color-body and glazed porcelain?
  In color-body porcelain the body of the tile is tinted to match the surface, so a chip shows less. Glazed porcelain has its design in a glaze over the body. Each collection page says which one it is.
• Where do your products come from?
  Our porcelain and ceramic come from Italy, Spain, Portugal and the USA; Slimline Terrazzo is made in Türkiye. Our natural stone comes from quarries we work with directly in various countries, and every shipment is inspected by our team before it leaves.
• Do I need to seal natural stone?
  Yes. Marble, travertine and limestone are porous and should be sealed with a penetrating (impregnating) stone sealer after installation and resealed from time to time, more often in wet areas and outdoors. Porcelain does not need sealing.

Outdoor, pavers and pool coping

• What are 2 cm porcelain pavers?
  They are porcelain pavers about 3/4″ thick, made for patios, pool decks and walkways. They can be set on sand, gravel or pedestals, or glued down on concrete. See our DreamScapes collection and all Pavers.
• What pool coping do you carry?
  Porcelain and natural stone coping in bullnose, modern edge and L-shape mitered profiles, from 2 cm to 5 cm thick, in porcelain, travertine, limestone and marble. Our DreamScapes porcelain copings also come in four more profiles made in-house: Micro-Bevel, Eased Edge, Half Bullnose and Double Half Bullnose. Sizes and the L-shape drop can be cut to your project, and end caps, wall caps and corners are available. See Pool Coping.
• Is the tile slip resistant?
  Outdoor finishes are made for wet areas; where a product is tested, its slip rating (for example R11 or R12) is on the product page. Ask us or your dealer for the test data of a specific item.
• Can porcelain be used outdoors in freezing climates?
  Many of our porcelains are frost-proof; the product and collection pages say so where it applies. Natural stone outdoors should be chosen and sealed for the climate; ask us for advice on your project.

Custom work

• Can you cut tile and stone to special sizes?
  Yes. In California we cut stone and porcelain on precision water-jet systems and Italian machinery: custom sizes, coping profiles, end caps and water-jet designs. We also cut porcelain pavers and copings to special sizes for your project.
• What is Atelier Pera Water-Jet Designs?
  Our own collection of water-jet designs (chevron, picket, hexagon, fish scale, Bloom, Foliage and more) in porcelain, marble and limestone. Each design can be customized in color and finish, or we can make your own design. See Atelier Pera Water-Jet Designs.
• Can you source material for a special project?
  Yes. We supply residential and commercial projects with special specifications, and our team inspects production at the source. Contact us with your project.