Three reasons to buy Made in the U.S.A.

No question, China offers bargains in materials and labor costs. But when it comes to tile and stone work, my experience with them is that you get what you pay for--and that's not good. Three reasons stick out:

The first problem is that the Chinese manufacturers are always following the last trend as everyone jumps on board. For example, the current colors and styles they're pumping out of their factories are browns, creams and Tuscan themes--you know, all the stuff that's totally out of date.

Second, even if you can find a tile or stone that you like, you can't get it quickly. At Nadeau, we can get most materials in 2 weeks, or 4 at the most. If you buy from China, you're looking at 6 to 8 weeks, sometimes more.

Finally, you're not going to get a true custom product from a Chinese supplier. They might tell you it's custom, but trust me, it's not. The only way to ensure your end product is unique and high quality is to have it made in the good ol' U.S.A.