Reviewed by Tyler Shelton, Owner & President
Second-generation owner of Sun Tile Corporation, the Buda, TX flooring installation company his father founded in 1984. More than 75,000 installations completed across Austin and Central Texas.
Planning Flooring for Your Austin Custom Home
Custom home flooring requires a different approach than production or remodel work. The flooring becomes an integral part of the architectural design — not just a surface to walk on. Start the flooring conversation early in the design process, ideally during the schematic design phase. This allows your architect, interior designer, and flooring installer to collaborate on material selections that complement the home's aesthetic vision. Consider the flow between spaces: how will the foyer transition to the great room? Where does tile meet hardwood? These transitions, when planned early, become design features rather than afterthoughts.
Natural Stone: The Ultimate Luxury Statement
Natural stone remains the premier choice for Austin custom home flooring. Marble delivers timeless elegance in master baths and formal spaces. Travertine brings warm, earthy tones perfect for Hill Country aesthetics. Quartzite offers another natural-stone appearance to compare through actual samples. Slate provides organic texture for mud rooms and outdoor transitions. Stone appearance, sealing needs, cleaning guidance, and suitability vary by material and finish. Review the supplier's requirements for the specific selection; natural stone should not be assumed to be maintenance-free. Sun Tile's experienced installers handle the precise cutting and layout that natural stone demands, and can discuss bookmatching options for your project. Heated floor systems beneath stone are a luxury option some homeowners choose to incorporate — worth discussing with your designer if eliminating cold tile mornings matters to you.
Exotic and Specialty Hardwoods
Custom homes deserve flooring that makes a statement. Wide-plank white oak with a wire-brushed finish creates modern farmhouse warmth. Walnut delivers rich, dark tones for contemporary spaces. Hand-scraped hickory adds rustic character to Hill Country estates. For truly distinctive installations, consider herringbone or chevron patterns that transform hallways and dining rooms into showpieces. Bookmatched wood floors — where sequential planks are flipped to create mirror-image patterns — represent the pinnacle of wood flooring artistry. These complex installations require experienced installers with years of precision experience.
Large-Format Tile and Modern Design
Large-format porcelain tile (24x48 and larger) has transformed custom home design. Fewer grout lines create a sleek, contemporary aesthetic. Porcelain is available in marble, concrete, and wood-look designs. Compare actual products, costs, care guidance, and intended-use ratings rather than assuming a cost or maintenance advantage. For open floor plans, large-format tile creates visual continuity between indoor and outdoor living spaces — a hallmark of Austin Hill Country design. Review substrate requirements, handling, layout, and allowable surface variation for the selected product and assembly. Bring these details to the Sun Tile team before the installation scope is agreed.