Ever-Wear Tile Company By Art Nadler Sharon Ream first saw the ad in Entrepreneur Magazine, a Southern California publication dedicated to helping would-be businessmen and businesswomen start their own business. It stated that a franchise for a floor-tile company cost a mere $15,000. "It was only a 2-inch article," Ream remembers. "I picked it up, read it and must of thrown it in the trash five times. But I kept picking it out and finally contacted the guy in Florida and got a video on the business." After reviewing the information, Ream and her husband, Doug, decided to take the plunge in 1995. A year later, they actually found themselves making floor tiles at their 20-acre ranch in Fallon, NV. Sharon immediately fell in love with her newfound career.

"I wanted to be my own boss and do something with my own hands," Ream says. "I love all kinds of tile. It's intriguing." The Reams make four patterns of rustic tile in 15 colors. They can also create custom colors and designs on special request. Their tiles are cement based and measure a half-inch in thickness, a quarter inch thicker than more expensive ceramic tiles and cheaper Mexican tiles. The couples' stone tiles sell from $2.50 to $3 per foot-square. Walking to a white building not far from her home and showroom, Ream steps inside and begins pulling out the tools of her trade. She holds one of many white plastic mold trays used to form a cement tile. Behind her are wooden shelves that resemble postal mail slots. Here, the molds are stacked until the tiles harden. Ream says the wet cement must be vibrated with a special machine when it is poured into a mold in order to release air bubbles that would weaken the tile. It takes a day for the cement to set, after which a sealant is applied. In the final step, the tile is placed on a shelf for another day to dry. "We have made as many as 900 tiles a day, but 600 tiles is considered a good day," Ream says. "Our tiles are really strong, and they are freeze resistant. You'll probably break what you drop on the floor before you break one of our tiles. But you have to like the rustic look of the tile." Ream says she'd like to see more contractors throughout the state use her tiles, rather than ordering from retail stores. Currently, she sells primarily in northern Nevada. Mexican tiles, she explains, are made from clay and held together with lime and dirt. The lime may burst, which is why a lot of Mexican tiles have holes in them and are brittle. "We use a lot of crushed sand and dyes and special additives in the cement," Ream says. "My product is made in Nevada, with Nevada ingredients and is for Nevadans. Ream says the problem her company runs into is that many people want ceramic tiles in their homes. In comparison, she points out that these tiles are generally a quarter inch thick, while Ever-Wear tiles are always a half-inch in thickness. Mexican tiles, referred to as "pavers" because they are used to pave roads in Mexico, sell for from 69 to 99 cents apiece, Ream says. While cost is a decisive factor for many contractors and homebuyers, Ream says quality wise, her tiles are far superior. When Ream and her husband started the Ever-Wear Tile Company there were only five plants nationwide making tiles, Sharon Ream says? Now, she estimates that there are at least a dozen. Besides the square hazelnut Mexican-style and hexagon slate and brick looks, the Reams also make several garden tiles depicting rural scenes and flower and sun images. For more information, contact: the Ever-Wear Tile Company, 2121 Coleman Road, P.O. Box 2456, Fallon, NV. 89407-2456. Phones: (775) 423-6221. Their web address is: www.ever-wear.com.