A variety of tile products are widely used in the building industry. Such products range from inexpensive types of products, such as vinyl-asbestos flooring tile, to substantially more costly tile products, such as marble tile. Although the latter are preferred due to their appearance, the use of such materials is not without problems. Ceramic and marble tiles are brittle and tend to crack; therefore, they require special installation techniques involving the setting of the tiles into ultimately rigid cement/mortar bases on a solid dimensionally stable subsurface, and the subsequent filling of the joints between the tiles with grout. Such procedures greatly add to the expense and are not always satisfactory.