Ceramic Tile Articles

Floor Tile Types:

Glazed Ceramic – Clay tiles with a liquid glass coating, water resistant available in almost all colours and textures. When choosing a ceramic floor tile make sure that it is made to cope with amount and weight of traffic it will have to handle, all tiles will have a PEI rating:

 (More)

Keeping Floor Tile Grout Clean:

Tiles are the easiest surfaces to clean in your house due to their durable, non-porous nature.

 However, what about the concrete mixture in between your tiles? This is grout which unless it is properly and permanently sealed at the time of installation is porous, which means it is not stain-proof or waterproof.

 If this material becomes tarnished it can ruin the entire look of your flooring, countertop, or shower:

(More)

Ceramic Tiles are Clean Green and Great Value:

When you think of style and innovation in home decoration, perhaps you do not automatically think ceramic tiles?

Many interior designers are now moving towards the extended use of ceramic tiles in new exciting and innovative ways.

Traditionally the ceramic tile has been used only in bathrooms, kitchens and in a limited way in semi outdoor locations such as conservatories.

 The demand for "Green" building materials is however gathering an unstoppable momentum and the common ceramic tile will soon be appearing in unusual locations and some surprising formats throughout the home:

(More) 

Keeping your Tiling Contractor Happy:

Having large tiling jobs done in your bathrooms and kitchens, two of the most frequently used rooms in your house is always going to be a massive logistics problem and great inconvenience. Especially in the case of your bathroom the most private area of your home. It therefore important to realise that there will be times during the project when you may become frustrated that these essential areas of your home are off-limits for quiet a considerable time while. Try to keep in mind what the finished product is going to look like and remember that these days of inconvenience will be well worth the end results. Also, remember that without the hard work and skills of your contractor, the years of enjoyment you'll get from your newly tiled bathroom or other project, wouldn't be possible:

(More)

Valencia Tile Exhibition 2008

My first ever visit to the Valencia Tile Exhibition CEVISAMA 08 Artechnology now in its 26th year and with over 1000 businesses on show.

First impressions; it was big! First thoughts; wear comfortable shoes next year. With over 250,000 square metres of display place over three floors and six halls, a sat-nav devise would have been useful:

(More)

Ceramic Tile Selection

Selecting the proper type of ceramic tile for your project is probably the most important installation decision you will make. Here are some very important tips to help you in your purchase:

(More)

Replacing a Broken Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tiles are among the most attractive and durable floor coverings and, when properly installed and maintained, they can last a lifetime. But as tough as they undoubtedly are, tiles just are not indestructible. Anyone who has dropped a cast-iron casserole or even heavy can of tinned food on a tiled kitchen floor is well aware that the fire-hardened glaze on tile can chip or even crack. Any manufacturing defect or the flexing of an inadequately strengthened subfloor can also cause tiles to crack:

(More)

Tile and Grout Sealants

(More)

Bathroom Renovation Ideas – Preparation and Inspiration by: Madonna Jeffries

Are you tired of the look of your current bathroom layout and feel that it needs a total upgrade? If so you are one of the many people who don’t particularly like the way their bathroom looks.

The bathroom is probably the most overlooked room in your home because most people do not feel that the amount of time they spend there warrants the expenditure of money or energy on undertaking a renovation project:

(More)

Common Ceramic Tile Questions

Q: What is the difference between glazed and unglazed tile?

A: Glazed tile is coated with a surface finish (glaze) fused to the body by firing at very high temperatures. Because of the ease of adding colour, pattern and texture to the glaze, style, colour and design are virtually unlimited. The colour of unglazed tile results from the natural clay of the tile body or pigment added to the clay. The colours are more limited but because that colour extends throughout the tile, wear is not visible:

Q: Will ceramic tile break or chip?

(More)

Tools for Laying Ceramic Tiles

Graph paper is an easy material to get hold of and to use. You can buy graph paper with various sizes of grids; 1/4 inch or 50mm being the most common. Measure the area you are tiling and sketch it so each square on the grid represents 10cm, this should allow you to fit your project on a single A4 sheet of paper. The only other accessories you will need at this planning stage are a ruler, pencil, and eraser. Graph paper will also come in handy if you are planning to add borders or carry out mixed tile designs; just let each grid represents a tile.

(More)

Further Tile Grouting Tip

I have just been given a further grouting tip that I am sure will work a treat, destroy your marriage possibly, but it sounds like a real help.

Beg or borrow a cake decorating or icing bag, there will be various metal tips with the bag, choose the one nearest in diameter to your required tile joint width.

(More)

Laying Ceramic Floor Tiles

Setting out

If you have one wall that is more visible than the others, you will want your tile to be square to this wall. Snap a chalk line or draw a line out 90 degrees from the centre of this wall to the opposite wall.

Next, find the centre of this line and draw a line perpendicular to it that runs into the remaining two walls. Double check that these lines are perfectly square; these are your starting reference lines.

(More)

The Art of Tiling

It is commonly thought that professional tilers must be hired to install ceramic tiles. It is assumed that it takes years of practise and special tools to achieve that perfect finish. Years ago this might have been the case, but new tiles, tools and techniques have made tiling easier for the do-it-yourself amateur.

(More)

How To Fix Tiles In Corners Like A Pro   by Callistus Amadi  

Most floor-tilling works include at least one or two spots where a tile must be notched to fit around the outside of a wall, cabinet or doorway. Fixing tiles in corners like this could be a Herculean task for beginners. Most of them fail because they do not know how to mark tiles. But it is not actually that difficult. Or do you think that those guys that do it have two heads? Of course they not. All you need to know is how they do it and that is what I am going to show you right now. So, keep reading and in a couple of seconds you will learn how to fix tiles in corners like pro. To accurately mark the tile for cutting, put away measure an do what the professionals do: direct- marking.

Start by setting the tiles to be cut on top of the full- size tile closest to the corner. Be sure its edges are aligned with the tile below. Next, set another full tile on top with one of its edges pressed against the corner. Run a felt- tip pen or pencil along the edge of the top tile to mark the first cut line onto the middle tile. Now, move the two tiles to the other side of the corner. The area outlined by the two intersecting cut lines is the part of the tile that must be notched out.

Direct- marking eliminates measuring mistakes and works great for all types of floor tiles, including glazed ceramics, vinyl, wood parquet and plastic laminate.

About the Author

Callistus Amadi is a home improvement consultant. He provides do-it-yourself home improvement tips at http://www.diyhomeimprovementtips.com.

Ceramic Materials And Their Uses   by Victor Epand  

The word Ceramics is derived from the Greek word Keramos which means potter's earth or clay. Therefore, ceramics may be considered to be material made from naturally occurring clay or earth. Scientifically, ceramics are compounds of metallic and non-metallic elements. There are also manufactured ceramic materials such as diamond, SiC and Si3N4 and so on. In modern applications, a broader definition applies to the term ceramic, that is everything that is not a metal or organic material.

(More)

Floor and Wall Tiles Some of the More Popular    by Rob Smith  

There are a number of different tile types on the market today below you will find some of the more common types and a brief explanation of each.

(More)

Pick the right tile for the use

By Andrew Caxton

How to choose the proper tiles for the use you have. Explains hardness, porosity and abrasiveness.

One of the most popular choices for flooring today is tile flooring. This is because tile floors combine beauty with long life and are available in an incredibly wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and forms. There is no end to the style choices you have when it comes to decorating your home with tile flooring.

Tile flooring is used in bathrooms, foyers, kitchens and increasingly in other rooms as well. It adds an elegant touch that is noted for it durability. One of the few disadvantages of tile flooring is that is it a fairly permanent decorative addition to the home, because of the way it is installed.

(More)

Waterproofing kit for showers and wet
rooms

Building Adhesives Limited, manufacturers professional tiling grouts and adhesives, highlight growing popularity of wet rooms with their updated, all-in-one pack, 'Waterproofing Kit for Showers'.

BAL highlights all-in-one simplicity of waterproofing kit for showers and wet rooms Building Adhesives Limited, manufacturers of BAL, the UK's leading brand of professional tiling grouts and adhesives, are highlighting the growing popularity of wet rooms with their updated, all-in-one pack, Waterproofing Kit for Showers

The changes have been made to emphasise the simplicity of the system, which provides a complete, easy-to-use waterproofing solution for internal wet-area floors and walls prior to fixing of ceramic tiles

BAL, tile adhesive and grout, has further enhanced its reputation for pioneering product development following a recent award for 'Best new innovation' at the prestigious TTA Awards.

Each carton contains all the products required for the job: BAL Prime APD, Polyester Tape and Matting, and BAL Waterproof Coating.

Reduced and clearer text on the redesigned box is complemented by the inclusion of a new in-kit leaflet with straightforward step-by-step instructions.

Kay Porter, Head of Marketing for Building Adhesives notes that demand for new shower installations is as strong as ever, for both practical and ecological reasons: " Increased density of new housing, space more and more at a premium, the rising trend of single occupancy accommodation and the water-conservation lobby encouraging us to take a shower rather than a bath - in effect, they're all promoting showers".

"But, for anyone having a shower or wet-room installed, the key question is how to ensure it won't leak into adjacent rooms".

"Our system can be trusted to make the walls and floor fully waterproof - and applying it is as simple as painting".

The Waterproofing Kit for Showers system is ideal for power showers and wet rooms because it is flexible, seamless and waterproof, and can be used in areas where some movement may occur.

It has already been proven in industrial and commercial environments as well as residential applications - and is supported by a 10-year guarantee.

Further information is available from Building Adhesives on 01782 591123.

Replacing An Individual Tile

Broken tile? Or maybe you want to install an accent piece or an accessory like a soap dish. Here's how to replace a tile.

Tools you need include:

• Lever-type can opener
• Glass cutter
• Straightedge
• Claw hammer
• Nail set
• Cold chisel
• Ball-peen hammer
• Putty knife
• Grout trowel

Remove the grout. Use the can opener to scrape the grout from the sides of the tile to be removed.

Score the old tile. Use a glass cutter to score a mark across the tile from corner to corner. Use a straightedge as a guide.

Separate the tile. If you can't scrape out all the grout, you need to separate the damaged tile from the adjoining tiles. Otherwise the adjacent tiles can be damaged by the removal of the one tile. One way to separate the tile is to use a small angle grinder with a diamond wheel to saw along the perimeter of the damaged tile. You can completely separate that tile from the tiles around it.

Punch the old tile. Punch a hole in the center of the old tile using the claw hammer and the nail set or a nail.

Break the old tile. Start at the center and chip out the old tile and grout using a cold chisel and a ball peen hammer. Protect your eyes.

Clean the backing. Clean the surface behind the tile with the hammer and cold chisel. Smooth with sandpaper.

Patch backing. Use an appropriate patching material for the backing. Plaster of paris works for gypsum, cement-based material for cement board. Don't overfill.

Apply adhesive. Using a putty knife apply adhesive to the new tile or fixture.

Set the new piece. Using a hammer and a wood block set the new tile in place level with the other tiles. Use spacers and masking tape to hold it in place.

Grout. Remove the spacers and tape. Apply grout with a rubber-face trowel or a putty knife. Clean the face of the tile with a damp sponge then rub with a clean cloth.

Those are the easy steps to replace a tile.

Go to source web page: Installing Ceramic Tile Yourself Plus Shower Pans And More