Kitchen Ideas: Glazed or Unglazed Tiles

March 9, 2011 | Author: admin

Splashbacks are essential kitchen fixtures that offer functionality as well as style in any kitchen. They are especially effective in protecting kitchen walls from splashes and spills that can permanently leave stains and ruin an unprotected wall. While they are particularly functional, style is their most sought after quality. There are many materials that can be used for kitchen splashbacks including ceramic, porcelain, wood and stone kitchen tiles.

Ceramic and porcelain are elegant when used as tile splashbacks, however, they can be quite delicate and may easily break from hard impact. Wood tiles are also elegant in the kitchen. When properly chosen and matched with wooden kitchen furniture and fixtures, they can be particularly effective in giving a traditional feel. The downside of using wood is its tendency to be prone to denting from hard impact as well. A tile made of stone on the other hand, is durable and does not easily break or chip even with heavy force. Glazed marble, travertine, granite and other natural stones are readily available in the market. They are especially charming in the kitchen with their natural colors and patterns.

Is unglazed stone tile suitable for kitchen splashbacks?

While stone tiles are numerous in the market today, those created especially for kitchen splashbacks are glazed and polished to resist stains and marks that could ruin the look of the kitchen. Stone tiles are naturally porous and the glaze basically seals the material. This prevents water and other liquids from penetrating the material and avoid stains and eventual corrosion of water.

Unglazed stone tiles are not recommended for splashbacks as they do not have the necessary protection against spills and splashes. Using unglazed stone can become a disaster once stains accumulate together with molds and mildew which can grow between the pores of the stone. However, because of their attractive quality, they can be used as accent tiles placed on the upper portion of the splashbacks where spills and splashes cannot reach them.

Choosing a splashback tile for the kitchen needs to be properly planned in order to get a great deal of functionality and style. There are many factors to consider when buying splashbacks. Durability should always be a priority. When using them on frequently used kitchens, they should be durable enough to withstand constant abuse. They should also be chosen according to the budget of homeowners. There are cheap bargains available in the internet and even in your local home improvement stores.

 

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How to Install Granite over Ceramic Tiles

March 1, 2011 | Author: admin

Ceramic tiles are usually chosen for a given area of the home because they look so nice and shiny. When folks want something different or want to upgrade to something as beautiful as granite tile, they often wonder if there is a better way to install it that does not entail the ceramic tile be pounded out of their place. This is possible with a few things to keep in mind for the betterment of the whole job.

There are a couple of ways to accomplish this. First and easiest is to rough up the ceramic kitchen tile surface. To do this using an electric sander with 80 grit paper will do the trick nicely. Then use a mortar based adhesive across the surface. Place the granite with about 1/16th of an inch between each new tile. For a nicer job there are ways to measure this precisely for each tile.

Allow this to dry for twenty four hours. Go back in and use a tool called a rubber float to insert the grout. Use a finger or a sponge to gently smooth the grout and shape it the way that will look best. When finished, let this dry for twenty four hours too. The last thing that needs to be done at this point is to use a small paint brush to apply the grout sealer. This must be done very carefully so the substance will not stain the tiles.

When installing a granite tile floor over an existing tile floor there are a few other things to be concerned with. First of all, the floor absolutely must be level. Testing this should always come first.  Next one must make sure the ceramic is well bonded to its original surface. Another method that works for making certain there is a good bond between the ceramic and the granite is to use a latex adhesive over the tile. This method should allow the step of roughing up the smooth ceramic surface to be skipped.

Granite Tiles

The grouting and laying steps are still the same. A few tools that will be needed are:

•             Choice of adhesive

•             Tape measure

•             Notched trowel

•             Chalk line

•             Wet saw

•             Unsanded grout

•             Rubber float

•             Sponge

•             Grout sealer

•             Tiny paint brush

Using these methods will give the kitchen, bath or other surface tiles the same beautiful look that was desired in the beginning. Once the job is all done and has been allowed to set up, the room will be ultimately transformed.

 

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Repairing and Maintaining Splashbacks For Kitchens

February 23, 2011 | Author: admin

The splashbacks for kitchens are important in any household. They can buff up your kitchen’s overall appearance, as well as, safeguard the walls in your kitchen’s food preparation area. As the industry for home improvement advances, splashbacks for kitchens also come in all sorts of different types of materials such as tiles, wood and even glass.

Tiles are one of the most commonly used materials for splashbacks in many kitchens nowadays. These kitchen tiles are easily available in stores, and they come in many kinds of shapes and style options for tiling. Some are easy to maintain, while others requires special detergent to protect the splashbacks from streaks and damage.

Tiling tile has its own do’s and don’ts that you must understand to preserve its beauty. As a rule of thumb, whenever the kitchen tiles are stained, make sure you clean them instantly, because stains can discolor them. The tiling tile can still crack and chip if too much force and pressure is exerted on it. If you have to move any furniture or kitchen equipment close to the splashbacks, make sure you have them fitted with protectors to avoid knocking them.

splashbacks for kitchens

If you have a few cracked tiles, they can be easily repaired by replacing them with a newer ones. But make sure that the tile you intend to replace looks the same with the rest that are on the walls or it will ruin your splashback appearance.

The new kitchen tile must be waterproof with a sanitary silicone sealant on all its side upon attaching it on the wall in order to prevent mold and fungus from growing on it. This mold and fungus can spread harmful bacteria that could contaminate your food.

If you have trouble or inexperience in repairing tiles, hire a professional or find an experienced person to install newer ones for you.

 

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How to Care for Bathroom Floor Tiles

February 22, 2011 | Author: admin

Nothing can improve the looks and value of a bathroom like installing high quality floor tiles. They make the entire room look spacious and clean. On the other hand, Linoleum tends to fade over time and is difficult to maintain. The shiny finish wares down, and that means it has to be waxed regularly. Not many folks have the time to do that today. However, none of these problems are realized when floor tiles are installed because the surface is designed to last. They must be properly maintained, but that is not hard to do.

The first step when caring for your bathroom floor tiles is to sweep them with a soft bristle broom or vacuum. This is to remove the obvious dirt, and it is a common step to take when cleaning any floor. The stubborn spots should be scrubbed with a nylon pad or brush using some cleaning solution that is made just for tiles. Several cleaning solutions are available, and they can be purchased just about anywhere. Be sure to follow the dilution instructions. A word of caution, regular cleaners and bleach will leave dull spots. Therefore, it is always best to use a tile cleaner.

Bathroom floor tiles

Next, mop the tile with a cotton mop and the tile cleaner to catch any of the small dirt the sweeping may have left behind. In addition, remember to make a pass using just warm water. This is done to rinse off any residue the cleaning solution may leave behind. At this point, a sealer can be used to protect the grout. Once the floor is dry, any items that were removed can be replaced. The entire process only takes about ten minutes to do in a regular sized bathroom. If done regularly the finish on the tiles should last the life of the house.

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Two Types of Mortar Used When Tiling a Kitchen Counter

February 19, 2011 | Author: admin

Kitchen tiles can be used to make beautiful and fully customizable counters. One great thing about using tile for the kitchen counter is that the materials are fairly inexpensive and almost anyone can install the tile with a little help from the countless articles and videos on the web. When it comes to laying tile there are a few different types of substrates that can be used; such as cement board or a mortar bed. We will take a look at the different types of mortar substrate to learn a little more about them and their uses.

Mortar comes in a couple of different types. There is deck mud and fat mud. Deck mud is popular because it is a dryer mortar that won’t shrink or crack as easily. When installing tile on a kitchen counter deck mud is used to cover the horizontal surfaces. This is because it isn’t as sticky as its fat mud cousin and it won’t hold its shape. Deck mud requires a guide, such as cap metal, to help it keep its form but when used on large surfaces it is better to use than fat mud.

tiling a kitchen counter

Fat mud is a wetter, stickier substance than deck mud. This type of mortar gets its stickiness from the lime that is in the mixture. Because this material can adhere to surfaces better and hold its shape it is mainly used on vertical surfaces. Fat mud will be used in tiling kitchen backsplashes or wall tile in either the kitchen or the bathroom. Another great area to use fat mud is along the edges of the cutouts for the sink or range. Typically the cutouts for appliances in countertops do not have guides around them like the outside of the counter. Since fat mud can hold its shape it is a great mortar to use on those open edges.

Mortar is a popular choice when it comes to laying tile because it is a strong and durable material. It is also great to use because it is easy to level giving the homeowner the ability to have a level counter surface even if the lower kitchen cabinets are not level.

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