Floor Tiles - Perfect Floor Tiles

There are many different types of floor tiles but the main ones which you are probably going to want to have installed are ceramic floor tiles. Ceramic floor tiles are made from clay which is then baked at a very, very high temperature meaning that the tile is going to be very strong and be able to put up a lot of resistance, therefore meaning that your floor tiles will last a long time compared to other tiles which are less resistant.

Ceramic floor tiles can have different finishes which can result in different looks and feels at the end. They can be glazed with a layer of liquid glass on the top which will be a smooth, nice looking finish and then you can have them unglazed leaving a much more natural looking finish to the floor tiles. Also a rustic feel can be given to these untreated ceramic tiles.
Ceramic floor tiles take very little work to maintain them as they do not hold onto dirt and the fact that they are extremely easy to clean if they do get dirty means that they are very easy and manageable, you are able to easily clean them using water and a cloth or mop.

Another really big bonus about using ceramic floor tiles is that they are very fire resistant meaning that they will not go up in flames at all. They can even help keep the structure of the building they are in as they will not set alight at all. This means that people that have a thing for safety or anyone for that matter can feel a lot safer with these tiles installed.

A few of the factors that you need to take into consideration when looking for floor tiles are resistance, slip resistance and hardness. All these factors will need to be determined before you go ahead and find the right tile. You are going to want to know how slip resistant they are because you do not want anyone slipping over all the time when they get wet or if they are slippery then you will need to know what you need to do if they are slippery as different tiles have different treatments to clean and repair them.

Floor tiles or should I say tiles in general can last for decades if they are kept right and even some tiles have lasted thousands of years, this goes to show just how effective a simple tile can be, they can make your house or building look great and be easy to maintain and last a very, very long time if kept right. You can have floor tiles on a wall and vice versa with wall tiles, this is a great thing about tiles that they can be adapted easily for what they need to be used for,

Another thing that you may want to think about before getting your tiles is the width and colour of the grout joints that you are going to have holding your tiles together. This can make your tiles look good or it can make them look bad with the wrong grouting.

Good luck finding your perfect floor tiles.

By: David Kensington

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How to Protect Floor Tiles

Taking cues from experts and watching videos on how to install floor tiles will help you get that perfect floor you always wanted. If you follow the steps for laying floor tiles correctly, the job will be finished in no time and before you know you will have a brand new floor.

Now once you have laid the floor tiles and your floor looks stunning, you would probably want to maintain that for long. Although you cannot possibly avoid the wear and tear that comes with time, there are ways to ensure that your tiled floor lasts for long in good condition. We will now see some tips on how to protect floor tiles.

• Before installing floor tiles make sure that you have stored the tiles in a safe location. While installing the floor tiles be careful handling the tiles. If dropped, the tiles may break.

• Use a sub floor while laying the floor tiles. A sub floor will prevent the tiles from cracking or loosening. It will also ensure that you do not get weeping tile problem as it locks moisture away. In long run a sub floor helps your floor last better.

• You can use grout protection coating to protect the grout from discolouration and make it easier to clean.

• You can choose to apply a protective coating on your floor to protect it. However if such a coat is used remember to maintain it properly or else it may wear off at heavy traffic areas and would eventually look very odd. Remember to weigh the pros and cons of using a protective coating as often maintaining the coating may end up costing you more.

• Clean your floor tiles regularly using a non-alkaline and non-acidic environment friendly cleaner. Use a damp mop or a sponge to clean the floor. Remember to check that the cleaner you are using is suitable for your floor tile. Avoid using soap or vinegar to clean your ceramic floor as it may lessen the shine.

• Floor tiles are breakable and a cracked tile in the middle of your floor can never be appealing! So avoid using heavy machinery on your tiled floor and take care that you do not drop anything heavy on your floor.

These easy to follow steps can come handy in having a long lasting tile floor. So even though your job ends after installing the tiles, if you want your floor to remind you of the hard work that you had put in while installing the floor tiles, for years to come, you may want to take that extra little step in protecting your floor as well.

Doing it yourself and taking up a home project of renovating your floor and installing floor tiles is a very enriching experience in itself. The effort that you would put in preparing the layout of the design of your floor, then carrying out a dry run, laying down the adhesive, placing the tiles and finally applying the grout to create the floor would only be enhanced if it is maintained and protected well.

If you would like to learn more before you start your project so you are totaly prepared. Then you need to CLICK HERE to learn what you need to do.

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Are Tiles Suitable for a Bedroom Floor?

A friend of mine works as an interior designer for the rich and famous and I happened to mention that I needed to replace my bedroom carpet as it was a bit old and threadbare. He then told me that more and more people are opting for porcelain floor tiles in the bedroom. At first I thought this was pretty funny. I told my friend in no uncertain terms that I didn't want to sleep in a bathroom!

He then went on to convince me to look into it though as he had a solution for every objection I raised.

My main concern was the look of it. My previous comment about the bathroom still stuck with me, but he then went on to tell me about all the gorgeous new porcelain floor tiles you can get that look like marble or resemble natural stone. I have to say it's a good few years since I went shopping for tiles and I could only really picture the glossy small square bathroom wall tiles you used to get. My friend fired up his laptop and showed me some of the tiles you can get these days and I have to say they looked amazing and really there were tiles to suit any room at all, even a bedroom!

My next concern was safety. I'm not the most alert first thing in the morning and having to negotiate slippery floor tiles underfoot didn't seem like such a good idea. My friend assured me that you could get plenty of non-slip porcelain floor tiles. He reminded me of all the hotel bathrooms I'd used on my frequent business trips and he was right of course, they all had non-slip tiles on the floor.

Then my concern was that it would be cold. Floor tiles are great in summer, that's why they work so well in warm countries. I'm happy with terracotta floor tiles underfoot when I'm on holiday in Spain, but not in the UK. I want a warm cosy bedroom, not a cold one! Of course there was a simple solution to this objection too. Under floor heating. Apparently it works especially well under porcelain floor tiles as they warm up quickly then retain the heat well. He also suggested that if I wanted a cosier feel I could simply add some rugs.

There were some other good reasons to tile the bedroom floor that I hadn't thought of too. floor tiles are much more hygienic than carpet. They simply don't harbour dust and germs like a carpet does. Tiles are also much easier to keep clean and they are a lot more hard wearing than carpet so it would mean a much longer time before I'd have to replace the flooring again, so it would also probably work out pretty economical. So anyway after all these facts he convinced me to give it a try. I could always lay a carpet on top if I hated it, and I have to say I actually love my tiled bedroom floor. The underfloor heating is amazing; it's so warm and cosy on the coldest of winter days. I'm really glad I chose this option now.

Vinyl Floor Tiles - Perfect Choice For Flooring

It is among the best options to enhance the interior décor of your home. it has significant features that make it a top priority among interior designers. The beauty of your home depends partially on the type of floorings that you choose to install. So it is important to choose stylish, durable and affordable floorings to embellish your home.

Reasons Why Vinyl Floor Tiles are Preferred

There are endless benefits or advantages of using vinyl floor tiles in your home. Some of the most important benefits include:

Easy installation: It is very easy to install unlike the other flooring materials. Similar to stone flooring in appearance, it can be installed by anyone. Moreover, it can be easily cut into any shapes and designs which make it even more versatile and popular.

Highly resistant: It is known for their high resistance to pressure and traffic. It can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms too because it is stain resistant and does not react with acid or alkaline.

Durability: Long lasting and tensile are the two most important qualities attributed to these floor tiles. Most often we seldom tend to change our floorings so it is important to use long lasting floor tiles which can endure spills and pets too.

Easy to clean: It is quite easy to clean and maintain. As it does not absorb liquids or cause any sort of stains, it can be installed in kitchens too. It can be maintained cleanly by just mopping it with soap and water.

Innumerable designs and shapes: It is perhaps the only kind that can be cut into various shapes and designs to create beautiful floors.

Cost effective: Compared to ceramic tiles and other flooring options like wood, marble and granite, it is cheaper and an excellent alternative to expensive floor tiles. These tiles appear similar to ceramic and wooden floorings but are relatively cheaper in cost. Does not produce sound: Another notable advantage of these floor tiles is that it can suppress sounds and does not create echoes while walking.

Buying Vinyl Floor Tiles Online

An interesting variety of these tiles can be bought from manufacturers listed in the online directories. There are numerous online stores that offer a diverse range of designs of flooring tiles at different prices. You can easily choose type of flooring you require for your home.

It can actually be divided into two, mainly-the VCT or the Vinyl Composite Tile and the Solid Vinyl. The VCT contains fillers and additives whereas the Solid vinyl contains a pure form of vinyl without any additives.

With their infinite qualities, It is much in demand in the markets today. You can find endless designs, colors and shapes of these to amplify the beauty of your rooms. Though the branded floor tiles are quite expensive there are many other varieties which are equally superior in quality.

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Floor Tiles - Cover Your Home

Are you considering on having some Floor Tiles installed in your home? Well, that is a rather great choice. It is elegant, economical, and best of all, efficient and easy to clean. There are a few things you may need to keep in mind when selecting tiles to be installed for you to have the best outcome there could possibly be in this sort of flooring. There are different kinds of Floor Tiles; the most common ones are made from porcelain, ceramic or stone.

First off, you must be able to distinguish Floor Tiles from wall tiles. They make look exactly the same and you may get inclined to the design of wall tiles as they often have great designs. You must always keep in mind that having wall tiles installed on your floor may look great but may not be safe and may not withstand the same amount of wear and tear of a floor over a wall. Floor Tiles are thicker and are often given a finish which is greater in safety to walk on.

Cleaning is a breeze when it comes to Floor Tiles; especially if it was finished with gloss and treatment. You can mop it and sweep it as you please without having to worry about the stains or liquids to set in. If your concern is the possibility of scratches on the surface due to the weight of the fixtures and furniture in the room, you could always use non-slip and scratch free tapes on the base of the furniture so you can move it freely without having to worry about damaging the surface or hiding furniture marks.

Tag : floor,flooring ,floor tiles,floor covering,hardwood floor

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How to Tile a Floor - Laying Floor Tiles

Ceramic floor tiles look great and provide a hardwearing, waterproof surface for a kitchen, hall or bathroom or conservatory.

However, although it must be said laying floor tiles isn't a job for the complete novice a competent amateur do it yourself enthusiast should be able to tackle laying plain ceramic or quarry floor tiles.

Firstly take your time and work carefully and methodically remembering that the key is preparation and planning.

Make sure your surfaces are suitable; the surface must be smooth, level and dry. Any existing wooden floorboards should be covered with 12mm (1/2in) exterior grade plywood sheets screwed down to form a level working surface. Concrete floors are of course the perfect base but before you commence work check that there is a damp-proof course. If not you should have one installed before starting work. You will need to fill any rough, ragged or uneven areas in the concrete with a self-levelling compound.

Plan the layout of your tiles so you know where they will all go before you even think about laying the first one. It is best to lay them out in the room to see how it will look. Pay close attention to corners, fitted cabinets, baths and toilets etc. You must remember that the tiles need to be laid out so that any part tiles do not show up in highly visible areas. Laying floor tiles around those areas where cuts are necessary is the trickiest part of tiling but if you take your time, measure and cut carefully, you should be able to get excellent results.

As already stated the secret of successful diy tiling is to spend time working out the tile positions - this is called setting out. First mark the mid-points of the longest wall and that is most visible from all the others and repeat for the adjacent shorter wall. Make chalk lines from each of the marks you have made so that you have a pair of lines that cross. . These lines should be perpendicular to each other. A chalk snap line is an inexpensive way to "draw" a long line between two points, when a ruler is not feasible. First, shake up the chalk inside the snap line tool (or add chalk if it doe not have any). Then, hook one end of the chalk snap line to your beginning point. If you have a well-functioning chalk snap line, you can slowly play out the line without using the crank. If the line plays out with difficulty, then be sure to use the crank to reduce the strain on the line. The way to get an accurate chalk line is having the chalk line pulled very tight when you snap it, as the more tension is on the string when you pull it up the more precise the line will be when you let go. Make sure the line is firmly resting against the floor surface. If there is any gap between the line and the surface, then it will not work. Hold back the line one inch as if drawing back the string for a bow and arrow. Let go: that is your "snap." Once you have completed this, make two marks with a pencil outlining the most central tile where the two perpendicular reference lines intersect.

Once you have completed this task layout some of the tiles along the perpendicular lines and observe if they run out in a way that will limit cutting. Once this is completed, remove the tiles and prepare for the actual installation.

Laying floor tiles or any diy tiling can be quite a daunting prospect and it's quite easy to make a complete mess of it. For complete peace of mind if you do not feel confident about tackling the work yourself call in professional tiling contractors.

Calling in a professional to help with your tiling work might not be as expensive as you think. If you would like to get a better idea of the cost of professional to help with your tiling jobs visit http://www.lptiling.co.uk Having problems with Laying floor tiles? Why not contact us now, we can help.

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Floor Tiles - How to Effectively Install Them

If your house is new or is under renovation, you will definitely need to install new tiles for your floor to give it a fresh and elegant look. And a well-planned design and good installation have an important part in completing this project. Think about this, you may spend large sum of money for buying tiles with nice designs, however, if you installed them incorrectly, they will just look cheaper than they are really worth. So, you really have to pay extra attention with installing your floor tiles at home.

If you want to achieve the best look for your home, keep these things in mind when installing floor tile:

1. Be sure that you have a rough draft of the tiling pattern to use. When preparing the rough draft, use the actual dimensions of the tiles and the area to be tiled. After you have estimated the required number of tiles needed, add a few more in case there will be breakage during the installation process.

2. Next, make certain that the area to be tiled is clean. You can also level the floor first by cementing the floor. Leveling the floor will avert any tile breakage when they are already in place. Or another option to level the floor is to place plywood on the floor and then mount the tiles on them.

3. Once you have set everything up and you're ready to lay the tiles, begin in the middle of the room and continue laying the tiles down in the direction of the walls.

4. When you realized that the tile is too big to fit in a particular space, you can simply cut them using a tile cutter.

Lastly, after you have laid all the tiles, you must seal all the joints between the floor tiles. This will prevent stains and dirt from getting in the tile spaces. If you will follow these tips, you will definitely achieve your desired look for that particular space.

Tag : floor,floor tiles,floor installation,flooring,hardwood floor

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Limestone Floor Tiles by Mother Nature

There are a lot of choices out there when it comes to choosing what type of hard surface you want to use in your home. If you're like most homeowners, you travel to the local showroom and you find hundreds of products to choose from. There are laminate, wood, man-made materials, and natural stone, made by Mother Nature, and it all comes in every color under the rainbow.

To further complicate matters, certain products can only be used for floor, and some products have many uses. Limestone is one of those products that has many uses. From counter-tops to floors, back splashes to shower cubicles, the benefits of limestone tiles are almost endless.

This natural stone is a popular choice for many reasons. While the reasons why you should consider limestone floor tiles in your next project are almost endless, here are five that show the versatility in the product.

1. Limestone flooring has a distinctive look and natural beauty. With a wide range of colours to choose from, they are equally stunning in traditional or contemporary settings. They also work equally well in a formal, or more casual setting.

2. The limestone flooring tiles can be used in basically every room in your home. Flexibility is one of the key benefits If you're replacing a bathroom floor, or even a kitchen back splash, be sure to consider limestone floor tiles for surface. Its flexibility makes it a great product for all your design needs.

3. It is a natural product. With the growing interest in reducing our carbon footprint, using stone tiles is becoming a popular way of doing that. Since it doesn't require any manufacturing, your impact on the environment will be lessened.

4. They are hard, oil resistant, and have low porosity. Limestone floor tiles offer a very durable solution for high traffic areas and ensure your improvements are in great shape for a long time to come. With the beauty and durability of limestone floor tiles, you will be satisfied for many years to come.

5. Limestone is easy to maintain and is very hygienic as it does not allow bacteria to grow. This makes it perfect for kitchen or bathroom due to the moisture typically found in those rooms. You will be able to keep it clean with ease, and not have to worry about mold and other bacteria because you chose limestone flooring.

You will love your stone floor, counter-tops, shower surround, or anywhere else you decide to use limestone tiles. And in the event that you decide to place your home on the market, you will get a nice return on your investment!

Tag : floor,limestone floor,flooring,floor tiles,floor covering

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7 Tips to Tile Floors Successfully

Building your new house and floor is something you want to be special? Just think of tiles. It is not impossible or really tough to get nice finish in tiles. You can achieve a great of floor with tiles completing a great look of your dream home. But this is not Child's play either, few things you need to follow to get a great finish in floors, and this article is going to describe you that.

Firstly you need to plan about the way you want the floor to be. You can take paper and scale and draw down the design you want. Note down the measurements of the room and also the tiles, and calculate how many tiles actually you need. This way you can avoid buying extra tiles and save money, but buy few extra as backup I case the tiles which are to be used get broken

You need to make sure that the floor surface is rock solid and even in nature. If the floor surface remains soft, a chance of tiles being broken will be there. And same may happen if the floor surface is not even. The tile may get cracked, and you will need to replace it, if you see the floor in not a good condition then first put cement on the floor to make it solid and even, so that your tiles remain safe.

Before setting up the tiles clean up the whole floor, make sure that there is no water or oil or anything that may cause problem while you try to set tiles on the floor with adhesive.

Start from the center and go forward towards the wall. Whatever design you want to make it in center, and use those cut tiles o the edge near the wall.

First you can do the laying of whole tiles, when the time to set the cut tiles comes, go and call to a professional tile cutter, it will save your time and give your work more perfection. Fewer amounts of tiles will be wasted with a smoother finish. You can first test your floor first if it is safe for your tiles.

You can try with plywood, and check if it is even and the tiles will not break after you lay them on the floor.

Do not forget to seal the joints, otherwise dirt and water will go inside and make the tiles loose.

Rahul Arora has been a Web Developer for the last 4 years and is an expert in onpage SEO and creating web apps. You could always follow his blog at http://blog.dir.vc/

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Two Classifications of Floor Tiles

You can be like an expert home designer and Raleigh home improvement professional with proper designing and effective planning. When you are properly informed of the functional and practical considerations about home improvement, you will easily turn your home into a most beautiful piece of property.

One of the more important aspects of Raleigh home improvement is the flooring of your home. There are many design and material options to choose from when deciding on the final finish and look of the floor and the home interiors. Are you going for the rustic or rugged finish with stone cladding or do you prefer the smooth finish of a ceramic or porcelain tile Raleigh. There are still quite a number people who can't distinguish ceramic from porcelain tiles. If you are serious about sprucing up your home interiors, then the types of tiles and other equally important aspects of home improvement must be adequately understood.

There are two major classifications of floor tiles. These are porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles. Non-porcelain tiles are also known as ceramic tiles. Under the porcelain tile main category, there are three sub-types, namely, glazed porcelain, natural porcelain and polished porcelain. The natural porcelain types are generally known as unpolished and unglazed. These dense tiles have 0.5% and less absorption rate making them extremely resistant to frost. Further, porcelain tiles also come in 3 common finishes; high polished, unglazed and matted finish.

The natural porcelain tile Raleigh has less than 1% absorption rate. However, the absorption rate has no relation to the tile surface as this type of porcelain tiles is referred to as through body tiles. This type of porcelain tiles follows different design and texture between the top half and the bottom half thus being referred to as double loaded tiles.

On the other hand, glazed tiles can be completely glazed or partially glazed. The degree is achieved by altering the process of tile manufacturing. The overall absorption rate of glazed tiles is 0.50%. However, there are a few glazed tiles whose absorption can go as low as .10% especially when the top layer of tile is made of pure clay. What is great about glazed tiles is that you can do further polishing.

Polished porcelain tile Raleigh comes with a near granite finish with an unglazed tile surface. This type of porcelain tiles are actually natural porcelain tiles that went through an extensive surfacing polishing process. They undergo additional process during the manufacturing of the tiles to increase their resistance. The manufacturing process creates pores on the surface. Thus, it is important that the prescribed sealer is used while doing the grouting work and tile setting. Failure to do the necessary sealing would lead to the staining of the tiles.

When deciding on the specific type of porcelain tiles for your home improvement projects, it is important that you consider the overall look that you want to achieve and the specific needs and requirements of the floor surface you are working on. In cases where the situation warrants expert advice, you may consider to get technical advice from interior design experts.

Chuck R. Stewart was very impressed with some porcelain tile Raleigh installation he had done in his home. He also was very impressed with some of the Raleigh home improvement firms he saw at the home improvement convention.

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Installing Ceramic Tile Floor

While carpets, vinyl and laminates are fine, for a beautiful looking floor you should consider installing a ceramic tile floor. Learning how to install ceramic floor tile can be a fun project, especially for people who love the do it yourself jobs at home. The history of ceramic goes back over thousands of years and it is a very old craft that humans have been doing for a centuries.

Installing a ceramic tile floor does not take a very long time and if you ask a professional ceramic layer, they can tell you that the process of preparing an area is very important, which is why it is the longest part of the project. Make a plan and cut the pieces before you begin the task of installing ceramic tile floor. It can be frustrating at times but after you learn how to install ceramic floor tile, the job will be much easier and the finished results will look spectacular.

The first thing that you should do before installing ceramic tile floor is to remove every item and furniture that you possibly can. You want the room cleared completely so that you can have access to the entire floor. If you are tiling the kitchen floor, all of the standing appliances will need to go and this includes the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and oven. For a bathroom you will need to take out the wall molding, toilets and sinks. You want the tile to fit every where in one seamless motion.

If your floor already has vinyl on it, you will need to have it cut up and tossed away. The adhesive of the vinyl will also need to be removed and you can scrape it or give it a good sanding to make the floor level and even. A great substrate to use for a tile laying project is sheetrock but when tiling a kitchen or bathroom, you should consider using backer boards because it will last longer in moist areas.

The center of any room is the best spot for a spectacular layout, so you should begin to measure and create your floor plan. Try not to have cuts that are too thin around the rooms' border. Be aware that you need to leave room and spaces for the grout when it is added later on.

The process of laying down tiles can be the most time consuming. You should have a space holder that is made of rubbed so that it can show where the grout will be added. A pattern should begin to form once you have laid down a few tiles. Check the height and width of the area so that you can see if you will need to add a little more space for any grout and mastic.

As you complete the tile cutting, feel free to waste a few tiles if necessary while you trim a few of the pieces. You want the layout to be perfect before you start to add the mortar, so everything should look the way you want it to before you move on.

Pick up a few tiles at a time and evenly smooth the mortar onto the backs of them. Use a bit of pressure to lay the tiles in place is you take away the rubber spacers. Repeat this process until all of the tiles have been put into place. Move as quickly as you can because you do not want the mortar to dry while you are still working.

When everything is fit into place and you are happy with the design, you will need to get grout into the spaces around the tiles. Use as much force as you can to get all of the gaps and spaces filled. Using a sponge that can remove grout and adding some water, you can then clean the tops of the tiles. It will take roughly an hour and it should be done quickly before the mortar has time to harden.

Using caulk, move around the edge of the room to seal the outer areas between the tiles and the wall. If everything is as it should be, furniture and items can be put back into the room.

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Ceramic Tiles - Revamp Your Floor and Wall Tiles

The ceramic wall tiles have increased the beauty of several households and commercials. They have been used as a decorative material, since several years. You can find these decorative tiles in several monuments and temples. Their shine and luster adds on to the grandeur of these beautiful places. Hence, people have started utilizing their versatile colors and designs to construct a unique tile layout for their homes.

The ceramic tiles have several advantages that make them suitable for designing your kitchen and bathroom walls or floorings.

Abrasion Resistance: Ceramic tiles are highly durable which makes them suitable for an area that is prone to high stress or strain. These tiles are highly suitable for kitchen floors that witness high foot traffic.

Water Resistant: These tiles are highly suitable for areas that are prone to spills of water. Hence, these tiles don't get deteriorated and provide great service. Therefore, they are ideal as floor or wall tiles.

Fire Resistant: Ceramic tiles have a non-combustive composition which makes them resistant to heat and temperature. Hence, you can utilize them as kitchen wall tile installation.

Dirt Resistant: These tiles are easy to clean and maintain. Hence, all you need is an effective cleansing agent and a soft scrub that can clean the stains without any difficulty. Therefore, you need to maintain a regular cleanliness regime to maintain the beauty of your floor and wall tiles.

Permanent Color: These tiles maintain their beauty for a long time. There everlasting color and texture makes them suitable for decorating outdoor walls and floorings.

Hence, you should utilize the extensive features and beauty of ceramic tiles to decorate your household surroundings. The wall tiles and floor installation can bring a refreshing change to your contemporary home decorations.

So, bring the change now by installing ceramic wall tiles in your homes.

About the Author:-
Jason Colling is a renowned writer, who has written articles on various interior designing techniques related to floor decor. His articles focus on various uses of porcelain tiles , wall tiles kitchen tiles and adhesives.

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Bathroom Floor Tiles - Best Flooring Material For Your Washroom

Ceramic bathroom floor tiles are simply the best because they are durable, beautiful and available at cost effective prices. Price is a big concern for everyone whether he is an average working professional or a businessman. A majority of homeowners choose affordable ceramic slabs and you will be amazed to know that these slabs are also preferred by eminent architects and seasoned home interior designers. These slabs are convenient to install as they set decently on every kind of surface. The good thing about these slabs is that they are highly resilient towards moisture and they can also withstand mild chemicals available in detergents, shampoos and hair colors.

Ideal bathroom floor tiles are ones that are anti-slippery. Ceramic slabs are anti-slippery and one will be amazed to know that these pieces remain anti-slippery even after coming into contact with water and soap. There is no harm in walking over wet ceramic slabs. If there are children and old members in your family then you should be careful when selecting bathroom flooring material. Children and old people can't balance their body on a slippery surface. Families with kids should choose ceramic slabs for their wash rooms because these slabs are anti-slippery.

If you want to give your bathroom the look and feel of a royal bath then consider remodeling you shower room with designer travertine or granite slabs. Travertine bathroom floor tiles are just perfect for every setting. Travertine is a natural stone that is found near hot springs. It is lightweight and beautiful. The great thing about travertine is that it comes in natural colors and you can't two similar stones. Travertine flooring material is expensive than ceramic but you can buy this material at cost effective prices on leading online stone and tiles stores. Granite is also a good choice, if you are willing to spend some extra dollars in your home renovation.

Prior to installing bathroom floor tiles, you should get your plumbing pipes checked for any fault or leakage because a leaking joint or a broken pipe can render all your renovation work redundant. When installing slabs, make sure that are properly grouted and all the gaps between the slabs are filled. It will be much better if you could seal the bathroom slabs. Sealing will provide added protection to the slabs from water and moisture. Or you can choose polished slabs. Polished pieces don't require sealing.

Basement Flooring – What Floor Works Best?

Choosing appropriate flooring is difficult enough without the problems that come with finding floors for a basement complicating things even further. The biggest issue in almost any basement is, of course, unwanted moisture. Moisture seeps in from below through the concrete and has the power to weaken the bond of the adhesive used for floors or tiles, to make hardwood floors buckle and warp and to make carpets acquire that elusive basement smell caused by mold growing below the soft veneer.

Before you go dreaming up designs and making plans for your basement, check to make sure that your floor is suitable for such installations. Take a sheet of impermeable material that is about 3’x3’ big, like a trash bag, for example, and lay it flat on the basement floor, sealing it with tape on all four sides to make sure that no air gets in. Do this in a couple corners and areas by walls as well as in the center of the room. Leave it there for at least a full 24 hours and then check under the bags to see if moisture has accumulated.

If it is damp under the bag, then you have a moisture problem that needs to be resolved before you proceed. Depending on the source and extent of moisture, there are solutions that range from the simple to the annoying. This is a whole separate beast covered in other articles.

So, let’s pretend like in this particular Choose Your Own Adventure novel you turned to the page that cheerily informed you that your basement is dry. Now you can begin to think of your different flooring options.

The main floor coverings available are carpet, hardwood floor, engineered hardwood floor, laminate floor, ceramic and porcelain tile and cement.

In general, carpeting, hardwood floor and laminate floor are not recommended for basements. Variations in humidity, which are common in basements, warp hardwood and laminate floors and encourage mold growth in carpets. Even basements that are treated for moisture related problems can have seasonal trouble with moisture or during excessive rain. Exceptional events can have long-term effects that will leave the floor warped or ruined. If you insist on installing one of the above floors in your basement, take some precautions, like the installation of a vapor guard under the floor. A durable and high density polyethylene sheet with 3/8” tall dimples creates air space between the flooring and the cement slab, trapping any moisture and preventing it from traveling up to the surface of your newly installed floor.

Engineered floor is an excellent alternative to hardwood floor in the basement. Engineered floor is flooring constructed from three to five layers of different hardwood materials with either a hardwood or high density fiberboard core. Because of the layered construction, engineered floor has a higher resiliency to humidity changes that keeps it looking good even in finicky basements. Additionally, engineered floors are thinner, so you can add extra insulation and they have a real hardwood floor layer at the surface, so you can pick the look you want just as you would when sifting through solid hardwood floor.

Another option is laminate floor. Laminate floors are composed of a moisture resistant wood based core, a backing, and a resin based melamine or aluminum oxide decorative surface with a clear layer of aluminum oxide, like a finish on traditional hardwood floors, which strengthens the surface and protects against staining and scratching. Laminate floors are floating floors, meaning they are not attached directly to the sub floor, which makes installation directly on the concrete or putting a vapor guard down easier. Most laminates should be fine to use in basements but when looking at laminate check to make sure the manufacturer does not advise against it, as is the case with certain laminates. Make sure you do the moisture tests, because when laminates do buckle they are difficult to fix.

If you’ve determined that your basement is sufficiently dry and moisture tests have shown the floor to be consistently dry, you may also want to consider ceramic or porcelain tile. The tiles can be installed directly on the cement floor, a durable and good sub floor for tiling (or as a precaution, try installing 2 by 4 inch sleepers, cover with plastic and put in plywood to be used as the sub floor). Check for cracks, which are bad in general and should be fixed before any basement remodeling project ensues, but especially for ceramic tile, as cracks in the cement will actually fracture the tiles at the surface.

Finally, the easiest alternative to more traditional flooring options is painting or staining the cement sub floor that is present in most basements. You have a lot of flexibility with color schemes and any problems that may develop in the floor will remain visible, instead of festering under layers of padding and floors. It is easy to insulate the cold cement floor with a thick throw rug.

No matter which route you choose for your basement floor, below ground installations require that you be especially meticulous in preparing the sub floor for installation and making sure that the space as a whole is suitable for your uses. Get a professional to check your basement’s usability and to recommend a course of action for making it usable if it doesn’t seem to be at first. It may be worth the extra investment, as it would be a shame if your newly renovated basement began to creak, buckle and smell from the mold right after you finished it.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
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Garage Floor Tiles - The Next Project In Your Home

There is not a room left in your house that has to be remodeled. You have done home improvement projects until you feel that at this point in your family’s lifestyle, all has been done that could be done. Is one of you itching for just one more project. Whether it is the husband or the wife, or any combination of the two, you can extend beyond your home and reach out to your garage, and start planning a renovation project that will include a garage floor tile.

If you want to use your garage for the traditional use of storing your car along with tools to keep it in perfect running order, you can find garage floor tile that will bring to mind NASCAR races among other good memories. You can choose from the traditional black and white that has been made into tiles that have a twelve year limited warranty. There are several styles of this type of floor that will be especially attractive on a workshop floor, patios and of course garage floor tile.

When you do your shopping online to find a bargain on a garage floor tile, you will also have to take into consideration the size of the area to be covered with a garage floor tile. If it is a small area, you may want to choose something that is a little more expensive in a garage floor tile design. You may not have to look at the cheapest garage floor tile available when you are shopping for a smaller area.

You can browse sites that will offer you garage floor tile in many colors and sizes. Your garage floor tile can be far from the ordinary if you are determined that your garage floor tile is going to a unique floor and say something about you and what your garage means to you.

It depends on what the use of your garage floor tile has to handle. If your garage is a workshop, you will have to pick a garage floor tile that can handle the risks associated with construction. If you are just going to use it to store your car and off season decorations, then a garage floor tile doesn’t have to be too tough to hold boxes.

Want to learn more about Garage Floor Tiles?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.about-garages.info/Articles/Garage_Floor_Covering.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arturo_Ronzon

Stone Tiles - Best Flooring Option

If you are confused about the flooring of your new house, go for the most assured option - natural stone tiles. These are one of the best flooring materials a homeowner can invest and count on. Stone tiles are beautiful and have incredible durability.

Building a house is often a massive undertaking, and so is the experience - immensely rewarding. Buying a house may cut out all the hassle involved with building one. However, homeowners who want their dream house to be perfect and would never compromise or settle for anything else like to do it themselves. From an image in your mind to a sketch on a paper to the laying of the foundation to the walls and roof and paint, it is indeed watching your dream materializing, brick by brick.

There are hundreds of choices of designs you can build your house with. Villas, bungalows, castle, chalet, cottage, French colonial, mansion, post modern, ranch etc. are few to name. You could also think of designing your house depending on the location, space available, budget, your choice etc. While you are building a house, it is important that you work on the detailing of the house like walls, floors, furniture and so on, as much as you focus on the design. Your hard work on the design could still go to waste if the house has bad quality flooring or unattractive texture on the walls.

A great idea to ensure the strength and durability of the floor and at the same time endow your house with a stately charm is to go for these tiles. You can choose from a wide range of stone tile types including quartz tiles, granite tiles, mosaic tiles, limestone, marble sandstone, ceramic tiles and many more. These tiles are recommended by expert architects and builders for several reasons:

* They are extremely durable.
* They require very less maintenance.
* Their beauty is timeless.
* There are almost endless choices you can choose from.
* Most of them are easy to install and so on.

Apart from indoors, you can use these tiles on the outdoors as well. They are the best when it comes to paving or landscaping. A well paved backyard with these tiles like sandstone and a proper landscaping can never fail to enhance the overall appeal of your house. You can install them and forget about them, focussing your attention on other delicate corners of your home. The durability of these tiles is one that you can totally rely on, in the long run, nor will their texture fade.

Sourcing stone tiles is practically affordable as well. Durable and affordable, they are a good choice for a wise homeowner. Keeping in mind the functionality and practicality of stone tiles, you could even say that they are the best option around. Building your house using them would be environment friendly too. As said, they require least maintenance and their elegance is long lasting. These attributes make stone tiles a good option.

Finding stone tiles for your floor has become easy. Even if you live in an area that has no dealer of stone tiles, you can find hundreds of them on the Internet, without even having to step out of your room. With so many websites that provide stone tiles and other flooring materials, you can surely get the right tile design and material for your house. You can start by evaluating where exactly you want the tile to go in - for instance, on the floors of your rooms or on the garden as pavement etc. Get your budget decided. This is important and the rest of your search and purchase will depend on it too. Before buying the stone tiles, research on the sellers, find out which site has the most option, best quality and deals.

Just like other items are offered in the market, you can find sales and other lucrative deals if you look around. While searching for the beast supplier of stone tiles, you should go for the one that brings you the materials direct from the source, this will help cut down expenses considerably. Remember, it is your home that you are building, so settle for nothing but the best and invest wisely.

Tag : floor,flooring,stone tile

Step by Step Tile Floor Cleaning

Having a nice tile floor in your house or your new house is a blessing because not many people can afford a tile floor. Tile floors can be very cooling during the summer and the shine that it adds to our home is what we want as a tile floor owner. What are the steps to tile floor cleaning? I am sure you want to keep the condition of the tile floor as it is, right?

Tile Floor Cleaning Step #1 Sweep and Vacuum

Most people start mopping their floor without wanting to go through the fuss of sweeping and vacuuming it first. You must know that water and floor cleaning solution will only cause the dust and debris to clutter instead of going away. Make sure you sweep and vacuum your tiles, especially the corners before you start mopping them.

Tile Floor Cleaning Step #2 DIY Tile Floor Solution

Yes, there are a lot of floor cleaning solution out there for your selection but there is no harm trying this little secret out. The solution is simple, six parts of warm water to one part of white vinegar. Mix them up in a pail and you should have a solution that is able to chase away insects. Also, this solution should not be leaving behind strong vinegar smells.

Tile Floor Cleaning Step #3 Mopping the Tiles

For the cleaning, you can either use a mop or a cloth. Start scrubbing the tiles slowly. If you are faced with a tough stain, scrub it repeatedly and harder or you can try a nylon scrubber. Make sure that you are able to reach the corners as most stains and debris will accumulate at these places.

Tile Floor Cleaning Step #4 Drying Up

Make sure that you and anyone else do not step on the tile floor until it dries up. Stepping onto them when they are still wet will leave behind ugly footprints that will require cleaning all over again. Point a fan to the wet section and the floor should dry up very soon. Also, before scrubbing using a mop or a cloth, squeeze out the excess water.

I have a simple tile floor cleaning solution for you. Click on free Clorox Ready Mop today and claim your floor cleaning tool that gives dazzling performance when it comes to tile floor cleaning. Try it out and you will be the next happy housewife.

Linda Gregham is a housewife with 3 kids and she is very knowledgeable about every chores in the house. She is also a fan of DIY and great household appliances deals online. Ask her anything about housekeeping but make sure you have at least one hour for her lecture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Gregham

Wooden Floor Installation And Renovation

We specialise in floor sanding, wood floor restoration and wooden floor installation, we are not just an 'add on' service.Our dedicated team of experienced floor fitters carry out high quality wooden floor installation from sub floor preparation, installation and finishing.

Our wooden floor installation processes can replicate many classic floor or boarding construction styles.

We are now able to offer a total flooring solutions package being able to fit all types of commercial flooring including ceramic tiles, vinyl's and carpets as well as our wooden floor installation, floor sanding and sealing and court marking.

Whether you need a home improvement, house or flat refurbishment in London, new bathroom, a replacement kitchen, wooden floor installation or renovation, extension or loft conversion, internal or external complete refurbishment, then our name is for you!

Here are the main wooden floor types: Hardwood floors.

Hardwood flooring is available in both unfinished and pre-finished form. They are made up of geometrical patterns, composed of individual wooden slates held together by a mechanical fastening or adhesive. We sand and restore all wooden floors from floorboards to parquet floors, from a small domestic hall way to full size commercial sports halls, schools. We fit all wooden floors specialising in solid oak plank flooring / parquet flooring / re-claimed pine boards / new pine boards / block flooring / hardwood flooring / repairs / sanding in new floors / new to old.

Installing solid wood flooring. Before installing any wood floor you must first make sure the sub-floor is free of loose materials. Before you begin installing a floor, you should give careful consideration to the type of floor you want. Basically when it comes to how to install bamboo flooring, the installing procedure is pretty much the same as with conventional hardwood flooring. Make sure you read all installing instructions from the bamboo flooring manufacturer carefully, because humidity can backfire if it comes to any wooden floor installation.

Parquet flooring this has a very different look from typical hardwoods. All our floor fitters are experienced in all types of wood floor fitting such as: solid wood, laminate, engineered, reclaimed timber, pre finished, unfinished and all types of parquet. We can fit overlay, solid wood, engineered boards and the more specialized herringbone parquet blocks.

It is our particular expertise in Sanding and Refinishing floors, especially in the staining process, which gives us the edge to create individual and exquisite floors for you.

Our wooden floor installation processes can replicate many classic floor or boarding construction styles. Quality of subfloor installation Subfloor is one of the main elements of the wooden floor construction. A suitable floor installation construction should be used. For this reason, all wet construction works in the premises must be completed prior to installing wooden floor on heated or unheated subfloor. Additional factors influencing the use of heated wooden floor Use of wooden floor is influenced by the following additional factors: timber species; method of wood cutting; and wooden floor construction

By: Ovidiu Diaconu

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Ceramic Floor Tile Installation - 5 Tips For Success

Ceramic floor tile installation is a great way to get a long-lasting beautiful floor. There are several tricks to getting a great looking floor tile job though. Really getting off to the right start is key to a good looking floor. Get started right and you'll be pleased with the results.

The right start begins with the base over which you install the tile. You see tile can be installed over all kinds of materials. You can put tile over plywood, concrete, vinyl flooring or even over other ceramic tile. But the one must is that the surface must be stable. It can't be flexible and it can't bend. That's because the tile floor will crack if the underlying layers moves. Often the first step in a professional tile installation is installation of a layer of cement board. That often guarantees a rigid surface.

That solid base is part of the planning of a tile project. Planning and design of a tile project is a big part of a successful installation. Before that first tile is laid, check the squareness of the room. Have you ever seen a perfectly square room? You want to work from the best corner and plan to put he cut tiles in the least visible spot. Plan for where the cuts will be to get the best results.

Once you get started, the goal is to keep the tile spacing as even as possible. Tile spacers in the right width are the best tell to get this done. Also a simple carpenter square helps to keep a close check to maintain alignment. Often nailing down some straight guide boards, batten boards, is another helpful move. Especially for the first row of tiles, a guide board can help get you off to the right start.

At one or more walls you will cut the border tiles to fit the remaining space. Now cutting is one of the skills a tile setter gets to practice. You'll need tile nippers for small trim work and probably a wet tile saw. Sometimes on a floor job with just straight cuts, a cutter board may be all you need. This tool scores a tile with a groove so it can be easily broken. It takes a little practice to break the tile on the line.

Grouting the joints is the finishing step. Grout comes in several types. Some are acrylic. Some are masonry. Some are epoxy. The epoxy grout is really waterproof and is especially well suited in bathrooms to keep water from soaking into the floor.

Ceramic floor tile installation requires quite a bit of planning. A well planned job will result in the best looking floor with the minimum of waste. Ceramic floors also are a great place to show creativity in mixing tiles into patterns. There are some tricks to getting a tile floor just right. If you get a chance, it helps to watch a pro work on a job or two.

You can get access to video tutorials showing a master installer do ceramic floor tile installation in several different rooms at our website.

Al Bullington invites you to visit http://InstallingCeramicTile.net for answers to your tile questions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Bullington

Natural Stone Flooring: Longevity And Durability At Its Best

Whether it is remodeling an existing home décor or furnishing a completely new home, whatever you do, you need to ensure sustenance of long lasting finish to every aspect of your home. It is an investment of a lifetime and if you plan to design it for generations to come you must make sure that you use state-of-the-art materials with excellent shelf-life. Flooring is one such aspect of home improvement that needs to be given a lot of significance since it is that part of the house that faces a lot of foot traffic along with other things that needs moving around. Flooring issues, if neglected, may cost a lot in the form of undue damages and expensive repairs. It is thus imperative to choose a type of flooring that can sustain all the rough-usage and yet look elegant and posh for years to come. This can be attained by the use of natural stone flooring.

Natural stone flooring is not new a concept to floorings of homes and places of business or even places of worship. The practice of using natural stone flooring traces many centuries back, only now technologies used to carve and polish these stones have evolved. Scientists have strived to come up with inexpensive versions of fake stone tiles but to no avail. Natural stone still constitutes the exquisite floors of some modern décor’s enhancing the overall interiors manifold. Among the natural stone floorings the ones that are much common are marble, granite, slate, limestone and travertine. Travertine and limestone are examples of sedimentary stone, granite is an example of igneous stone and slate and marble like stones fall into the metamorphic stone category.

Granite is a commonly used rather expensive form of flooring natural stone tile that is consists of quartz, orthoclase or microcline and mica that are also used in monuments and possess sovereign handsomeness and glamour. Similarly, marble and slate floor tiles trace back to the ages of palaces and castles that were endowed with the glorious polished surfaces of these exquisite pieces of rock. They get better with age if correctly maintained. There are a range of marble stones in breathtaking colors and textures. It has varied uses other than those in flooring as well. Marble used sculptures are also ravishingly beautiful. These natural stone floor tiles are best for homes that are situated in places featuring a tropical climate, since they tend to stay low in temperature and improve the interior temperature as well.

Unlike other flooring tiles maintenance of natural stone tiles are comparatively easier and there are not many factors that might possibly cause any form of deformity except for certain chemicals. Stains are also easily removed from these floors with the use of the appropriate solvents.

Tag : floor,stone flooring,floor covering,hardwood floor