Building Materials & Supplies

Travertine tumbled stone tiles are cut flat and square like other stone tiles, but their surface is pockmarked with craters and holes, the result of natural mineral activity in the stone. The...

Laying tile on a floor usually requires very rigid cement board and thinset mortar, but it's much simpler on a countertop because there won't be significant weight on it. Just about any solid,...

The usual method of grouting the spaces between tiles is to wipe the grout across the entire surface with a flat rubber trowel, and then sponge the excess grout off the tile face, leaving it in...

Installing tile over a subfloor usually entails first putting down a layer of concrete backerboard or extra plywood. If you are trying to avoid raising the level of the floor, you can get away...

Laying a tile floor requires a strong, immobile underlayment. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that it's possible (and even advantageous) to lay new tile over an existing tile floor or over...

Consumers choose to install drop ceilings (or suspended ceilings) because of its low cost and the stylish choice of ceiling tiles available. Frequently used in residential recreation rooms, the...

Loose or cracked ceramic tiles not only look bad, they can also cause damage. Tile walls or floors are designed to seal out moisture, and any break in that seal can allows moisture to get behind...

Grout is the cement-like substance that fills in the spaces between your shower tiles. If it starts to crack and crumble, it means either that it wasn't properly installed in the first place, or...

Grout and stone or clay tiles look impenetrable, but in fact neither is completely waterproof in their natural, unsealed states. Applying liquid sealant over the grout lines is simple, unless...

"Shower pan" is the term that refers to a properly built shower floor structure around a drain. The top layer of a shower pan is Portland cement that's sloped toward the drain from all sides. Your...

A tile backsplash protects the wall behind your countertop from splattered water while also providing a decorative element to the countertop and tying it to the wall. There are numerous ways to...

Using premixed thin-set adhesive takes a bit of the prep work out of laying marble tiles. By using the premixed thin set you can save time on tile installation, quickly applying the adhesive to...

Travertine is a form of stone rich in mineral deposits, air holes and other variations. When cut into tiles, it creates a distinctive look of pockmarks and holes throughout the tile face. Since...

Ceramic tiles are an attractive and durable tiling choice for any surface. The tiles come in a variety of sizes and colors and can last decades provided they're given adequate maintenance. Placing...

Wall tiles provide a solid, classic look to a room, while also protecting the wall from moisture and damage. Porcelain (pressed clay dust) is one of the oldest and most popular forms of wall tile....

Grout---the cement that sits in the lines between tiles---is more porous than it looks. If you don't seal it with a liquid sealer, moisture can get into the lines and cause all kinds of problems....

Ceramic floor tile can be laid with either a chemical tile adhesive---which resembles an acrylic glue---or thinset mortar, which is more like cement. Which you choose to use is up to you, though,...

If you have a ceramic floor tile that is loose, cracked, badly stained or otherwise unsalvageable, you can remove it without disturbing the surrounding tiles. It is a somewhat delicate operation...

Laying marble tiles (or any other natural stone tile) over a countertop is a somewhat different and more complicated job than installing clay-based tiles like ceramic or porcelain. Natural stone...

Determining proper placement of ceramic tiles when you're laying a floor is one of the most important steps; do it wrong, and everything will be off. Tiles are laid from the center of the floor...

Mosaic tiles are very small tiles (often around one square inch), which are sold pre-mounted on mesh-backed sheets of two square feet or more for easy installation. Like any other tile, they need...

Ceramic tile is a versatile wall covering, able to go over wood, plaster, cement, wetrock, and other wall surfaces. Even sheetrock (drywall) can be used, under the right circumstances, even though...

The best underlayment for tile floor installation is a hard, immobile surface---including an existing tile surface. Yes, tile can be laid over other tile, and in fact it's sometimes a better base...

Most packaging instructions for laying tiles will tell you to start with a perfectly flat and even surface, to ensure that the tiles are flat and even in the end. Like many home project...

Linoleum countertops have been with us for a few generations now---sometimes literally, depending on how long it's been since your kitchen was updated. If your old linoleum counter is in good...

It's usually best to install ceramic tile over cement board, because it adheres well to the tile and limits the amount of movement under the tiles, which can cause cracking. However, if...

Ease of use makes ceramic tile one of the most popular kinds of tile--especially among do-it-yourselfers. The clay base gives ceramic tiles an advantage over stone because it is easy to cut and...

Travertine is a very distinct form of stone tile cut from mineral-formed stone that has naturally occurring craters, pockmarks, and holes in the surface. Some travertine applications are installed...

If the grout between your kitchen countertop tiles has become corroded, cracked, or so dirty that nothing will clean it, it may be time to dig it out and re-grout. Grout is a form of cement, and...

Ceramic tile offers practicality, durability and beauty. Available in an unlimited variety of shapes, styles, textures, colors, sizes, and finishes, you're bound to find the perfect one to fit...

Tile is one of the most versatile flooring materials. Floor tiles may be made of vinyl or ceramic materials. They may be used for floors in almost any room in the home because of their durability...

Over time, tile grout can become stained, cracked or begin to crumble. If the tiles are intact and you just want to place new grout in the tiles, your first step is to remove the existing grout....

A drop ceiling might be viewed, as a more complicated solution than drywall but in reality drop ceilings are not overly difficult to install. Drop ceilings can be decorative or completely...

Your shower tile performs an important function--sealing moisture out from the wall behind it. Proper application of the grout between the tiles is crucial to creating that barrier. Grout is...

Though beautiful, ceramic floor and bathtub tile can become dull and worn. Instead of retiling, refinish or reglaze your existing tile---a much more cost-effective solution. When done properly,...

Cement backerboard has become the standard for laying or hanging tiles, replacing the plywood underlayment and wetrock walls that used to be used. Cement backerboard, when properly installed,...

Tile and grout may look solid and impenetrable, but in fact both materials are porous and vulnerable to moisture and stains until they're properly sealed with a liquid sealer. Many ceramic and...

Floor tile needs a solid, immobile base to prevent cracking. Normally when laying floor tile, you'll start with a subfloor that's covered with a plywood underlayment or hardwood, then put 1/4 inch...

There are numerous ways to cut standard-sized ceramic tiles, depending on the kind of cut you need to make. The preferred method for straight cuts is a score-and-snap tile platform cutter, while...

Ceramic tiles are often created as part of a company line. These lines, much like a clothing line, go in and out of production as the company sees fit. This can sometimes create a frustrating...

Marble tile is a natural stone product, and needs to be installed slightly differently than clay-based tiles like ceramic. Marble is cut very flat and straight, without the tapered edges or...

Grout is a form of mortar used to bridge the spaces between tiles and help prevent moisture from getting under them. There are two basic kinds of grout--"sanded" and "unsanded"--which simply...

Natural stone tile is very different from a clay manufactured product like ceramic. Despite its solid appearance, stone is very porous, absorbant and prone to staining. This issue comes into play...

Ceramic is the easiest kind of tile to cut, because it's made from clay instead of natural stone. While stone tiles usually require a wetsaw to cut, standard sized ceramic tiles (6 to 10 inches)...

Natural stone tiles (marble, slate, granite and others) tend to look solid and impenetrable. They're not. If you buy unsealed stone tiles, which is generally how they're sold, the material will...

Grout--the specialized mortar between floor and wall tiles--may seem solid and impenetrable, but in fact it's the most porous part of the tiled area. Sealing the grout with a special liquid...

Concrete roof tiles are a great alternative to traditional clay tiles. They can provide a lasting, attractive roof treatment at a lower cost than other alternatives.

Kitchen and bathroom remodels often necessitate new tiles and, in turn, new grout colors. Some people assume this isn't a problem because they think grout only comes in white, but grout actually...

While tile floors have been used throughout history all over the world, vinyl floor covering has grown to be one of the most commonly used floor types in the United States. Tile and vinyl floors...

Renovating your bathroom is one of the best home improvement projects you can undertake. While other home renovations will add beauty and charm to your home, renovating your bathroom with new...