Building & Remodeling

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...

Slate tile, like all natural stone, is porous, and should be sealed with chemical sealant during installation to prevent moisture penetration and stains. The sealing process isn't...

Grout is a mixture of water, cement, sand and dyes that is used to fill the joints between tiles. The grout for marble tiles, which are set closer together than ceramic tiles, may not contain...

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...

Whether your countertop is tile, wood, laminate, or some other material, a tile backsplash is always appropriate. The backsplash serves two purposes: dressing up the area behind the countertop and...

If don't like the color of your ceramic bathroom tiles, there are a number ways to remedy the situation. Solutions include painting the tiles, refinishing the tiles with an acrylic coating and...

For some, the garage is their home; a place to work on cars, projects, or just to escape the house. Because of that, those people want to customize their workspace to reflect their personality....

Ceiling tiles are sold in various types, such as tin, that come in panels typically secured to the ceiling with nails and sometimes screws. Tin ceilings can come in various shades, such as copper...

An outdoor deck not only adds value to your home, it creates additional living space. There are many innovations in deck construction, including decking products that resist rot and decay....

When installing tile, you typically spread the grout over the entire area, forcing it into the crevices between the tiles. As you grout, you should wipe excess grout off the tiles so that it does...

When hanging a new shower rod in the bathroom or a shelf on a backsplash in the kitchen, you need to prepare to properly drill the tiles without causing them to crack. Each tile is slightly unique...

Tin ceilings are an artifact of another era. Very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they are experiencing a bit of a comeback of late thanks to the popularity of restored homes...

Although decorative ceiling tiles are often called antique tin ceiling tiles, most of them aren't actually made from tin, but made with an aluminum alloy instead (see Reference 1). They are often...

If you are tired of your painted brick fireplace but do not want to actually remove the fireplace surround, you can change the entire look without altering the surround structure by giving your...

Tile is a flooring material that is durable and waterproof, making it a good choice for kitchen floors. Most builders and home owners also have realized these qualities, and have made tile...

Whether you build a new or remodel your bathroom, a tub and shower surround can be the focal point of your bathroom. The job typically averages 80 square feet and involves all of the basic...

Painting vinyl tiles is a creative way to update your kitchen, bathroom or entryway flooring on a minimal budget. Before you proceed, it is important to understand that painting vinyl tiles isn't...

Calculating the tile needed for the floor in any room is a necessity before you can start your project. It is easy to calculate the square footage needed for any space you plan to work on. This is...

A good home improvement job for the moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer is replacing tile in the shower. This will not only improve the look of your bathroom, but it can also help stop water leaks...

One of the great challenges in home remodeling is what to do about that turquoise bathtub in your 1960s-era bathroom. It seems a shame to cast a perfectly good tub out the backdoor. There are a...

A steam shower adds luxury and convenience to any home. Enter the shower enclosure and at the push of a button steam billows forth, engulfing you completely in a rising cloud of warmth. Tiling a...

Demolition of any sort is a lot of fun and is a great stress reliever. More so, the fun of demolition is increased with the use of power tools. Don't pay a contractor to demolish anything for you,...

Stick-on tiles can be a blessing for those who have chosen to install their new floor themselves rather than hiring a contractor because they eliminate the need for mixing and spreading...

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...

Renovating a tiled bathroom shower is a challenging task, but the do-it-yourselfer with the right equipment, patience and time can renovate a tiled shower that will add value and beauty and...

Laying tile can seem like a challenging task. However, even a novice do-it-yourself handyman can do the job like a pro with the proper tools. Two types of saws can be used for cutting tile. A wet...

We usually think of base trim as being made of wood or maybe laminate. But base trim of ceramic, porcelain or even stone tile is an age-old decorative style that can be a great-looking...

Internal corners are the most common obstacle when tiling, quite simply because every room has them. If tile is being laid on more than one wall in a room, you will eventually have to deal with...

Grout is a form of cement that fills the spaces between tiles. Grouting newly hung tiles on your shower wall is a crucial part of the moisture shield around the shower. There are two kinds of...

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...

As tastes, technology and budgets have changed over the years, many homeowners are upgrading their once-in-style laminate countertop with natural stone such as granite and limestone. Whatever your...

Many types of tiles, especially unglazed ceramic tiles, are extremely porous. So unless you seal them after installation and reseal them every few years, they're going to become stained. In order...

Proper layout before installing wall tiles in a shower is crucial. It allows you to balance the design, minimize the number of cuts and estimate the number of tiles needed. Prior to beginning the...

"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...

If you're ready to re-tile your kitchen floor, but the old tile that's there is still fully functional and doesn't appear to be going anywhere, why not tile right over it? It sounds strange, but...

The trickiest part of tiling a bathroom floor is dealing with the toilet. There is almost never an instance in which you'd want to tile around the toilet, so you have to remove it, tile the space...

Even if you don't have a shower head over your bath tub, the walls around the tub are especially vulnerable to moisture and damage because of rising steam and splashing water. Tile is one of the...

Refacing a fireplace with tiles can add a modern or more updated look that coordinates with your room. There are a number of different designs that can be used for inspiration. Visiting local tile...

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...

Small slate tiles are often used for roof installation when a complicated look is desired that's different from the flat shingle look of most modern home designs, or for smaller tile placements...

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...

Interlocking laminate floor tiles are a wood composite material topped with a plastic veneer that mimics different kinds of flooring, including ceramic or stone tile, cork, or wood. Unlike all of...

Attaching self-adhesive tiles to a wall is a quick process compared to the more traditional mortar and tile placement. The self-adhesive tiles are made to simplify the tiling process. They install...

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...

Installing 2 x 2 tile can greatly enhance the look of your kitchen or bathroom, and give it a distinctive feel. Some 2 x 2 tile comes with a mesh backing already attached to it, however some 2 x 2...

Broken tiles are not always debris good only for disposal. A creative mind can put the tiles to good use, installing them to a surface to make a piece of art from the broken pieces. This process...

Porcelain tiles are a richer, more durable (and more expensive) alternative to ceramic tiles for covering the walls surrounding your shower or bathtub. The method of installing porcelain tiles,...

Ceramic tile can add a decorative element to stair steps and incorporate the steps into the overall design of the room or outdoor area where they are located. Special bullnose tiles are available...

Clay tiles are strong, durable tiles suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, as flooring and as a decorative wall surface. When laying a surface using clay tiles, you'll find that they often...