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Successful tile installations depend on several crucial environmental factors, including the temperature of the room before, during and after the installation. While every tile manufacturer has specific guidelines for the temperature during installation, there are basic guidelines to follow in the event you can't contact the manufacturer. Pay attention to the temperature and humidity levels in the room you plan to install the tile in to ensure proper curing and bonding of setting material with the tile.
Functional and efficient, wood stoves help to keep your home warm no matter what the weather outside. The stoves are designed to put out a lot of heat, which means that any surface that surrounds them must be made of a noncombustible material, including the walls. Covering your walls with slate tiles provides that noncombustible surface, along with some rustic style that complements the wood stove's look.
Every tile installation contains multiple joints and types of joints. For example, grout joints separate tiles installed on one surface, while expansion joints exist between changes in surfaces, such as where wall tile meets floor tile or where two walls meet in a corner. Expansion tile joints are always filled with a flexible, waterproof material such as silicone rather than a cement-based material like grout. Silicone must be tooled into the tile joints quickly to create a tight seal. Use one of three methods to get the perfect joint.
Grout is an integral part of any tile installation. It is also frequently the bane of a DIY homeowner's existence because in some applications it can stain badly. Some manufacturer's recommend that the grout be sealed after installing it to help prevent this staining from occurring. That is not always necessary, however. Learn when you do need to seal your grout to help prevent future problems.
American Olean is the manufacturer and distributor of several different types of tile. They carry four different kinds of glass tile, metal-coated ceramic tile, porcelain tiles and stone tiles. The porcelain and stone tiles carried by American Olean are installed like any other porcelain or stone tiles, but the company does have specific installation guidelines for their metal-coated ceramic tiles and their glass tiles. Follow their recommendations to ensure a successful tile installation.
Porcelain tiles are dense and durable, perfect for kitchen counter or flooring applications. Tiling a kitchen counter often meant removing the laminate as well as its plywood substrate, then installing new plywood and backerboard before setting tiles. Manufacturers have developed a mastic-style adhesive that helps bond tiles to laminates without the trouble of demolishing old countertops.
A floor or wall tiled with the same color of tile can become drab and uninteresting over time. Changing towel colors often can break the monotony of a bathroom wall, and scattering rugs across a tiled floor can help change the look of a room, but those are just temporary fixes to a drab appearance. You can remove a row or two of tile around the perimeter of the floor or wall and replace it with a row or two of decorative tiles or those in a contrasting color.
A cubby hole, or niche, provides an inset shelf inside a tiled shower. Niches can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are perfect for small showers where a shelf protruding into the shower may get in the way. Preformed niches made of cast acrylic are one of the most simple to install in a shower to be tiled. They are ready to install right out of the box and don't require any modification or construction before installing. Installing one in an already-tiled shower, however, will require some additional work.
Removing grout residue from tile only requires the right tools and a little bit of basic knowledge. Remove grout residue from tile with help from an expert with over 25 years of experience in all mediums of construction in this free video clip.
Repairing the tile in a shower is something you'll do in a few different ways depending on the nature of the problem that you're experiencing. Find out how to repair the tile in a shower with help from an expert with over 25 years of experience in all mediums of construction in this free video clip.
Water always follows the path of least resistance. If your foundation has even a tiny crack in it, water will flow through it and into your basement rather than trying to force its way through the soil outside your basement. This will in time lead to mold and mildew problems and even flooding. To avoid the expense and hassle of basement leaks, install a foundation drain tile system to direct the water in the soil away from your basement.
Dissolving grout is just one of the many ways you can remove tiles from a particular floor. Learn to dissolve grouting to remove tile with help from an experienced construction professional in this free video clip.
Removing grout from textured tile isn't nearly as difficult as you might think it is. Learn how to remove grout from textured tile with help from an experienced construction professional in this free video clip.
Epoxy grout haze has a tendency to build up on tiles if you're not careful. Learn how to remove epoxy grout haze from tile with help from an experienced construction professional in this free video clip.
Removing excess mortar from tile grout joins is something you have to do in a very particular way to properly protect the tiles themselves. Find out how to remove excess mortar from tile grout joins with help from an experienced construction professional in this free video clip.
You can improve your own shower handles with the right tools and a little bit of good, old-fashioned elbow grease. Learn about do-it-yourself Kohler shower handles with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
A drain tile outlet carries excess water from the designated area via a corrugated plastic tube and deposits it in the drainage outlet, such as a drainage ditch, street gutter or storm drain. Removing this water from your home will reduce the chance of flooded basements and crawl spaces, and prolong the life of the house foundation. Keeping the drain outlet working properly requires regular maintenance. However, you must know the location of the drain tile outlet before you can maintain it.
Concrete tiles when properly installed can last for 50 years or longer. These tiles are typically more expensive than asphalt shingles, but less expensive than clay roofing tiles. The cost of a concrete tile roof installation is comparable to that of a cedar shake roof. Installing concrete roofing tiles can be a complex and dangerous process, and is not advised for inexperienced roofers or homeowners. Unless you have been specifically trained, installing roof tiles should be left to a professional. It takes approximately six months of supervised training to become proficient at installing concrete root tiles, according to the Roofkey…
Curbless showers can help streamline the look of your bathroom and help make the space appear larger. This type of shower is also ideal for wheelchair users and those who have difficulty stepping into a bathtub with a showerhead. Before you install tile in a curbless shower, the floor needs to be pitched so the water drains properly. A good slope for a bathroom or shower floor from ¼-inch to 1/8-inch: 12 inches. The shower floor should also have a cured 1-inch-thick mortar bed on which to place the tiles.
Wheelie Bin Cleaning machines are devices that fit comfortably in a shop or the back of a van equipped with a standard electrical outlet. These devices clean and sanitize waste bins, and come in a variety of sizes. The unit comes pre-assembled and only requires the user to determine where an appropriate location is. Provided you have the space necessary to house the unit, it can be installed anywhere with very little effort. The units are heavy, so you will need several people to help you lift the unit and position it. Alternatively, you can use an industrial strength dolly…
The fireplace is often the aesthetic centerpiece of a room. Aside from providing heat and a welcoming glow to the room, it can command attention for its design. One way to make a fireplace attractive is to tile the wall above it. An arched design is often suitable as it offers a softer appearance than straight edges. Having prepped the fireplace with backing and tile mortar, it takes just a few steps to tile an arched design over the top.
Concrete stair treads are a sturdy tread material with an abrasive surface to improve traction on stairs. Concrete treads are precast to fit within the stringers of a metal staircase. Bolt-on stair treads are a simple tread solution for the do-it-yourself homeowner because they require no mortar for installation. Instead, bolts secure the treads to angle tabs on the runners, which are welded in place at each tread location. A metal handrail attaches to the concrete treads with a base plate and anchor bolts, assuring safe stairway use.
Building window space into a shower will allow more natural light while you are bathing. You will need a window to install that’s especially designed for shower space, which means safety glass and metal or vinyl-clad framework to resist moisture. However, constructing window space from various styles of glass blocks is also a good idea. Make sure, however, that the shower window looks seamless with the shower design in every respect.
Fiberglass and concrete columns contain a combination of concrete and fiberglass as their core material. The concrete adds strength and durability to the unit, while the fiberglass helps protect the concrete from moisture. Fiberglass also makes columns less dense, and therefore easier for DIY homeowners to install. Installing your own columns outside entails placing them beneath a porch or patio roof or cover and installing them in place of existing support members such as wood beams.
Many cities require restaurants and other food-service establishments to install concrete grease traps, also known as grease interceptors, to keep waste food fats, oils and waxes from clogging sewer systems. These lidded concrete boxes have interior baffles that separate and trap grease from waste water, holding it for disposal. Many localities require that grease trap installations be done by a licensed professional; however, some may allow you to do your own grease trap installation.
Installing shower tiles adds to the appearance and functionality of your shower. To ensure tiles are secure and the shower floor doesn't leak water to the subfloor, the tiles must be sealed properly with grout. You can seal around the grout using regular grouting procedures and must do so to ensure the 1/4-inch space between the shower drain and the tiles creates one continuous flat surface from drain to tile.
To remove the tile from an entire room you need a heavy, imprecise tool, like a sledgehammer. For the finer work required to remove one or two broken tiles, an angle grinder is ideal. Angle grinders are small and user-friendly. Attach a dry-cut diamond wheel and they'll make short work of any type of tile. Proceed carefully and follow the angle grinder's operating and safety instructions and you'll pull off a professional-grade repair.
Although a plastic fitter shower or other type of prefabricated shower unit may allow for relatively easy, fast and otherwise convenient installation, this type of shower also has limitations in regards to size, design and material. An alternative to a prefabricated shower unit is a custom shower built on site to the desired specifications. One standard finishing option is tile. In order to build a durable and attractive tile shower, several factors--ranging from establishing the slope toward the drain to ensuring that spaces between the tiles are uniform--must be taken into consideration.
One of the most common methods for showers is the plastic shower pan with a tile wall above it. This allows the builder to save money on expensive tile shower pans and instead have a durable, plastic pan in its place, but still have the beauty and durability of tile on the walls. The pan needs to be installed first so that the flanges can be attached to the wall studs, at which point the cement backer board for the tile is installed and then the tile itself, creating a locked-in-place pan inside the tile wall.
When you're setting a pole in the ground, it's critical that you set it properly. One way to do this is to encase the portion of the pole that is in the ground in concrete. The concrete encasement provides a strong, stable base for the pole, and helps to protect it from rust. A 6-by-6-inch steel pole can be used in many applications.
Evoking images of Grecian plazas overlooking the Aegean Sea, concrete balustrades, cast to resemble hand-carved stone balustrades, add a touch of elegance to a patio or courtyard. Because they’re very heavy, you will need to install them on a concrete, stone or brick surface. Setting the balustrades isn’t technically difficult, but lifting and carrying them is hard work. Although they’re meant to be decorative, local building codes might regulate the distance between the balustrades for safety purposes.
Custom shower construction allows homeowners to include any number of desired shower features and grants greater freedom in regard to materials, design and size than prefabricated units or components. One feature a custom-sized shower may afford you is a custom shower bench. The bench can be built to suit individual needs, which typically include a specific finishing material, such as tile. Careful and detailed assembly will allow a builder to create an even, attractive and durable tile bench.
Grout Enhancer is a product manufactured by Laticrete meant for use on ceramic or stone tile. The product replaces water "to provide a dense, colorfast grout joint," according to the product description. Grout Enhancer requires proper surface, preparation, mixing and application for best results.
Drain tile for subsurface drainage has multiple applications on the residential site, and there are several types of drain tile to choose from, manufactured in different lengths. How much drain tile is needed depends on the kind of pipe that's required for the project, but the calculation is simple. A building official or local expert can advise you on the best type of pipe for the situation.
Sunken concrete occurs because of air pockets underneath the concrete surface. When you lay concrete tiles on an uneven surface, the small pockets of soil and air underneath slowly break down, which changes the way the concrete sits on the ground. Once the concrete begins sinking, you risk cracks forming on the surface. Those cracks, combined with the interrupted nature of tiles, make the area dangerous because you might trip over the cracks and seriously injure yourself. A DIY solution for sunken tiles involves covering the broken and uneven surfaces with fresh concrete.
Building can seem like blunt physical work, but it is both an art and a science. When it comes to windows, for instance, you must consider numerous aspects of the installation process to ensure that water, moisture and air don't leak around the window and into your home. Windowsills help a good deal in this regard. Knowing when to install a windowsill in concrete requires an understanding of what windowsills do and why they are necessary.
Concrete roofing tiles install to a roof deck in a manner similar to other types of roofing, though concrete tiles generally weigh more than other standard roofing types, such as asphalt or wood shingles. With such heavy roofing, you must have a roof structure strong enough to support the tiles.
Installing reinforcing material in concrete is always a good idea. The benefits of reinforced concrete are numerous, including increased strength, reduced risk of excessive cracking and spalling, and reduced chance of shrinking. There are several methods of installing reinforcing materials in concrete, and all methods are appropriate for home or professional use, including patios, sidewalks, driveways or home foundation slabs.
Over the life of a vinyl composite tile (VCT) floor, it is not uncommon for a tile or two to pop up from the felt backing that covers the subfloor. These minor floor-repair problems are easy to fix. Since only one tile is loose, that is the only part of the floor that you have to tackle. When re-adhering VCT tile, be sure to use the brand of adhesive recommended by the installer or manufacturer. Off-brand adhesive is often responsible for popping tiles.
The tiled backsplash is one area in which you can add a great deal of color and interest to your kitchen’s decor. There are countless interesting ways to tile your backsplash; one way that adds flair without being too difficult even for a beginner is to set the tile diagonally. In order to successfully tile your backsplash in a diagonal pattern, you will first need to draw out a control line along which you will place the first tiles. An accurate control line will ensure that your tiles are set at a true 45-degree angle.
TrafficMaster Exodus tiles are vinyl flooring tiles that feature a peel-and-stick backing. To lay them, peel off the paper backing and press them into place on the subfloor. The Exodus tiles have a tan and white pattern, and a finish that lends itself to durability. TrafficMaster recommends laying the Exodus tiles over a subfloor of smooth plywood for best results.
Frameless shower door systems can help open up a shower design, eliminating bulky metal frames that break up the view. They can be composed of various pieces including single doors, doors and panels, or simply fixed panels. While a door is attached to the tile by hinges, which are screwed into place, panels, which do not move, need more support than a single hinge or bracket could give them. Instead, they are held in place with U-channels, thin strips of metal that the glass fits into. They only attach the glass to the tile and do not frame out the…
Laying tile creates a durable, attractive floor that you can customize to meet your needs to fill the space and form a pattern or design. Two major approaches to tile patterns are squares, which are parallel and perpendicular to the major walls in a room, and diagonal that run at angles through the room.
A floor covering option that installs easily is self-adhesive tile. While most tiles require installation with mastic or mortar -- as well as filling in with grout and caulk -- self-adhesive tiles install without any additional products. It doesn't suit all flooring surfaces, though. If you install self-adhesive tile on top of a concrete basement floor, for instance, and the tile makes popping sounds, you may be in trouble.
Cutting a beveled ceiling tile ruins the beveled edge along the cut line and removes the flange, the small lip at the tile’s edge that sits on the grid rails allowing the tile a flush fit on the grid. Cutting a new beveled edge isn’t necessary, as the wall along the cut hides that side of the tile from view. What is required is recreating the flanged edge. Without the flange, the tile does not sit properly in the grid rail, creating a visible gap between the bottom of the tile and the rails.
The Fein Multimaster is an oscillating hand tool that’s capable of supporting a variety of blade attachments, including a carbide grout blade and a carbide rasp. Using these two attachments, you can speed up the act of removing single tiles from the surrounding tile surfaces, without damaging the surrounding tiles in the process. The tool is easy to use, with quick change times between attachments, allowing you to cut out the grout surrounding the tile, pop the tile then immediately change the attachment and remove the thinset adhesive beneath.
Installing ceramic tile on top of a concrete floor requires cutting around a variety of objects, including door jambs, cabinets and vents for the heating and air-conditioning system. Although countless ways exist to cut tile around a vent on top of concrete, a couple of methods work best, allowing you to cut and install the tile quickly and efficiently so you can finish the floor in the least amount of time. You may cut the piece of tile before or after it sets and dries. Although the most common method for professionals is to cut it with a tile saw…
Backer board, a mixture of cement on a fiberglass mesh, is a sturdy surface made for installing tile. Since tile is heavy and needs a flat surface, the cement backer board has enough strength to hold the tile and provides a flat, even surface for laying the tile. The backer board is installed directly onto the wall you’re going to lay the tile on. After the backer board is in place, you can install the tile.
Quarry tile is a type of ceramic tile. Typically, quarry tile's natural color or pigment is allowed to show, and the tile is not colored before it is fired. This type of tile is unglazed and requires the use of a few specific techniques during and after its installation to ensure that the job is done correctly and that the tile lasts many years.
Manufactured by the Congoleum Corporation, DuraCeramic tiles are attractive, sturdy and lasting flooring options that feature a limestone composite reinforced with polymer resin. Resembling ceramic or stone, DuraCeramic tiles are available in more than 70 colors and 10 different patterns. The tiles are easy to install on a variety of materials, including wood, concrete, old floors and ceramic tiles. Use the company’s adhesive during installation so the tiled floor is strong and lasts many years.
