10 Tiling Tips for Tip Top Tiling

Yes, the title is a cunning bit of wordplay. I thought so myself. Now we (aka me) at the HID are proud to present these Top 10 Tips for Tip Top Tiling.

1. Setting Them Out

Make sure to measure the length of the wall and find the half way point. Height too. Use a level to mark a vertical and horizontal base line wherever your points meet. You'll work out your actual layout from here to be sure you cut the tiles properly. If they end up as less than half a tile, offset the start point by a half to avoid weird-looking chips - you're not crazy paving a wall!  Make up a simple gauge rod to help with this – a simple length of timber marked at intervals to represent the tiles.

2. Adhesive

When you mix powder-type adhesives, always use clean cold water. Dirty water will make the adhesive sticking time a lot longer. Always add the powder to the water to get the right consistency - trying to do it the other way around will leave you with a horrible lumpy mix. If you're going with a power mixer, take it slow and let it churn.

3. Check and Blend Tiles

Check the tiles you've bought straight away - it's possible for boxes to have been dropped and contain lots of broken tiles. The sooner you notify the supplier the better. Tiles, particularly those made of natural materials, will have shade variations. Unpack the tiles and mix them so that these variations will be less obvious. Order extra tiles to allow for breakage and wastage from cutting. This will also mean you should have a few tiles left over so that if any need replacing at a later date you’ll have some handy.   Finding replacements a few years on is likely to be impossible.

4. Wet Areas

When tiling wet areas such as wet rooms or shower areas, the background that you’re going to fix the tiles to should be waterproof. Surfaces such as sand and cement render and specialist tile backing boards are fine. Plaster, plasterboard, plywood and the like will need to be treated with a waterproofing product otherwise the absorbent nature of the material will give problems later. For these areas you must use a water resistant adhesive.

5. Spreading Adhesive

Use a good quality notched trowel of a size suited to the particular job. Spread the adhesive only over an area that you can comfortably manage to tile in 20 minutes or so. Lift one edge of the trowel so that it’s at 45⁰ to the surface to create an even ribbed bed. The ribs should all run in the same direction to ensure proper drying of the adhesive.

6. Tile Spacing

Most people will lay the second tile a little away from the first then adjust to get the correct spacing. This can often lead to a build up of adhesive in the joint. A better way is to lay each tile butting up to its neighbour, then to slide it away to create the correct gap. This slight sliding action also helps to ensure the tile is fully bedded into the adhesive.

7. Tile Cutters

Use the right tool for the job. A simple rail type cutter will do a great job of ordinary ceramic tiles. Make sure the blade is in good condition – worn blades should be replaced. Note: you should only score the surface once. A wet saw should be used for cutting natural stone and textured porcelain tiles – rail cutters are likely to damage them and leave a ragged cut. Wet saws with diamond tipped blades are also great for cutting accurate right angle cut-outs in most tiles. Remember to wear suitable protective gear including goggles when cutting tiles.

8. Shaped Cuts

If you have awkward or complicated shapes to cut out of the tile, make up a stiff paper or card template first. You can shape the paper as you would when trimming wallpaper around an awkward shape. You can then copy the outline direct onto the tile. Curved cuts can be done with a tile hand saw. You can also buy specialist jig saw blades which will make light work of shaped cuts but remember to support the tile fully or else the vibration may crack it.

9. Grouting

Allow the adhesive to dry properly. This will usually be 24 hours but may be longer on non porous surfaces such as old tiling. Use a grout float for grouting the tiles. Work the grout fully into the joints and clean off the excess before it dries. Tiles can be polished up with a clean cloth to remove any powdery residue.

10. Keep Tools Clean

Make sure that you keep all your tools clean. When you’ve finished or if you’re taking a break, clean off all adhesive or grout straightaway. Hardened adhesive on trowels and the like can be a real pain to get off.

Read More...

Getting the right kitchen tiles

The kitchen. How to do the walls?

Opinions vary on most interior renovation work, but there are two rooms that NOONE is in disagreement about - the kitchen, and the bathroom. 

The link? Water.

The solution? Tiles.

Tile is highly recommended for this area due to contact with water in the kitchen, spots, soap and other spilled or splattered kitchen utensils. Tiles can be used on walls, floors and counter tops. Apart from this, also tiles serve as reinforcements for the look of a kitchen or home design. Why tiles are not just functionality but also for the decorative element. When choosing colors for your kitchen tiles, you can choose to select a single color throughout the area, or use contrasting colors for walls and floor. Mosaic Tiles for a theme design on a wall or to accent borders. Avoid using colors that are dull or dark. Three types of tile work well in the kitchen: ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles. When you purchase your kitchen tiles, the following factors to consider:

1. It should be waterproof and resistant to moisture.

2. It should be durable, scratch resistant and chip-resistant.

3. It should be slip resistant.

4. It should be easy to clean.

5. The colors must be even entire tile or tile designs.

What you need from tiles in your kitchen? It depends on what suits your taste and budget best. Pottery, porcelain, glass and tiles, all bright colors and different patterns, designs or sizes to choose from. Pottery is the cheapest of the three tiles. Use unglazed type for these anti-slip safety. It is hard, durable and easy to clean. Ceramic tiles are more resistant to chemicals, fire, stains and porcelain tiles. On the other hand, porcelain tiles less porous and harder than ceramic. It is frost resistant and less susceptible to cracks or chips. It is also easy to clean and cheaper than glass tiles. If you primarily want elegance and beauty in your kitchen, so glass tiles for you. These are a bit expensive, but its sleek look is worth it. Glass tile is “green” products because they are made of recycled glass mixed with metal oxide for strength. Glass tile is painted artwork and are non-porous. They are convenient to be used in humid areas. They resist water, and never stain, fade or scratch. However, glass tiles are smooth and do well as part of the main wall or back splash.

What you choose to use tile in your kitchen, always consider the satisfaction it brings you as a home-owner. Tiles in the kitchen as a part of your home design, will certainly give you the comfort and beauty you have in this area.

Read More...