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All Ceramic Floor Tile Is Not Created Equal
By Lee Dobbins
You�ve agonized over what type of flooring to install in your addition and finally you�ve decided to go with ceramic tile. So now all that�s left is to zip out to the store and pick up some tile and grout, right? Not so fast, you might still have some decisions to make concerning your tile flooring.
Tile comes in many colors and styles and has a lot of advantages over other types of flooring. For one, it�s readily available and doesn�t have to cost an arm and a leg although you can buy upgraded tile if you want. For another it�s easy to clean and very durable. On the downside, ceramic tile is not good for all spaces. Glazed tiles can be very slippery so is not the best choice to be used in entryways, baths or any place where the tiles might get too wet. Tile also holds the cold so you wouldn�t want to use it in a basement addition or remodel.
Ceramic tiles come in different shapes and sizes and can range from one inch to two feet. Have you thought about what size would look best in your room? Common sense prevails on this decision. If you have a large room then small tiles will make the room look too busy, and in a small room the large tiles will lose their effect. Take a long hard look at your space and figure out what size tile will bet the most effective.
Not only is size a factor, but you want to choose a tile with a texture that suits your rooms decor. If you have a formal looking space then a polished marble tile might look great. If you have decor with a southwestern, Mexican or Italian flair then a rustic natural looking tile is best. Don�t forget that a smooth polished tile will be slippery so take this into consideration when choosing the tile type.
Finally, you have selected the size, color and texture if tile that is perfect for your space so you�re good to go, right? Nope. Now you need to pick a grout. Grout comes in many colors and you want to pick one that goes well with your tile. If you want the grout to stand out, pick a color that contrasts with the tile but if you want the grout to blend with the design of the tile, pick a color that is close to that of the tile. For ease of cleaning, I might suggest you go with a dark grout. I can tell you from experience that a white grout will get dirty very easily and will be a bear to keep looking crisp and white.
Lee Dobbins is a contributing writer for http://www.dailynewz.info where you can find more articles and daily news about home improvement and remodeling.
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Installing Ceramic Tile in a Shower
By Mark Donovan
Installing ceramic tile in a shower starts with a proper foundation. The foundation consists of WonderBoard or Durock cement board on the walls and a Shower Pan Membrane Liner in the shower floor, if the shower floor is to be tiled too.
WonderBoard or Durock cement board, also known as backerboard, are resistant to water and are ideal materials for applying ceramic tiles to high-moisture areas. Durock can be applied directly to wall studs and ceiling joists using hot-dipped galvanized nails or galvanized wood screws.
Thin-set or an adhesive mortar can be applied directly on the WonderBoard or Durock cement board for attaching the ceramic tiles. However, fiberglass mesh tape should be applied over all seams and smoothed out with a latex thin-set prior to the application of ceramic tiles.
If ceramic tile is desired on the floor of the shower as well, then a shower pan membrane liner should be installed prior to the installation of the WonderBoard or Durock cement board.
The shower pan membrane liner is used to ensure a leak-proof shower. Shower pan membrane liners are used to funnel any water that seeps through the floor or wall grout to the shower drain below. The shower pan membrane liner is made up of a flexible type of plastic material that sits below a bed of mortar, and the tile, in the shower floor area.
Prior to installing the shower pan membrane liner, the floor of the shower needs to be pre-sloped to ensure that the water will flow towards the shower drain assembly. The pre-slope is accomplished by applying a layer of mortar to the floor of the shower unit area. The layer of mortar is troweled in such as way as to create a gentle slope from the shower wall edges to the center of the shower where the drain resides.
Once the pre-slope mortar has cured, the flexible shower pan membrane liner can then be installed. There are a couple of types of shower pan membrane liners on the market, with each having their own benefits. With either type of membrane, the homeowner needs to form and fold the material into the base of the shower area and secure it to the sides of the shower wall frame with staples and/or nails. In addition, an opening in the membrane should be cut out to allow the adjustable shower drain assembly to slip through.
With the shower pan membrane installed, the cementitious ceramic tile backerboard can then be secured to the framed shower walls. The backerboard is a rigid material that is ideal for attaching tile in wet areas such as a shower stall.
After installing the ceramic tile backerboard, a final coat of mortar needs to be applied on top of the shower pan membrane to protect it and to provide a solid base for laying the ceramic floor tile.
With the final coat of mortar cured, the ceramic tile can then be installed in the shower.
Once the tile and grout have been installed, the shower drain assembly should be adjusted so that the drain height sits flush with the finished ceramic tile floor.
For more information on installing a shower pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation EBook from HomeAdditionPlus.com. The Shower Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly teach you the step-by-step process for installing the shower pan membrane liner correctly. It includes instructions on framing the shower stall, pouring the pre-slope and shower base mortar, and installing the shower pan membrane liner.
Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com
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Planning your Bathroom Tile Design, Pattern & Installation
By Manuel Kupka
If you are planning to tile a bathroom by yourself, this article will help you plan your bathroom tiling installation in the best and cost effective way as well as giving you some tile design ideas. We will guide through your new bathroom tile design and installation planning step by step.
Attention - Note that planning your tiling installation properly is the most important step for smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.
Remember a DIY bathroom tiling installation isn't a quick job, so don't miss the point and plan it right. All the time spent planning your tiling installation will save you money and headaches.
You have to plan your bathroom-tiling project carefully; choose the tile design and tile patterns, what materials you need and which tools you require.
Choose your Bathroom Tile design & Tile patterns
The tile patterns that you can create with different tiles are limited only by your own Tile design ideas. A large variety of standard tile designs, ideas and tile patterns are available. Some tile manufacturers may make special custom tile designs for you.
Choosing the tile design is obviously the first thing you need to do, with out deciding this you can not start planning your bathroom tile installation.
You can find a few basic bathroom tile design ideas & tile patterns, check it out.
For some Inspiration you can check Google pictures for some Bathroom Tile design ideas, there are over a million bathroom pictures here.
Tile suitability - Tiles are made in porous and non-porous varieties. When planning a bathroom tile installation, you should choose the non-porous ceramic tiles.
If your bathroom is small and the tiles have designs on them, you may have to go for smaller sized tiles as they have smaller designs. Too large tile designs may not suit small bathrooms so choose a smaller tile design for smaller bathrooms.
If you go for a plain color, the size isn't that important, however try to follow the rule above anyway.
A good tile design idea is to choose contrasting colors for the floor tiles and wall tiles. Then have a skirting line the same color as the floor tile.
Another tile design idea is changing color at chest level, which will change the look of your bathroom.
Try to choose bathroom accessories that compliment the color of the walls.
Materials - How much will you need? - To calculate the quantity of materials that you need, you must take precise measurements of the total area that you wish to tile.
From the total area and the size of each tile, you can calculate the number of tiles required (you must know the size of the tiles you have chosen).
You must also remember to take into account the gaps between tiles when calculating the number of tiles needed, so make sure you include spacers appropriate to the tile size chosen.
If this equation becomes a little complicated, you can always use the table "Calculating your Tile needs" (link here) on this page.
When calculating consider more than half a tile as a full tile and less than a half tile as a half tile. If you have chosen a multicolored bathroom, calculate each color separately and note down the tile requirements.
Ordering tiles - Order the tiles on the basis of the measurements taken. Note that tiles are packed in boxes and the supplier is unlikely to sell tiles individually.
Remember to order extra tiles as you can be sure that some tiles will break during installation (even the best professional breaks tiles). In addition some of these extra tiles could be used in the future if any tiles need replacing. This is not only good but an advisable practice.
Always order additional tiles since the tiles you have ordered may not be available in future, and if you require replacement tiles, you will have difficulty finding a match.
Best tools for a good job - Make sure you choose the right tool for the job. It'll make the job easier and safer too. You probably have a basic toolbox however for tiling installation you need special tiling tools.
Some of them are expensive but don't waste your money buying professional tools that you won't use enough to pay for themselves. Instead hire them. For some $$ you can have the best tools for a few days. And if you've done your planning properly you'll only need them for a few hours.
Remember, that planning your tiling installation properly is the most important step for smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.
I hope it's been useful, happy tiling!
Learn how to Tile a Bathroom & Profit from insider tips to complete secure and reliable tiling in 5-easy steps. To get the FREE report "27 Insider Tiling Tips you want to know" visit us NOW at http://www.bathroom-tile-installation.com/tilemadeasy/.
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