Laying a Travertine Marble Tile Floor Successfully

Laying a travertine marble tile floor

seamlessly (i.e., without grout) is a skill that you can easily develop. Only a little bit of knowledge, a few tools, patience, and diligence are required to complete this job successfully.

There is no need to be intimated by this type of project. After all, if the ancient Romans and Greeks were able to do it, why can't you?

There are only a few things besides the tile that are required to complete this kind of home improvement job: a thin-set mortar, notched trowel, a level, and a soft rubber mallet. The difficulty level of this do-it-yourself project is considered to be medium or moderate; however,that is due to the fact that some tiles may need to be reset in order to ensure a level plane across the floor.

It Is All In the Preparation

Preparation is key to a seamless installation of this type of natural stone. Ninety-nine percent of all successful home improvement jobs start with proper prepping of the working surface. For any surface--whether it be a floor, countertop, or wall, make the working area as level as possible before you do anything else. Check your work with a level prior to any travertine tile installation.

Application of Thinset On Flooring - Kick It Up A Notch

Working from the middle of the room, use the trowel's notched edge to apply an even coat of thinset mortar to the flooring surface, spreading it evenly in the area where you will set the travertine. Take your time when doing this in order to avoid ridges and/or air pockets which may cause the tile to settle improperly.

Application of Thinset On Back of Tile - Flat Is Beautiful

Now it is time to use the trowel's flat side to apply a skim coat thinset to the back of the travertine marble tile. Ensure it is evenly distributed throughout, taking care to coat the edges of the tile.

Apply the Tile With Gentle But Firm Persuasion

Set the tile in place on the floor, applying pressure, and moving it back and forth in all directions to form a good bond and to eliminate any unforeseen trapped air bubbles/pockets.

Then it is time to set the second tile next to the first, lining up the corners, and moving that tile back and forth as you did the first one.

Make sure the tiles are the same height. Using a soft rubber mallet, tap gently on the second travertine marble tile until it abuts the first tile. There should be a tight fit with no gaps.

Keep a Level Head and Get a Level Floor

Lay a level on the tile floor to ensure that tiles are flat and flush. If a tile is too low, remove the tile and add more thinset on the floor. If the opposite is true and the tile is too high, pry up the travertine and remove excessive thinset. Either way, there is a remedy so you can get a level floor by keeping a level head and doing what needs to be done to get the perfectly seamless travertine marble tile floor.

Working with travertine floor tile [http://www.travertinetilestore.com/travertine-floor-tiles-2] is not as difficult as you might have been told or think. Laying a travertine marble tile [http://www.travertinetilestore.com] floor seamlessly can be completed easily and successfully as a do-it-yourself project.

By Mary Ruff-King  |   Submitted On July 08, 2010

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4631730

How to Install Kitchen Tile Backsplash

How to Install a Kitchen Tile Backsplash : Rooms : Home & Garden Television - http://pinterest.com/pin/573364596285652899/?s=3&m=blogger

Choosing Subway Tiles for Kitchen Backsplash: 

Glass or Ceramic?

Author:

My Tile Gal

Subway tile backsplash is just one of the solutions to make the kitchen area look superb and according to your desires. If you are looking to build an incredible choice, sensible, and also beneficial, subway tile backsplash for kitchen is a great choice backsplash subway. Subway tile backsplash is confirmed strategy and proved as before that is definitely an outstanding selection for the kitchen area renovation ideas. It is a well known preference simply because it brings together luxury,beauty and functionality and that is a simple solution which delivers better value for your money.

Kitchen backsplash is essential if you wish to maintain cooking area with a gas and even make your kitchen bright and gorgeous. Subway tile backsplash in the kitchen must be one which is not difficult to install as well as minimizes the requirement for routine maintenance.When considering kitchen renovation there is certainly all you should do in the beginning is to define ideas thoroughly on paper. Begin with a strategy on paper, the buy of required accessories and yes make sure to deliver the steps properly because it decides the quantity and variety of subway tile backsplash as well as other materials used that you require. Purchase parts with a bit of extra help to succeed in situation of breakage or damage will be all set. Subway tile backsplash from glass, ceramics as well as other needs or personal preferences should definitely be reasonable and logical.

Kitchen backsplash that defines the kitchen which make it vibrant and extremely trendy and stylish. With some little hard work along with a little creativity you could make the kitchen area into a room because kitchen is the area where all family member sit together many time in a single day. Modern residence and also today apartment users are adopting a lot of different approaches to insert a little bit design and style in their kitchen area. It is actually the most impressive places to include a touch of smoothness as well as the contemporary style of the backside wall of the kitchen area.Everyone can easily enhance their kitchen with the following recommendations to create the design and style of the kitchen even independently

Glass subway tile backsplash is not difficult to thoroughly clean and maintain and also it\'s a terrific way to put some color to your kitchen. Panels can be found in various shades and colors an ideal composition of parameters to granite countertop, tops and subway tile backsplash. Travertine stone fell as they are easily obtainable in a variety of sizes are getting to be very popular to be used in the cabin specifically in the southwestern and modern western the United States. The disadvantage only utilizes products for example stone sealed to avoid backsplash color selection as it is porous characteristics. Subway tile backsplash composed of stainless-steel can be utilized as a backsplash in the kitchen an innovative and modern use. These types of metal plates are extremely great for example exhibitions include things like natural stone or ceramic subway tile backsplash. The color combination and layout and style is very important to renovate the backside wall of the kitchen.

Ceramic Tiles

•Ceramic tiles are clay shape tiles which are coated in a fine surface of glaze. This glaze is generally a form of glass that is definitely melted and joined onto the body of the tile. The outcome is a long lasting easy to cut and also fix the tile that may possess a shiny matte or textured surface area. Ceramic tiles are convenient to thoroughly clean on kitchen backsplashes that will favor to protect the wall from food splatters. Sometimes ceramic glaze may damage or fad there is necessitating a sealer being practiced once a year to the tile to provide protection from stains.

Glass Tiles

• There are many types of glass tiles are available on the market, every one ideal for backsplash use. Glass tiles are made from solid glass. A few have pigments blended into the glass for color or shade, while some have color painted onto the backside of plain clear glass. Glass tiles may be matte, textured or shiny in finish and can available various measurements. Glass tiles tend to be more challenging to cut and to fix and for optimum results must be fitted by a person who is highly skilled with the materials. Particular cutting equipments are needed, especially if a design for the backsplash demands multiple cut tiles.

'

Point To Highlight

•Both ceramic and glass tiles can be utilized on backsplashes without any difficulties. Both of them are simple to wipe, clean and which are ideal for use in this particular space. Make your selection on the basis of design and style, shade and materials choices; glass tiles can be found in recycled resources for environmentally friendly constructing assignments. Ceramic tiles may possibly are less expensive or be more convenient to install based on the particular company as well as producer. Both components or materials may also be utilized at the same time in a single space to generate personalized styles and shapes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/kitchens-articles/choosing-subway-tiles-for-kitchen-backsplash-glass-or-ceramic-6351824.html

About the Author

Author My Tile Gal is the owner of My Tile Backsplash, that offers glass tiles, ceramic tiles, natural stone and beautiful switchplates. Whether it is specialty grouts for your glass mosaic tiles or cabinet hardware for your kitchen there are many options that can use to make a backsplash both functional and beautiful. Visit Today.

Ceramic Tile Repairs: Floor Tile Replacement and Shower Re-grouts

Ceramic Tile Repairs: Floor Tile Replacement and Shower Re-grouts 

By Chris Lawson

The is an article rewritten/edited by the staff at Mass Reality. This is one of two articles rewritten and then used as an Expert Guide for use by their clients. This blog entry was orginally written by Chris Lawson. 

Tile repairs are a very specialized service and can be hard to get tile contractors interested in small, sometimes difficult, detailed repairs. The trick to these repairs is to remove and replace the cracked or broken materials without it being obvious that it has been repaired. To complete these repairs and have it not look like an afterthought is a very tricky undertaking.

The first step is to remove the grout around the targeted tile so as not to disturb the tiles around it that will not be removed. Grout binds together tiles and gives it solidity and if not removed then action against one tile can affect others. Many times it takes a hammer and a chisel to remove tiles and if the grout is not removed first then the impact can break surrounding tiles as well.

After the grout is removed, the tile to be replaced can be broken from the middle out in pieces and removed carefully using the hammer and chisel a little at a time or all at once if the tile is not bonded very well. If it is bonded strongly, then a little at a time is the only way to remove it. After the tile is removed, the task of chipping off the thin set or adhesive is the next step and can be very difficult and time-consuming - as well as creating a mess and a lot of dust! Again, the hammer and chisel will be your best bet unless you have an electric alternative. Once you've removed all the adhesive, you can re-adhere your replacement tile back in place of the one you've removed, wait some time for it to dry, and then re-grout the repaired area with the same color grout as the rest of the area around the repair.

Shower re-grouts are in some ways much easier because you don't have to worry about breaking tiles from removal. But scraping and cleaning of the grout and old caulk can be very patience-testing. Any loose grout or caulk has to be removed completely before the new can be applied. The trick to these repairs is getting the new grout to adhere to the old grout. This is generally accomplished by removing enough grout from the area so the new grout has room to stay. Generally you need 1/8 of a inch of new grout on top of the old for it to adhere and not flake out later. Repairs are in some ways much harder than standard installations and in many cases you should get a professional to come out and implement the repair if possible. If you can't seem to gather any interest from any tile guys to do your repair, I will be glad to assist you in any way I can - just give me a call and I'll gladly walk you through it right over the phone!

- See more at: http://www.massrealty.com/articles/ceramic-tile-repairs-floor-tile-replacement-and-shower-regrouts#sthash.8DhP4fQz.J0sjHl0A.dpufCeramic Tile Repairs: Floor Tile Replacement and Shower Re-grouts

How to Install Ceramic Tile Floor

Tile Excellence responds to bad advise on "how to lay ceramic tile" found on ask.com. Consumers Beware!

Here's a question from answers.com, which Tile Excellence oftens answers. We've even won best answer a few times. 

In response to the question, "How to Install Ceramic Tile Floor"

"To install ceramic tile, first grout the area. Press the first tile on starting in a corner. Each additional tile should have 1/4" space all around the tile. Apply more grout to the seams and let it dry for several hours. Wipe off all excess grout with..."

Though not claiming my answer was the best, and with a full disclosure that I am not an EXPERT, though doing tile for almost five years, I consider myself an apprentice. The advice given below and to this reader was based on my experience with this master tile installer, I feel I can respond. 

Your response to my comments will be helpful, so please feel free to comment even if you don't agee. That's what this site is all about!

1-GROUT is NOT used to lay the tile!! STOP! Thin set is used. GROUT is CEMENT!!! I about died when I saw those instructions-designed for CONSUMERS who are doing it themselves, and he told them to grout the area and then lay down the tile!!!! Wipe it off after four hours??? What, with a chisel???? You lay the tile after applied a layer of thin-set.

2-Start in a corner??? Why, because it's easiest? Even "expert" how-to books will say to start in the middle of the floor with the whole tiles, thus insuring full tiles on all sides. I understand that thinking, except in doing it this way, you will also have "cuts on all four sides, something professional tile installers who care about aesthetics will avoid. I won't even touch the "aesthetic" value of a floor which starts in a corner. 

To me, that sounds like an inexperienced and lazy tile installer. [mentor] always starts with full tiles at the entrance of the bathroom, and full tiles in front of tub (lay out varies depending on where tub is located). Cuts are kept to a minimum, often with full tiles on at least 2 or 4 sides, and other necessary cuts are reserved for low visibility spots, such as behind the toilet and far end corners. This gives a beautiful overall balances layout-not always the easiest, but certainly the most consumer-pleasing layout strategy. Now, I know there are other factors involved, , but that particular  issue was always important in any tile project planning of [mentor] .

3-as for adding more "grout" to the seams after laying the tile with grout, I again, am in disbelief as he then says to let it sit for 4 hours before wiping. You cannot "wipe" dry grout as he describes. This much I know as grouting was my "specialty" during my internship. After the floor is laid with thin-set the floor is covered with grout. BUT, it's done a section at at time, small sections because you do not want to disturb the tile. So sections as they dry are wiped down with damp sponge in a systematic and sequential order until the entire floor is done. Then the floor has to sit for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hrs. At that point you will need to wipe the tile again with a damp sponge, as there will be a film from the grout, and this is easily wiped away. Also if you follow this advise, you'll be walking on the tile after only 4 hours. Oh, but since it's st in CEMENT, maybe tile shifting isn't a problem????

4-Not all tile flooring uses 1/4 inch spaces between tiles (spacers-the little white cross like plastic pieces used to accurately "space" between tiles can be 1/16th (marble and granite), 1/4, 1/8th, 3/16ths *ceramic) depend on the size of the tile used and the design. Tile installation is not "cookie cutter" design-it's individual as is each customer.

I can tell you from experience, laying a beautiful ceramic tile floor is not easy, and takes planning and experience. That's NOT to say people cannot do it themselves-that's one of the main reasons for this blog is to help DIY' ers with questions and to share experiences, but it does mean there are people that know what they are talking about, and people who think they do, and people that have no idea, but say it like they do anyways. I already said I'm not an expert, and when  [tile mentor]  reads this, he'll ammend any errors, but I feel confident he'd be happy I said something because innocent consumers listening the the "best" answers.com to this question will have a disastrously outcome if they listen to this "expert".

Check out credentials, see if people are "selling" something, read testimonials, check out their blogs. Not everyone answering consumer questions are doing so for the right reasons.

I know [mentor] tries not to slam anyone or any business, and I admit, I didn't follow the rest of this answer to find out if this was written by a tile expert or business. I got so stuck after reading the first line, I flew into "protect the customer" mode, and read enough to know this was bad advice.

People-even among professionals do things differently-and I don't think [tile mentor]  knows everything, even about tile installation. But he is always willing to learn and listen, and apply newly learned techniques and use new tools. However, customer service, helping consumers, helping DYI do things in the simplest ways, at affordable prices, resulting in tile installation they can be proud of brings him joy and motivates him. I know telling consumers to start a tile floor in the fashion this writer did would really upset him, so for now, I'm the voice of warning.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions. AGAIN, I'm not the expert, and you are welcome to ask (ask here in response) more specifics, but I'm knowledgeable to know I'm right about the points I made-esp. the grout issue. I think people writing answers to these really important consumers questions should use extreme caution and be so careful, as the trusty consumer believes the "expert", and will follow their advise. These poor consumers better have their chisels handy to "wipe" off this grout.

I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries. Tile Experts on this blog and walk people through their tile installation projects and answers all questions with NO expectation, without gathering any information, trying to "get" the job (most of his phone and email advise for people working on DIY projects do not even live near his state of MA!), he truly does it to help people, to pay it forward, and prevent consumers from getting ripped off of making big mistakes on their projects for their beloved homes, so I know those knowing more will jump in. 

Thanks

Tile Master in Training