Porcelain Tile Mainenance

The owner of this Porcelain tiled floor installed in a house in Salisbury had contacted us to look at the grout lines which had become very dark with ingrained dirt and also the textured parts of the tile which had trapped dirt and become difficult to clean effectively. We popped round to take a look and ran a small cleaning demonstration which was very successful and so they quickly booked us to complete the work. Textured Ceramic and Porcelain tiles tend to have a rough surface which does give them more grip but it also means there are more places for dirt to become trapped, also many don’t realise but the cementitious nature of grout means the very top layer is slightly porous and also able to trap dirt.

Deep Cleaning Porcelain Tile and Grout

We started by mixing a strong solution of Pro-Clean and NanoTech Ultra Clean and left to dwell for 10 minutes to allow the mixture to penetrate the build-up of ingrained dirt and grime. Then using a stiff grout brush we scrubbed each and every grout line to remove all traces of dirt and residue. Next we attached a stiff poly brush to our rotary machine and covered the whole floor making sure that we scrubbed each tile at least four times to make sure we removed as much dirt and grime as possible. We then rinsed the floor several times using clean water and removing slurry with wet vacuum making sure that all product had been removed.


The tile and grout now look much cleaner and hopefully you can appreciate the difference in the photographs above.





Source: Porcelain Tile Maintenance Advice

Grind Ceramic Flashing

1. When completing work on a ceramic piece, you may find that certain areas have excess material, or "flashing," on one or more edges.

2. To remove the flashing and ensure a smooth finish, start carefully clamping the piece into the D-Vise. (It has cushioned clamps to protect your project.)

3. Using the #85422 silicon carbide grinding stone, work at the flashing until it's completely smoothed away.

4. You can also reshape areas or define detail using the #84922 grinding stone to create lines and features that are otherwise difficult to see.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Advantages to Ceramic Tile Floors in Commercial Buildings

Ceramic tile floors are ideal as a flooring choice for home or office. The advantages of having ceramic tiles for commercial business are significant.

Durability

Ceramic tile is known for its outstanding durability. If tiles are installed properly, they can withstand a great deal of heavy traffic use and will outlast most other flooring materials; with the exception of wooden flooring, which ceramic tiling is on par with. Because of the durability factor, there will be little or no expense involved in future replacement costs.

Waterproofing

In a commercial enterprise where moisture might be a problem, ceramic tiles are exceptional because they can withstand moisture, both to the tiles and the sub-flooring. Ceramic tile can be slippery though when wet, therefore, when choosing a ceramic tile for an area that might be vulnerable to moisture, choose textured tiles which will allow better traction to prevent slips or falls.  If purchasing ceramic tiles for use in an area that may have water tracked onto the tiling, it would also be a good idea to place mats to safeguard against slipping.

Maintenance

Ceramic tile is easy to maintain and can therefor often reduce facility maintenance costs.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How To Keep Your Bathroom Tiles Looking Fresh

This was a straight forward request to rejuvenate the ceramic tile and grout around the bath at a house in the town Kettering. The glazed ceramic tiles where in good condition but the grout and seal around the bath had become quite grubby and stained with dyes from shampoos, soaps and had gone dark in some areas where mould had started to get a foothold.

Cleaning Ceramic Tile and Grout

We started by spraying the tiles with Tile Doctor Oxy-Pro which is a strong high-alkaline cleaner especially formulated and packaged for cleaning showers. The spray delivery is important as mixing the cleaning product with air makes it lighter and helps it cling to the tile and grout. The Oxy-Pro was left to soak in for around 15 minutes before being scrubbed into the tile and grout using a stiff grout brush. This action cleaned up the grout and tile nicely removing stains from shampoos and soaps etc.

Removing Mould from Grout

The grout was looking much improved but there was however some evidence of mould remaining which needed dealing with. To tackle this we used Tile Doctor Mould Away which is designed to remove mould off Silicone and Grout. It’s very easy to use, you simply spray the Silicone or Grout to be treated with Mould Away then leave to soak in for twenty minutes and then scrub with a brush and rinse with water repeating the process until the mould has disappeared, in extreme cases you can leave it for a few hours but we didn’t need to do that.


I was unable to use any tools on this job so it took a fair amount of manual effort but the results were well worth it as you can see.




Source: Cleaning bathroom tile and grout

How to Seal Ceramic Tile Art and Make a Homemade Sealer

You can get ceramic tile with art already on it, but you can also create your own works of ceramic tile art. The main problem you'll find with ceramic tile art is that the paint can fade, wear off or simply run. This, of course, is if you do not take the time to seal the ceramic tile. Sealing ceramic tile art seems as if it should be easy, but you cannot seal it with the materials you find in stores for sealing ceramic. These chemicals include ingredients that are great to seal ceramic but will damage the artwork. Ceramic tiles are baked in a kiln in order to get the glazed look, but painted artwork does not have the same finish. The article that follows will show you not only how to seal ceramic tile art correctly but how to make your own sealer.

What You'll Need
Mixing bowl
Linseed oil
Alcohol
Cotton swabs
Clean rags
Soft natural paintbrush

Step 1 – Make Sure the Art Is Dry

Before you even begin mixing up your home brew of ceramic tile art sealer, you need to make sure that the art is completely dry. If you try to apply the sealer to paint that is not completely dry, it will run or be wiped off the tile. It takes longer for paint to dry on ceramic tile than on most common painting surfaces, so take that into consideration. You also need to consider the humidity of the area you are working in. High levels of moisture will cause the paint not to set. Whatever the drying time is for the paint you are using, always double and even triple it to be certain it is set.

Step 2 – Using Alcohol

Alcohol is fast drying and can be used to set the paint on the ceramic tile just prior to applying the sealer. Alcohol can, however, damage paint, so it is important to test the alcohol on a very small area of the paint. Use a cotton swab to do this. If the paint dissolves, then use the alcohol very carefully. Otherwise, you can paint it on the tile as you would any other paint or sealer. Some kinds of paint can come off when you scrub it with alcohol. Prevent this by soaking a rag in alcohol and draping it over the tile. After several seconds, you can carefully remove the rag. The alcohol will dry in seconds and, in the process, will set and protect the paint.

Step 3 – Linseed oil

This type of oil is very safe on most paint products and also safe to use on glazed ceramic tile. Once the alcohol has dried, paint it on the tile over the art. Use a clean rag to dab up the oil but never scrub or wipe it off.

Step 4 – Make a Sealer

If this is a hobby you do often, then mixing your own sealer will prove beneficial. In a mixing bowl, pour in four parts of linseed oil. Thin the oil out with one part alcohol.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

3 Great Kitchen Floor Tile Design Ideas

A kitchen floor tile can come in many designs and when it comes to planning the flooring in your kitchen there are many options. The choices can seem endless and it is a very confusing process to pick what you believe will be the best design for your kitchen floor. It is hard enough to actually lay the floor tiles in your kitchen, but can be even harder to find the right design for your needs. You can really make it into a work of art and look very elegant with the right direction. You may want something that really shows off the kitchen or something that is just basic and functional. The kitchen is not always somewhere to cook but can sometimes be somewhere where people eat and gather too. It is important that you get the design right so that the kitchen has the most appeal. 

1 - Classic Checkerboard Design

The design whereby you place down tiles that are exactly the same size and style, but putting 2 different colors next to each other is known as a checkerboard design. It is an old style, but one that has remained popular even to this day as it is so simple. If you want to get the look or an old style diner then you should go with black and white tiles. Alternatively, you could go with two colors that match the paint on the wall. The tiles should not be too large and can be adjusted or moved slightly depending on how your want the checkerboard effect to look in regards to grouping.    

2 - Mix Finishes of Tiles

Another idea for the design of your kitchen floor can be to use tiles that are same colors but have different textures or finishes. You can go with varying types of finish for your tiles from high gloss or semi gloss ones. Also, there are those that are just flat in texture and plain. The thing is with tiles with different textures, they will all reflect light in a different way. This means that as light hits the floor of your kitchen floor you will get a subtle design and it will look pretty elegant. Additionally it will certainly bring the floor to life and look more interesting. It is possible to create a fairly impressive look. The great thing about this design is that it will never overwhelm you when you walk into the kitchen as some designs can.

3 - Mix Sizes of Tiles

Most of the time you will use tiles that are the same size as each other. However, if you want a unique design then you should mix up the different sizes and colors. This will help to create a more random, interesting look for your floor. This design is best employed on kitchen floors that are smaller in size. It is useful to try this first in a store to make sure that the design looks okay as it is one that doesn’t always work with all kitchens. Additionally you have to ensure that all the tiles of varying sizes fit together perfectly and look professional. 

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Anti-slip Application on Porcelain Tiles at a Gold Course

I recently paid a visit to a Golf Club in Derbyshire to assist local Tile Doctor Steve Carpenter with the application of Anti-Slip treatment to the 6inch porcelain tiles in the men’s changing rooms. This is the advantage of being a member of a large network, if a fellow member needs assistance on a time consuming job they can just ask for assistance. In this case the floor was only around 12m2 but the Golf Club were hosting a Tournament later that afternoon and needed the work completing before 1pm.

Cleaning Porcelain Tiles ready for Anti-Slip treatment

For best results the Anti-Slip treatment requires a clean surface so the first job was to give the tiles a thorough wash using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean worked into the floor with a rotary machine fitted with a scrubbing pad. The resultant dirty cleaning solution was then removed using a wet vacuum and the floor rinsed with clean water.

Applying Anti-Slip treatment to Porcelain tiles

The next step was to apply the Priming and Locking solution to the tile surface diluted one part solution to four parts water and this was left to dry. Once dry we applied the Anti-Slip treatment ensuring the tile was kept wet for up to 20 minutes in the process. The last step in the treatment was to re-apply the diluted Priming and Locking solution before the floor fully dried, it’s this last step that activates the treatment and locks it in place. There’s no need to wait for the floor to dry at this point it can be used immediately after the last step has been applied.


To test the floor I invited the manager to try the floor dry and wet so he could experience the improvement in surface friction on a wet surface for himself. The treatment worked well and the manager was impressed, not only that we managed to complete the job with 45 minutes to spare. For after care we recommend the floor should be cleaned daily by damp mopping with our Neutral Tile Cleaner, diluted at 35ml per 5-Litres of water periodically scrubbing the floor with a deck brush.



Source: Help with Anti-Slip Treatment

How to Attach Self Adhesive Wall Tiles

Although you may think that putting up your own self adhesive wall tiles can be a hard process, it is actually quite easy. It can be a lengthy process because you need to take your time and if this is the first time you are doing this then you will want to be extra careful. When you are using tiles that are self adhesive for the wall, you are going to find that the process is very different from the traditional method except, that you need to prep the wall before you begin.

What You'll Need

Hot dipped galvanized fasteners
Joint compound
Self-adhesive tiles
Fiberglass tape
Cleanser
Sandpaper
Drywall compound
Mud easel
Green board
Trowel
Tiles spacers
Grout float
Tile cutter
Grout
Sponge
Caulking
Grout sealer

Step 1 – Level the Walls 

The first thing that you need to do is make sure that your wall is level. You can do this using a carpenter’s level so you know that you are accurate. If you find that the wall is uneven, you can even it out with a thin layer of drywall compound using the trowel so it goes on evenly. You can use the mud easel to put the compound on to make it easier. 

Step 2 – Prepare the Walls 

If your walls are located in an area that is prone to moisture, use the green board as a barrier since it is water resistant. Attach to the wall using the galvanized fasteners. Next you will need to make sure that your walls are clean and sanded. You need a rough surface for the backing of the tile so use the sandpaper for this step.

Step 3 –Seal the Joints 

You will need to use joint compound to seal the joints between the boards and them use the fiberglass tape over top. Once that is done, you can then place a thin layer of the drywall compound over the boards. If your walls are in a dry zone, you can skip this step.

Step 4 – Place the Tiles

Now is the time to start placing the tiles on the wall. Measure your wall first to see if you are going to need any partial tiles and if so you will want them at the foot of the wall. To cut the tile, use the tile cutter. You can then remove the backing, place the tiles across the wall and use tow tile spacers so that you have expansion joints that are needed for the tiles. Start working from the bottom and work your way up. If you would like you can have a row of edging tile as a finish.

Step 5 – Remove the Spacers

Once all of the tiles are in place, you will then want to remove your tile spacers so that you can now grout the joints. Use the grout float for this. There may be some grout that is in excess on your tile and you can wipe that away using a damp sponge. If you think that your surface may be prone to getting wet, use some caulking between the tiles to protect the joints. Now you can wipe down the tile with a cloth that is lint free and then apply your grout sealant. Allow drying and then you are good to go.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Remove Linoleum Tile Adhesive

Removing tile adhesive is not a difficult job to do. Many people remove the tile from their floors to get to the beautiful natural floor that lies beneath the tiles. What they don’t realize is the majority of the time linoleum is glued down when the tiles are installed. Even after removing the linoleum, you may have to do extra cleaning to remove the residue from the glue.

What You'll Need

Hot water
Towels
Paint scraper
Floor sander
Heat gun
WD40
Rag
Goof-Off

Step 1 - Preparation

Using spare towels and rags, cover a big section of the floor. Pour boiling water on the towels and let it cool enough to handle. After about 10 or 15 minutes, use the towels to remove the adhesive.

Step 2 - Scrape

Scrape away old glue being careful not to scratch the hardwood surface. If you don’t want to go this route, you can rent a floor sander to use instead. This option will cost more money than just using rags, but is a lot less labor intensive.

Step 3 - Use Heat Gun

Often you will come across stubborn spots where you will find extremely difficult to remove the adhesive. These can be found mostly at the corners of the floor. In such a case, you can use a heat gun. You need to blow hot air on the stubborn spots which will loosen the glue. Then you can go back to the scraping method when excessive glue is removed.

Step 4 - Use Chemicals

If you still find areas where you are unable to remove the glue, then opt for chemical remover. Although, this is the last and less desired option to remove the adhesive. This should only be used on spots that could not be removed by the steps above. Keep in mind this last method could leave damaged spots on the floor.

Step 5 - Clean Surface

After you have removed the glue, you have to prepare the floor for the new flooring. In order to so sweep the floor and then mops it.

Removal Tips

• Remember that most of the floor's original finish will come off with the sanding and removing of the glue.
• Be sure and take a look at the type of floor underneath the tiles so you can have the needed stain or finishing material to give the floor a nice finish.
• Removing adhesive can take a while so make sure you have enough time to get the job accomplished.

After Removal Maintenance Tips:

• Using Water: Hardwood can get water damaged so you can’t apply the same amount of water to the flooring as you did to the tiles.
• Using a Vacuum: A vacuum can be used on the flooring to collect the dust but if you are afraid that this will scratch the floor. It is suggested to us a dust mop instead.
• Touch Up: There are times when the flooring is going to need touch-ups. To do this you can use touch up sticks. For larger areas you can use small tubs of stain.

Before you decide that you want to return to the hardwoods flooring underneath your tile consider the work that it takes to maintain it.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Remove Adhesive From Quarry Tiles

The history of this Quarry Tiled floor at a house in Swindon is a little unusual in that the owner had discovered the Quarry tiles underneath cracked ceramic tiles which had been laid over the top for several years. The customer wanted to bring the Quarry tile back to life to match the existing hallway from the kitchen and so we got a call. Incidentally the practice of laying new tiles on top of old is not unusual as an existing tiled floor provides an ideal level on which to lay new tiles.

Cleaning Quarry Tiles

We started by using a floor scraper to scrape off as much tile adhesive as possible. Once this was done we mixed a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up and brushed it all over the remaining tile adhesive and used a black scrubbing pad attached to a rotary machine to remove the glue. This took several attempts using more Grout Clean-up, a floor scraper and a black scrubbing pad to remove all traces of the adhesive. Next we rinsed off any trace of product using clean water and then removed it using a wet vacuum. The floor was free of glue at this point but we still needed to remove any existing sealer from the tiles and give them a deep clean to remove ingrained dirt so a strong solution of Tile Doctor Pro-clean mixed 50/50 with Nanotech Ultraclean was applied to the tiles and left to dwell for twenty minutes. (The Nanotech product adds tiny abrasive particles to the mix making a more effective cleaner). The solution was worked into the tile using a black pad attached to a rotary machine and the floor thoroughly scrubbed. Once satisfied the tiles were rinsed with clean water several times to remove any trace of cleaning product and the water removed using a wet vacuum. A lot of work had gone into the floor at this point and it needed time to dry before sealing so we left for the evening.

Sealing Quarry Tiles

We returned two days later and after testing the tiles were dry using a damp tester, which came back as OK, we processed to seal the Quarry tiles using six coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is an ideal sealer for Quarry tiles as it adds a nice sheen to the floor as well as providing future surface protection. Seal and Go is also water based so there’s no smell as it dries.





Source: Help Restoring Quarry Tiles

Four Tips on Sanding Ceramic Tiles

One of the best and most beautiful ways to decorate your kitchen or bathroom is definitely by the installation of ceramic tiles. You may need to sand the ceramic tiles if they are old. You will be giving your tiles a newer and brighter look.

1 – Wearing Protective Eyewear

Before you start your sanding project, make sure that you are wearing protective eyewear as a precaution for your health and safety. This should be done in order to avoid sanded ceramic tile pieces from entering your eyes.

2 – Sanding The Tiles Manually

Sand the ceramic tiles with 220-grit sandpaper. Sanding should be done especially if the tiles were installed more than 50 years ago. You can choose to paint the ceramic tiles after you sand them as well. Remember that your goal is to sand away the superficial glaze but let the tile retain the smoothness of its surface.


If you decide to sand your ceramic tiles manually, keep in mind that the rougher the surface of the tile, the lower the grit of your sandpaper should be. In case you find a chipped tile, it is a much better idea if you utilize 60-grit or 80-grit sandpaper to smoothen the sharp edges. After you have sanded the edges, you can refine them a bit more with 400-grit sandpaper. Make sure that you go up the grit scale slowly. Do not use 400-grit sandpaper immediately after you have used 80-grit sandpaper.

Keep in mind that sandpaper should be used to sand the surfaces of ceramic tiles, as well as to smoothen any sharp edges than the tiles may have. However, if you need to change the size and shape of a ceramic tile, you are advised to make use of a diamond wheel or a tile saw because they are more appropriate tools than sandpaper.

3 – Using Power Sanding Tools

If you do not want to sand your ceramic tiles manually, you can still obtain excellent results if you utilize power tools. Remember that the type of sanding tool you should use depends on the type of edge that the ceramic tiles have. Keep in mind that a rotary sander should be utilized if the edges are curved, whereas a belt sander should be used if the edges are flat.

You need to be much more careful when you sand ceramic tiles with power tools. This is because the tools will sand the tiles at a greater speed than when you are sanding them manually. Hold the tools with gentle hands and inspect the edges regularly. After you see that the edge of the tile has been smoothened completely, you can finish with 200-grit and 400-grit sandpaper, either through the use of power tools or manually.

4 – Using Handle-Mounted Files

If you choose to use a handle-mounted file, you can put your mind to rest because these files give you more control over the job than if you are using a power sanding tool. Use a handle-mounted file in case your ceramic tiles have curved edges.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Maintaining Outdoor Ceramic Tile

Maintaining your outdoor ceramic tile can make the difference between having an eye-catching patio or an eye sore. Often, homeowners are confused about how to maintain their outdoor ceramic tile, but the process is similar to the process used to maintain indoor ceramic tile. The most important step to take is to keep the grout in good condition. By using some elbow grease and exercising a little patience, you can keep your outdoor ceramic tile in good condition so that your patio is always ready for entertaining and your walkway is always ready to welcome guests.

What You'll Need
5-Gallon bucket
Broom
Dish detergent
Water hose
Grout sealer
Pressure washer (optional)

Step 1:  Sweep Tile

Using the broom, sweep the tile. Make sure that you clear away any loose debris. The more debris you can clear away at this point, the easier it will be to clean the tile in the next step.

Step 2:  Clean Tile

If you are certain that the grout is undamaged and that the tiles are secure, the quickest and easiest way to clean your outdoor ceramic tile is to use a pressure washer. Operate the pressure washer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not have a pressure washer, use a water hose to fill the 5-gallon bucket halfway with water. Add a few squirts of liquid dish detergent while filling the bucket to make a cleaning solution. Set the bucket aside. Use the water hose to wet the tile thoroughly. Then, get the bucket and dip the broom into the cleaning solution. Use the broom in a sweeping motion to clean the grout between each tile. Give extra attention to any compacted debris between the tiles.  It may take some scrubbing to remove the compacted debris, but you must remove it completely. Continue to dip the broom into the cleaning solution and clean between the tiles until you have scrubbed the entire area. Use the broom to clean the surface of the tiles as well.

Step 3:  Rinse Tile

After cleaning the tile and grout, use the water hose to rinse the ceramic tile. Rinse several times until all residue has been removed.

Step 4:  Dry

Allow the tile to dry completely. On a hot day, drying may take only a few minutes. On cooler days, it may take a few hours.

Step 5: Seal Grout

Take the time to read carefully the manufacturer’s instructions for the grout sealer. Then, apply the sealer to the grout lines. Most grout sealers come in a bottle with a built-in application brush, so application should not be messy. Allow the first application to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and apply a second coat of the grout sealer. Allow it to dry.

By taking these steps at least once a year, you can maintain your outdoor ceramic tile so that it lasts for decades to come. Now that you have taken care of your outdoor ceramic tile, you can start planning your next home improvement project.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Cleaning Porcelain Kitchen Floor Tiles

Porcelain tiles are very tough and a great choice for kitchens where they are likely to see a large amount of foot traffic, you do need to be careful however if they are the micro porous porcelain which as the name suggests are slightly porous and if not sealed will trap dirt. The other problem you are likely to have with any tiled floor is the grout which has a porous top layer that can become stained. This kitchen floor at a house in Warsash had both these issues and needed to be cleaned and re-sealed due to dirt becoming ingrained in the tile and grout making it difficult to clean and losing its appearance.

Cleaning and Preparing Porcelain Tile and Grout

To remove any remaining sealer and clean the tiles and grout a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied and left to soak in to the surface for around ten minutes before scrubbing it into the tile with a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad and also a stiff hand brush along the grout lines. This was then washed down with warm water all of which was removed by a wet Vacuum. This stripping and cleaning process was repeated until the tile and the grout was looking new again after which the floor was given a thorough rinse in order to remove any trace of product and then dried as much as possible using the wet vacuum.

Sealing Micro Porous Porcelain

We left the floor to dry overnight and came back the next day to seal the floor first testing to ensure it was bone dry. Dry it was and so we proceeded to seal the floor using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which provides strong stain protection as well as lifting the colours in the tile. For those technically minded people reading this post an impregnating sealer penetrates into the pores of the tile to occupy the holes and therefore prevent any dirt from resting there.


I took the picture above whilst the floor was drying but hopefully you can see the improvement in the look of the tile and how clean the grout has become.




Source: Help with Porcelain Tile Cleaining

How to Tile a Border

Laying a tile border is a job that is going to require a lot of preparation and time. However, this is a job that you should be able to do if you have the proper knowledge and patience. Here are the basics of how to tile a border in a room.

What You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Tile
• Wet saw
• Trowel
• Tile spacers
• Tile adhesive
• Grout
• Chalk line

Step 1--Select the Proper Border

There are a number of different types of borders that you could potentially do. In order to choose the right one for your job, you are going to need to look at the different products that are available. You can look at magazines or pictures on line in order to get an idea of what you want to do. You can completely customize your border to look like anything that you want. Therefore, you need to spend some time in choosing the proper border for your room. You could use the same tile that you installed on the floor and just turn it diagonally or stagger it. You could use listello pieces to create a border. You could use small mosaic tiles to create a border. Your options are basically limitless. Choose the tile for your border and then order it.

Step 2--Lay out the Pattern

Once you have secured the tile for your border, you are going to want to lay it out before installing it. This part of the process can take some time. You want to do a diagram on a piece of paper first so that you can see how you should lay it out. Take the tiles and lay them on the floor so that you can see what they will look like. Adjust the layout to fit your needs. If you are using listello pieces with corners, make sure that you have enough corners for each corner of the tile.

Step 3--Lay the Tile

You are now ready to lay the border. Using your trowel, apply some of the tile adhesive to the floor. Then press your border pieces down into that adhesive. Make sure that the border pieces are firmly into the adhesive so that there are no gaps behind the tile. Put tile spacers on the edges of the tile so that you can space the tile appropriately. 

Step 4--Allow it to Dry

You should then allow the tile border to dry thoroughly. In most cases, you will want to allow it to dry overnight before moving forward.

Step 5--Grout

At this point, you are ready to apply the grout. Using a grout float, spread the grout over the tops of the tiles and fill the grout joints. When you are done with this, you will want to clean up the mess. Use a sponge and water to wipe down the tiles. This is also going to help smooth out the joints. After you grout joints, you will want to let the grout dry overnight before walking on the tile.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Tile and Grout Cleaning Equipment

Tile and grout cleaning equipment can be used to stop your beautiful bathroom from developing nasty stains that are difficult to get rid of. Mold and fungi can grow between tiles and spread rapidly. The good news is that tile and grout cleaning equipment is widely available and easy to use. Here are some suggestions of equipment you can use to make these stains a thing of the past:

Grout Brush

A grout brush is the first tool you should consider for tackling stains. Grout brushes are cheap and can be bought in a variety of lengths and sizes. This means mold or bacteria can be treated effectively and there should be a brush available to reach every conceivable corner and angle of tiling. Grout brushes have hard and stubborn bristles which allow for effective cleaning. Use a reasonable amount of pressure when using a grout brush and even the most stubborn stains can be effectively removed.

Surface Buffers

Surface buffers are industrial-quality pieces of equipment that you can either buy or rent. Buffers work by polishing over a large surface area in an orbital motion. Fine bristles rotate on a large pad and scrape away small stains as well as cleaning the overall surface of a tiled area. The drawback of surface buffers is that they are relatively expensive. However, cheaper single hand-held versions can be purchased which are designed solely for cleaning bathrooms and these should be used in conjunction with a good quality buffing compound.

High-Powered Sprays

High-powered sprays work by running a powerful jet of water over a small target area. The power of the water will sometimes be enough to break away tile stains and dirt in grout. Users simply need fix a high-powered spray unit to the end of a garden hose and start attacking the dirty areas. The disadvantage of high-powered spray units is that the purchase price on household models can sometimes run into hundreds of dollars. Also, the surplus of water created can lead to water pooling if care is not taken.

Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners often look exactly the same as vacuum cleaners. This makes them very easy to use and simple to store. Steam cleaners work by causing stubborn areas of dirt and grout around tiles to loosen and break away. Steam cleaners are favored because they work very gently and there is very little risk of damage to a tiled wall or floor during use.

Cleaning Agents

Routine maintenance can be performed by using tile and grout cleaning agents. The simple way to do this is to mix the cleaning agent with some hot water every time you go to mop down a tiled area. Always follow the manufacturer instructions when adding cleaning agents to water or any other substance.

Floor Polish

Floor polish should only be used after other tile and grout cleaning equipment has been used to rid tiling of stains. A polish will create a protective layer and prevent dirt and bacteria from forming in the cracks and grout around tiles in the future..

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Tile and Grout Cleaning Equipment

Tile and grout cleaning equipment can be used to stop your beautiful bathroom from developing nasty stains that are difficult to get rid of. Mold and fungi can grow between tiles and spread rapidly. The good news is that tile and grout cleaning equipment is widely available and easy to use. Here are some suggestions of equipment you can use to make these stains a thing of the past:

Grout Brush

A grout brush is the first tool you should consider for tackling stains. Grout brushes are cheap and can be bought in a variety of lengths and sizes. This means mold or bacteria can be treated effectively and there should be a brush available to reach every conceivable corner and angle of tiling. Grout brushes have hard and stubborn bristles which allow for effective cleaning. Use a reasonable amount of pressure when using a grout brush and even the most stubborn stains can be effectively removed.

Surface Buffers

Surface buffers are industrial-quality pieces of equipment that you can either buy or rent. Buffers work by polishing over a large surface area in an orbital motion. Fine bristles rotate on a large pad and scrape away small stains as well as cleaning the overall surface of a tiled area. The drawback of surface buffers is that they are relatively expensive. However, cheaper single hand-held versions can be purchased which are designed solely for cleaning bathrooms and these should be used in conjunction with a good quality buffing compound.

High-Powered Sprays

High-powered sprays work by running a powerful jet of water over a small target area. The power of the water will sometimes be enough to break away tile stains and dirt in grout. Users simply need fix a high-powered spray unit to the end of a garden hose and start attacking the dirty areas. The disadvantage of high-powered spray units is that the purchase price on household models can sometimes run into hundreds of dollars. Also, the surplus of water created can lead to water pooling if care is not taken.

Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners often look exactly the same as vacuum cleaners. This makes them very easy to use and simple to store. Steam cleaners work by causing stubborn areas of dirt and grout around tiles to loosen and break away. Steam cleaners are favored because they work very gently and there is very little risk of damage to a tiled wall or floor during use.

Cleaning Agents

Routine maintenance can be performed by using tile and grout cleaning agents. The simple way to do this is to mix the cleaning agent with some hot water every time you go to mop down a tiled area. Always follow the manufacturer instructions when adding cleaning agents to water or any other substance.

Floor Polish

Floor polish should only be used after other tile and grout cleaning equipment has been used to rid tiling of stains. A polish will create a protective layer and prevent dirt and bacteria from forming in the cracks and grout around tiles in the future..

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Use Floor Tile Adhesive

Floor tile adhesive is something that you are going to have to be able to use if you plan on installing tile. Working with the tile adhesive is not complicated, but it does take a certain amount of knowledge and skill to do properly. You also have a limited time to work with it because it will dry out as you go. Here are the basics of how to use floor tile adhesive appropriately.

What You'll Need

Floor tile adhesive
Trowel
Bucket
Drill
Mixing attachment
Spoon
Water

Step 1--Proper Subfloor

When you are working with floor tile adhesive, you need to make sure that you are working with the proper type of subfloor. Floor tile adhesive can be applied directly to concrete or cement. These subfloors are strong enough to prevent the tile from moving when someone walks on it. You cannot apply this directly to a wood subfloor. If you are going to install tile on top of wood, you are going to have to install cement board first. You can then apply the tile adhesive to the top of the cement board.

Step 2--Mixing Up the Adhesive

Before you can start using the floor tile adhesive, you are going to need to mix it. In order to do this, you are going to need a bucket and some water. You will need to read the side of the bag of adhesive in order to determine how much water you need to mix with it. Pour the adhesive mix into your bucket. Then pour the appropriate amount of water into the bucket as well. At that point, you need to start stirring it. If you have a large stirring spoon, you can stir it with that. This can get pretty difficult as the adhesive begins to get harder. Another option that you have is to use a drill with a mixing attachment. This is going to be the easiest way to mix up the adhesive. This will be similar to using a blender while cooking. When you are mixing up the adhesive, you want to stop when it feels like the consistency of peanut butter. You do not want it too hard or too soft. At that point, you will be ready to start using the tile adhesive.

Step 3--Applying the Adhesive

You will then want to apply the tile adhesive. Use a notched trowel to apply the adhesive. You will grab some of the adhesive with your trowel and put it out onto the floor. Then you can use the trowel to spread it around evenly on the floor. You should be able to see rows or notches in the adhesive on the floor. 

In some cases, you may want to apply the adhesive directly to the back of the tile instead of onto the floor. This works well when you are trying to fit a tile into a small space such as up against the wall.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Why Should You Use Ceramic Tile Underlayment?

Installing ceramic tile underlayment is essential when you are installing ceramic tile on top of a wood sub floor. While this is generally accepted as the best way to do things, there are some people that wonder why you have to take this step. Here are some things to consider about why ceramic tile underlayment is necessary. 

Tile Strength

The main reason that you need underlayment beneath ceramic tile is because of the strength of the tile. Tile, by itself is fairly brittle. When it is not attached to the proper sub floor, it will crack and break relatively easily. When you provide it with the proper sub floor and set it in thinset, it becomes very hard and durable.

Sub Floor Strength

A wood sub floor moves up and down slightly when you walk on it. Ceramic underlayment is designed to attach to the wood sub floor and make it stronger. When you add this concrete board underlayment to the surface, it will no longer move up and down when you walk on it. Therefore, this gives you a level, strong surface to adhere the tile to. This will make it so that the tile will not crack or break just from having traffic on it. 

Source: www.DoItYourself.com