Maintaining Mosaic Marble Tiled Shower Installation

This Marble mosaic tiled shower cubicle in Richmond, Surrey was in need of a good clean, re-seal and re-silicone. Moisture had penetrated the old sealer and left mould and mildew in the pores of the tiles. This is quite a common problem in the modern insulated homes we live in today which invariably have in-sufficient ventilation. The silicone sealant around the base of the shower had also perished allowing water in behind the tiles around the base.

Cleaning Marble Mosaic Tiles and Grout

We first stripped away all of the old silicone and proceeded to clean the tile and grout by scrubbing in a dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which is a strong coatings remover that shifts just about anything but is also safe to use on tile, stone and grout. This did the trick and resulted in what was left of the old sealer being removed and had the added bonus of cleaning the grime away from the Marble tiles.

Sealing Marble Mosaic Tiles

The bathroom was allowed to dry out for a period of 2 days so as not to trap any moisture behind the new sealer. Then once dry we applied two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a solvent based sealer that reaches deep into the pores of the stone preventing other contaminates from becoming ingrained in the tile. The final step was to applying a new silicone sealant to the joints and as you can see from the pictures the Marble tiles responded very well to the process and the shower now looks much fresher if not a new installation.





Source: Expert Marble tile maintenance site

What Are the Drawbacks of Using a Self Leveling Compound

A self leveling compound is ideal in smoothing out un-leveled wood floors and concrete floors. Concrete floors may have bumps, especially if poured incorrectly; wood floors often have problems with dips and bumps. It is important that the floor is leveled and smoothed when planning to do a ceramic floor tiling.  When a floor that is to be placed with ceramic tile is uneven, there is a greater chance that the floor tiles will crack and not last over time; a self leveling compound will prevent this, although it's not always a perfect solution.

Disadvantages

A self leveling compound can dry extremely fast. You may only have about 20 minutes to mix, pour and even out the self leveling compound. Therefore it's important for a person to have all the tools and materials needed in mixing, pouring and spreading the self leveling compound.

Self leveling compounds do not provide stability on the subfloor or the surface where the tiles are to be placed. If the wood subfloor loosens, the self leveling compound may break up, causing the loosening and eventual damage of the ceramic floor tiles. It is therefore important that the stability of the subfloor should be ensured first, before applying any self leveling compound on it.

Another disadvantage of using a self leveling compound is that it does not stick well to a subfloor with dust and grime. The subfloor needs to be cleaned from dust and grime before a self leveling compound is applied; it needs to be spotless.

Preparation Concerns

Self leveling compound needs to be carefully mixed to the right consistency before it's poured in the subfloor. The self leveling compound does not even itself out, so using a squeegee or trowel is essential in smoothing it out. Again, since there's only about 10 to 20 minutes before the self leveling compound dries out, you have to move quickly to spread and even out the mixture.

Problems

A self leveling compound can also break up easily when it's mixed with extra water. Never try to put additional water in the self leveling compound mixture to try to loosen it up. Instead, focus on quickly working and spreading the material to the subfloor surface.

A self leveling compound will be set after half an hour or so. In two to four hours, the surface that was applied with self leveling compound can be walked on. Ceramic floor tiles, however, can be used 24 hours after the self leveling compound was put on the subfloor.

Self leveling compounds can also remain glued on tools like the trowel and the bucket. It's important to immediately wash the tools used in applying and smoothing out the self leveling compound, otherwise these tools will permanently have the compound affixed to them.

Health Hazards

Before using a self leveling compound, read the directions first. Always ensure that safety procedures are followed while working with the it. Breathing in dust that comes from the application of the self leveling compound can pose health risks.

You should know the drawbacks of using a self leveling compound. Knowing these will ensure that you are better prepared when handling and using it.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Maintaining Marble Floor Tiles

This polished Marble tiled floor was installed in a house in the old market town of Petersfield. The tile and grout was in good condition but like all polished stone floors they will go dull after a period of time and require burnishing and polishing to restore shine.

Cleaning Marble Floor Tiles

We gave the floor a quick sweep and wash down with a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean partly to ensure any surface grit etc. was removed but also so we could get a stiff grout brush in along the grout lines and give them a clean. Once done the floor was rinsed down with water which was removed with a wet vacuum, once done we moved straight onto burnishing the floor to restore the polish. Burnishing requires the application of a little water so there was no need to wait for it to dry. Burnishing requires the application of four different diamond encrusted graded pads in sequence working from coarse which removed old sealers and dirt through to medium, fine and super fine pads which build up the polish on the floor. The floor requires a rinse in-between each pad to remove any slurry and water is extracted from the floor using the wet vacuum, after the super fine pad we removed as much water from the floor as possible and left it to dry overnight ready for sealing the next day.

Sealing Marble Floor Tiles

On our return the next day we made sure the floor was dry with the use of a damp meter and once we were happy we sealed the Marble tiles using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer the occupied the pores in the tile to prevent other contaminates soaking into the tile. It also does a nice job of lifting the natural colours in the stone and enhancing the look of the tile.





Source: Expert Marble Maintenance Advice

Maintaining Limestone Floor Tiles

This Limestone tiled floor was installed in the kitchen of a house in the town Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The tiles were quite dirty and had become ingrained with dirt which hopefully you can see from the photograph below.

Stripping the Limestone Tiled Floor

Before commencing cleaning we remove the kick boards from the kitchen units and applied a solution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which was left to dwell on the tile for twenty minutes before being worked in with a rotary machine fitted with a scrubbing black pad. We also used Remove and Go along the grout lines but scrubbed them using a stiff grout brush by hand to get them clean. When we were happy with the results the soiled cleaning solution was removed with a wet vacuum and the floor rinsed with clean water to remove any trace of cleaning product before sealing.

Sealing the Limestone Floor

The floor was left to dry overnight and we came back the next day to seal the tiles checking first that the floor had dried out. To customer wanted a matt appearance so to seal the tiles a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow was applied, Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the stone occupying them so other contaminates can’t become ingrained in the stone, it also lifts the natural colours in the Limestone tiles as well. Once the sealer had dried I then finished it all off with a quick buff using a white buffing pad.





Source: Expert Limestone maintenance advice

How to Install Adjustable Joist Hangers

If you plan on building your own floor or deck, you will need to use joist hangers to increase the amount of weight your project can support. Joist hangers are pieces of metal used to connect outer ledger beams to the parallel boards that support your floor or deck. However, if you must install joist hangers, you should consider selecting adjustable ones. Adjustable joist hangers can allow your joists to be adjusted up and down after they are attached, unlike standard joist hangers that are one piece, and permanent. What follows should give you everything you need to know about installing adjustable joist hangers.

What You'll Need

• adjustable joist hangers
• nails
• hammer
• ledger board
• joists
• extra lumber

Step 1 - Measurement

The first step to installing an adjustable joist hanger is figuring out exactly where to put it. While your joist hanger is adjustable, precise measurements are important. Start from the corner of your ledger board and measure it out in 16 inch intervals. Mark each spot with your pencil.

If you will be installing adjustable joist hangers on multiple ledger boards, you can save yourself a lot of time by doing your measurements on a piece of scrap lumber and using it to quickly find the measurements for all of your ledger boards one at a time.

Step 2 - Placement

Once you have measured and marked your ledger board or boards, place a joist hanger at one of the spots you have marked. Line up the top of the joist hanger with the top of the ledger board—do not rely on the adjustability of the joist hanger. Hold the adjustable joist hanger tightly so it is placed firmly against the ledger board.

If your adjustable joist hanger has speed prongs—small attached fasteners for temporary holding while you nail—hammer them in now. Obviously, this is not enough to hold your adjustable joist hanger, but it will make the next step easier.

Step 3 - Nails

Choose the nails you use for your project carefully, as they can have many important effects on the quality of your work. If you are working on an outdoor project, such as a deck, use hot-dipped galvanized nails. For floors or any other indoor projects, use common nails. Whichever type of nails you use, be sure to use the largest ones that are acceptable to use with your particular adjustable joist hangers. The most common type use 16d nails, but this may vary.

Attach your joist hanger to your ledger board with your hammer and carefully selected nails. Use a nail on every nail hole or your adjustable joist hanger will not be as strong as it can possibly be.

Step 4 - Joist

Now you are ready to actually attach your joist. Insert the joist into the joist hanger, making sure it is placed correctly and tightly. Use short nails—1 1/2 inch ones are best—as you do not want them to go all the way through your joist.

If need be, now or later, you can adjust your joist up and down by using the screw mechanism.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How Do Joist Hangers Strengthen a Floor?

Joist hangers strengthen a floor because without them, there would be no floor to support. Floor joists are the lengths of 2-by-6-, 2-by-8- or 2-by-10-inch lumber. They run horizontally and provide the support for subflooring, flooring and everything that rest atop the floor. In other words, they provide support for weight that is focused solely downward. Floor joist hangers, in turn, support and enable floor joists to stay in place. 

Joist hangers are metal fixtures that attach to horizontal beams and rims of a building’s frame. They provide a cradle for the joist to fit into. Each joist is supported by a hanger at either end. The joist hangers themselves are affixed to a beam or rim joist with tico nails, extra-wide nails designed for sheer weight. The joists are then affixed to the joist hangers with the same nails. Screws or 16d nails are never used. 

Without joist hangers, joists would eventually give way under the weight. In some instances, joists are doubled or tripled and attached to a corresponding joist hanger to add even more support. 

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Refinishing Granite Flooring

Any kind or color of granite flooring provides a lively appeal to rooms and spaces. However, like all good things, the beauty of these items might fade over time. The luster of granite flooring may diminish thus making your floor look old and unattractive. Good thing there are steps that you can follow to make sure that your granite flooring always look as good as new. These steps include refinishing. This type of granite flooring maintenance is usually performed by equipped workers. However, those who believe that they can perform the job well, follow the steps below.

What You'll Need

Industrial sander
Diamond pads with abrasive grits
Diamond pads with less abrasive grits
Buffing chemical solution
Clean rug
Broom
Pail of water

Step 1 – Clean the Granite Flooring Area

Granite flooring undoubtedly loses its luster and shine because of dirt and stains. Make sure that your granite flooring really needs refinishing by removing dust particles and stains using a broom, clean rag and water. Consider letting it dry after cleaning to see if you need to proceed to the next steps.

Step 2 – Flatten Your Granite Flooring

Once you have determined that your granite flooring really needs refinishing, start the steps to flatten out the tiles. Get a regular industrial sander to even out slants and rough edges on your granite flooring. Flatten areas that have seemingly irremovable stains. Clean off dusts and debris.

Step 3 – Hone Your Granite Flooring

Fit a diamond pad with an abrasive grit to your industrial sander. Get to the spots that have deep scratches, slants and rough surfaces. You can also use the diamond pad-powered industrial sander to get rid of the hardest to remove stains and similar impurities. Be careful not to hone the areas that do not need further sanding as this would only create irregular textures.

Step 4 – Polish Your Granite Flooring

Remove the diamond pad with abrasive grit from your industrial sander and replace it with one that has a lot less abrasive grit. Again, run your industrial sander on the entire space of your granite flooring. Remember to do this with care so as not to damage your precious granite tiles. Clean off dust with an airbrush to determine if you still need to do the next step. If you think that your granite flooring has gained back its shine and luster, stop your refinishing routine here.

Step 5 – Buff Your Granite Flooring

Buffing for granite flooring only takes place when the project involved is considered to be old. Those who have abandoned spaces usually resort to this last step to gain back the shine of granite flooring. Get a buffing chemical solution especially made for granite floor. Apply it to the area concerned as instructed by the packaging. Leave the chemical solution to dry unless otherwise advised. The solution would begin a chemical reaction that would bring out the best shine possible from your granite flooring. Read the instructions of the solution as you might need to use a floor polisher for the best results.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com