North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Tiles’ Category

Marking Out

Measure the height of your wall and calculate where the last full tile will be fixed on the bottom. Here you fix a wooden batten and make sure it is level. Repeat the process for the vertical until you find the position of the last full tile and attach a batten going upwards.

When planning the layout take into account the position of windows, work surfaces and taps or pipes.

Laying Tiles

Once you have established your base line spread an area of about one metre square with adhesive and score it with a notched trowel. This will allow you to level off the tiles once they are placed.

Place the first tile in the corner of the two battens and push down firmly, then place the second tile along the base allowing space for the grouting. Some tiles come with their own spacers built in; otherwise you can use a matchstick or easily available plastic spacers. Continue fixing the tiles making sure they are flat and level with the previous ones and proceed with the next level once you have completed the first row.

Leave the batten in place until the adhesive is set. When fixing tiles above windows or sinks, attach a temporary batten to support the last row of full tiles as this will make cutting the others easier.

After you have fixed all the tiles you should leave the adhesive to set before applying the grout. The grout is applied with a squeegee and should be worked in small areas to avoid drying before you have finished. Work the paste into the joints and smooth off, cleaning all tiles before the grout sets.

Large bathrooms can be ideal places for additional storage room. Items such as laundry baskets fit perfectly into a large bathroom as there is plenty of floor space to utilize. Free standing bathroom cabinets can also be placed in a large bathroom without making the room look too cluttered. These are perfect places to keep towels, flannels and spare toiletries so that they are easily accessible when needed.

Designer radiators and old hospital style cast iron radiators can be used in a larger bathroom without fear of taking up too much floor space; they make a lovely feature in the home.  Salvage yards are an ideal place to buy such items that look great in an older style house.

If it is a modern look that you are trying to achieve, then ceramic bathroom tiles from floor to ceiling help to give a clean finish to the room. The larger the bathroom tiles the smaller the room will look, so taking tile samples of various colour and size home to test is a good idea.

Having a larger bathroom also means that the owner of the home can be much more creative with decorative pieces. Large vases with flower sprays or lush green plants help to give a bathroom a roomier feel as it brings the outside feel into the room.

Additionally, light fittings can be more ostentatious especially if the room has high ceilings. For older homes, chandelier style light fittings work well, but for a more modern look spotlights are a good solution to most lighting needs.

DIY tiling comes in two main forms: floor and wall tiling. This type of DIY project can range from living room, kitchen, hallway, utility room, patio or conservatory tiling, as well as bathroom tiling that can be used both on the floor and wall.

Careful planning is recommended for any tiling job. The space to be tiled and the use to which this space is normally put will determine the type of tile to be used. Certain types of tile are more suitable for exterior use such as on a patio or around a pool.  Among the many types of tile available are those made of marble, slate, cement, porcelain and ceramic, though bespoke types of tile may be ordered from specialist shops or websites.

Before starting to lay or hang new tiles you may well have to remove the old ones. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the underlying floor or wall. With care, a flat chisel will usually be sufficient to complete the job of removal.  Some making good may be necessary if the work pulls holes into the plaster.

After removing old tiles, clean the underlying surface and measure the space to be tiles. Measurement will help you determine whether any tiles are to be cut specially to fit into difficult spaces such as the corners. Apply adhesive making sure it is evenly spread. Put the tiles in place systematically making sure that they are evenly spaced by the use of plastic tile spacers.

When considering bathroom accessories, items that are often overlooked include lighting and window dressings.  Both of these items can be easily chosen to fit in with your existing décor, and yet both are easily changed if need be.

There are several bathroom lighting options.  As the bathroom generally fills with steam when using the bath or shower cubicle, then a light fitting that has been specially designed for a bathroom is a good choice.  If the bathroom is fairly small then it is best to avoid large light fittings such as pendulum lights, which will look as though they are dominating the room.  Opt instead for spot lights which are set in to the ceiling or a modern style bar with several spot lights attached.  You can also opt for a bathroom mirror that has lighting included, though this may not be enough to light the whole room.

It is often difficult to know how best to dress the window in a bathroom. It is important to do so in order to protect your privacy, so most people will opt for a simple blind, either fitted directly in front of the window or to the wall above so it covers the window sill at the same time.   Blinds come in a variety of styles and many people choose the vertical blinds, which look stylish and are easily cleaned.  They also come in a variety of colours, so can be blended easily with your bathroom décor.  If you have chosen patterned bathroom tiles or flooring, then a plain blind will ensure that there is not too much clashing of colours. 

Travertine is a natural stone and has been used for thousands of years as a building material. It is made by carbon dioxide rich water filtering through the stone giving it its unique characteristics, which makes it stand apart from other natural stones. Pure travertine is white in colour, but impurities in the water filtering through it can cause colour variations which vary from grey to yellow and brown.

Travertine tiles have become a popular material for home owners, especially for bathroom floors and walls and adds a touch of luxury to any home. Travertine is naturally pitted giving it a worn look which is great for exterior uses such as patio areas and pool surrounds, but it can be filled and polished to a shiny finish for interior use.

Travertine is hard wearing and durable and was widely used as a construction material by the Romans; the Colosseum is one of the largest man-made structures made from travertine. Travertine tiles are a cheaper option than marble or granite and can be used in a variety of different locations throughout the home, making it a versatile and sturdy building material.

There are many style options available when choosing tiles for your bathroom. In fact, bathroom tiles can actually enhance the overall design of your bathroom alongside their obvious practicalities. There are tiles in every colour imaginable and they can really become a focal point in any bathroom, further enhancing the bathroom suite and décor.

However, choosing the tiles is often the easy part. You then have to make the decision as to whether you tile the bathroom yourself or you leave it to the professionals. If you decide to tile it yourself then you will need to make sure that you have the right tools for the job. You will need a tile cutter, tile saw, grout spreader (and grout obviously), spirit level, tile nibblers, adhesive spreader, tile cutting jig and a home-made gauge stick.

Before you or your tile installers begin, you should ensure that the walls are clean and dry. You will also want to ensure that the wall surface is as flat as possible.

How you choose to position your tiles will probably be determined by the size and shape of the bathroom wall. This is quite technical and if you are tiling for the first time you should make sure that you research this process thoroughly first, either by talking to someone knowledgeable about the process or ensuring you have a how-to guide handy.

It is also necessary to purchase extra tiles as there will inevitably be some casualties while you navigate around the bathroom appliances. Tile cutting is never easy!

Themes are always a good place to start when thinking about redesigning your bathroom. Whether your interest is in Art Deco, modernist painting or rustic idylls, deciding on a subject that interests you helps define exactly how you would like your new bathroom to look.

It also makes choosing such bathroom accessories as shower curtains, bathmats and knick-knacks so much easier.

Remember, choosing wall designs for your bathroom is just as important as choosing a bath or new shower unit. For example, if your passion is for Art Deco, then bathroom tiles in alternating black and white would seem to be the obvious solution.

For those enamoured with period design, wallpaper is the accessory of choice. Depending on your budget, wallpaper can be bought hand-blocked or mass manufactured. It comes in an astonishing range of patterns and prints, is easy to hang and even easier to keep clean.

Choose wallpaper that is specifically designed for the bathroom, as this will avoid problems with wrinkling. Most DIY shops stock a good selection. Create contrasting wall designs by hanging one section in deep gold and combine it with an opposing wall in dark green. Almost immediately the room will resemble a Regency or early Victorian bathroom.

Team the wallpaper design up with crimson towels and bathmats and perhaps a striped shower curtain. Add appropriate taps and a deep, ceramic sink. If possible, add a freestanding bath and you will have the perfect period bathroom.

Given that there are so many finishes that can be used in a bathroom, kitchen, and patio, or for wall cladding or floor tiling, many ask why the use of travertine in buildings is so popular. Travertine has been used for centuries and some of the most famous buildings in the world have been constructed or clad with travertine including the Colesseum in Rome and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. A natural stone product from the limestone family and is formed with calcium carbonate and is usually found in the form of deposits near warm or hot springs, travertine is ideal for use both inside and outside of buildings.

Travertine comes in many forms of finish because it is a stone that is soft and delicate to look at. The classic aged look of Travertine tumbled stone will warm your home. A polished or honed travertine becomes a bit more formal, yet it’s still inviting. Because of its earthly hues travertine is regarded as being in tune with nature, not surprising when you consider how it was formed. Many prefer to leave the surface in its natural state with the small holes and pits unfilled, giving it a warmer aged look which will acquire a beautiful patina over time. However leaving the stone unfilled will affect the durability and it can attract dirt much easier than a filled travertine making it harder to keep clean.

Travertine is a natural stone material from the limestone family and is formed with calcium carbonate and is usually found in the form of deposits near warm or hot springs a beautiful natural product that is ideal for domestic and commercial use, such as travertine tiles, for example.

This DIY project really isn’t rocket science – you don’t need to be an architect or pass a course in advanced building.

Using a tape measure, find the midpoint of the two longest walls and chalk a line across the floor between them. Repeat with the two shorter walls – the chalk-lines should intersect at right angles.

Loosely lay some tiles along the lines – you’ll see whether they look right from the door. If the gaps to the walls are less than half a tile-width, nudge the centre line slightly to enlarge them.

Watch for features like fireplaces or French doors – the tiles need to be symmetrical around these and you should have whole tiles at the doorway (again, just shift the chalk-line accordingly).

Apply a square metre of adhesive/grout into one of the chalk-line right angles. Then score it with the notched edge of the grout trowel. Carefully lay some tiles along the edge of the longest line and press them gently into place, ensuring that they’re flush with the intersecting line, too.

Plastic spacers near each corner (that’s eight per tile) will ensure exact spacing. One square metre at a time, fill the first half of the floor as far as you can with whole tiles (use a long spirit level for evenness). Then repeat for the second half.

After 12 hours drying time, cut the remaining tiles to fit the edges, measuring as you go (you’ll need a diamond disc cutter, profile shaper and tile saw). Allow another 12 hours and fill the gaps with grout, wiping clean with a damp sponge as you go.

It pays to think carefully before you buy tiles for your bathroom, shower area, cloakroom, or kitchen, you will, after all, not want to have to replace them for some time, if ever at all. Travertine tiles are a wonderful natural product that has been in use for prestigious buildings over a many years, the Colesseum in Rome is the largest building in the world which is largely constructed using Travertine and there are many other examples of use of this natural product that can be found throughout Europe and America.

The use of Travertine tiles has always been evident on high class buildings in wash rooms, reception areas or outside cladding, the Getty Centre in Brentwood Los Angeles California is just one example. When considering using Travertine tiles for your home, you should only buy the best Travertine tiles, use a specialist importer and you will not be disappointed.
 
Basically it is considered that there are just two qualities of Travertine tile, premium and supreme, but these in themselves vary, so choose the right Travertine tile for your particular application. For bathrooms and most domestic situations within the choice of two qualities of Travertine tile you have the choice of colour and you will see that these are suitable for either normal or heavy wear situations. Buy your Travertine tiles from a specialist and we guarantee that you will not be disappointed.