Tile Creations, Inc.

New Year--Will It Be New Tile?

2011-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Reposted from JaimeDerringer

Ceramic tile is one of the most durable flooring materialsthere is. With proper

maintenance, it shouldlast decades. No wonder ceramic tile is sowidely used in the home!

But every once in a while, you drop a heavy pot, your child thrashes around inthe tub, or the subfloor shifts ever so slightly. Then you find it: a crackedor chipped tile staring up at you. Regardless of whether it's a hairline crackor a complete break, the tile becomes instantly vulnerable to further damage.You may be able to conceal it at first, but eventually you'll have to get tothe root of the problem.

The only thing uglier than a cracked tile, in my opinion, is a poorly repairedone. You know the kind: uneven fragments of tile stuffed with grout. There'sreally no reason to have such an eyesore in your home, especially sincereplacing a ceramic tile is so much easier than it sounds:

1. If you were around for the installation,hopefully you've saved some of the leftover tiles for this very occasion. Ifyou don't have any leftovers, bring the broken pieces to a tile store to see ifthey have anything close -- or if they know of a service that offersmade-to-order replacement tiles.

2. Now you have to breakthe cracked tile into pieces without damaging the surrounding tiles. There aretwo ways to do this. One is to cover the tile with a rag and use a hammer tobreak it up. If the pieces are still stuck in the mortar, gently use a chiselto get them out. Then use a chisel or putty knife to scrape out much of the oldadhesive, and a grout removerto get rid of the surrounding grout. The otherway is to use a grout saw manual grout removal tool to remove the surrounding grout (be careful notto damage adjacent tiles). Then pry off the damaged tile with a chisel (use therag and hammer trick above if it won't come out easily), scrape out the adhesivewith a putty knife, and clean up remaining debris.

3. You're ready to set the new tile. Spread tile adhesive over the back of your tile, but be sure not toadd too much. You don't want it spilling over into the grout lines. Push thetile firmly into place and be sure it looks straight. Let it dry overnight oras long as the manufacturer recommends. The next day you'll be ready to grout!

Rubber grout float. Photo: Corbis

4. Make sure you use thesame color grout that you used initially, or it will be slightly off. If you don'tknow what grout was used, get some samples from your local home improvementstore and test them out on a separate, disposable surface. When you've foundthe perfect match, use the edges of a rubber grout float to press the groutinto the tile joints and smooth it out. When the grout is no longer tacky,clean up the excess with a damp sponge. Don't forget to seal the grout after it is completely dry.

Backsplashes for the Holidays

2011-11-25T09:01:00.001-08:00

Every year just before the holidays, I get at least five calls about kitchen renovations. You know how that goes--young couple buys a new home, in-laws are coming in for the holiday. I get this panicked call asking if I can make the kitchen look like it didn't come out of 1991. If there's not time for a new floor and counter tops, a backsplash is a quick way to create a new look.

3 x 6" tumbled marble gives an earthy feel to the kitchen above. Sophisticated but warm, it's inviting without being pretentious.

For a more tailored look, 1 x 1" mosaic tile gives that modern edge and leans toward simplicity.

It takes just one to two days to transform your kitchen, from prep to installation. You'll have your counters back in the blink of an eye, and the update will impact the whole space.

Maintenance of Natural Stone

2011-07-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

There is a certain amount of controversy about the maintenance of natural stone in your shower. Many people ask me if they should use porcelain tile over natural stone; mildew is a large concern. If they use natural stone, how can they keep it clean? While it is true that natural stone is susceptible to mildew and soap scum more than porcelain, the surface of natural stone is so attractive that many people are willing to go the extra mile on maintenance.

The use of abrasive cleaners on natural stone is a death sentence. Ecologically friendly cleaners are recommended not just in the interest of saving the planet, but they are less harsh on porous surfaces. Bleach is a big enemy. Baking soda and white vinegar can achieve much the same result as bleach, although you may need to put a little bit of elbow grease into cleaning mildewed areas. The foaming action of the baking soda and vinegar strips away soap scum and is safe for the environment.

Check back with us periodically--we will be posting with tile ideas and recommendations in the weeks to come, plus before and after photos. Follow us on Facebook--we post coupons and links to other cool sites.