Ceramic Tile Countertops

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04/08/2011

Want a kitchen remodeling project this summer?

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Ceramic Tile Countertops, DIY, Do it Yourself, Floor Installations, Granite, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Limestone, Marble, Real Estate | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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Want a kitchen remodeling project this summer?
by Sears Home Pro

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Bay Area Kitchen Remodeling
Bay Area Kitchen Remodeling

 

Kitchen remodeling is a fun and interesting experience, and the outcome should please you for years to come. When you get ready to do the job, consider carefully whether you have the skills and experience to complete it. Here are some remodeling tips to think about before you take on this huge challenge.
1. Expertise is helpful in designing any size kitchen.
A medium sized kitchen is probably the easiest to design. You have basic features to incorporate into the plan, and you have plenty of room for them. With help you can design a lovely new kitchen room. A large kitchen takes more thought because you have many more options. If you are not familiar with all the different types of cabinets, countertops, and appliances and how to fit them together, you might sell this large space short. A small kitchen is perhaps the most difficult of all for designing a remodel. To get the most out of every inch of the space, it is a good idea to use an experienced contractor who has worked with small kitchens before.
2. Initial choices affect overall cost.
One of the most basic choices is to what degree you are going to take the kitchen remodeling job. You will have to decide whether to get new custom cabinets, new pre-manufactured cabinets, or reface the old ones. The next decisions are materials for every part of your newly remodeled kitchen. Countertop materials include ceramic tile, granite, marble, laminate, solid surface, engineered stone and butchers block wood countertops. Cabinet choices range from hardwoods to melamine. Be sure you get the quality of materials you want. The best way to ensure this is to have a discussion with an expert.
3. Measure carefully.
When you are doing an entire kitchen remodeling project, you will have to measure every part of your kitchen. Make sure to consider the way the work will be done as you measure each area and board. Then, write down every measurement in a way that you will recognize when it comes time to order the parts and put them together. This can be a very confusing task if you are not accustomed to doing it.
4. Be careful in placing appliances.
If the stove and refrigerator are not separated when you begin your kitchen remodeling project, make plans to separate them at that point. There should be plenty of counter space between the two so that you will have places to put food when you take it out of either appliance. The sink, ideally, should be between the two. This may require special plumbing work as a part of the job. When you are getting ready for a kitchen remodeling job, there are many things to consider. Make sure you keep them in mind.

About the Author:

This article brought to you by Yil Acosta of Sears Home Improvements. To get more roofing information including Cost of A New Roof visit the Roofing Services section of our website or call us today at 877-292-7894

 

10/19/2010

Ideal Kitchen Design Tips

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Ceramic Tile Countertops, custom floor designs, DIY, Do it Yourself, Flooring Choices, Granite, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Limestone, Marble, Real Estate, Stone Flooring, Tile Floor Installations, Tile Flooring, Tile Installations, Tile Maintanence | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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By Richard McIntyre

Kitchen TilesDesigning your kitchen can be a real task if you do not have a good layout. This is the room where the family may spend the most time hanging out and having dinner or conversations. A kitchen should be designed in such a way that everyone can move around comfortably and have enough space. There is nothing like coming in a kitchen and feeling cramped and cluttered. With a kitchen being as functional as it is, everyone will want to be comfortable in its design. You not only have to make it work for you, but for your entire family.

One of the main things to keep in mind when coming up with your ideal kitchen design is the kitchen work triangle. The triangle is a popular design layout that shows you how your sink, refrigerator and stove should be properly set up in the kitchen. Using the work triangle will help maximize the use of your kitchen space better. Once you evaluate your work triangle, you can make the other kitchen space work for your other appliances such as the dishwasher or microwave. If you use these other items more than you use the oven or sink, you may not need to enforce the work triangle into your design. The shape of your kitchen will also have an effect on how you position your work triangle.

Your kitchen counter will be the most functional piece. Everything you do will rest on the counters. There are various styles and colors to choose from. Counter tops should be chosen carefully. Since most food will be prepare on them, you will want to make sure you do not get counter tops that can crack or stain easily. It should also be easy to keep clean and sanitary. Counter tops can crack, but depending on the material they are made up of, it is possible to sand out the cracks. You want counter tops that are within your budget, trendy an easy to install. Counter top designs and colors should be an attractive compliment to the other appliances and features.

The work triangle helps to make for an easy clean up; since you do not have far to carry food, there will be less chance of spills. If your flooring tiles have a minimal amount of gaps or seams, less dirt will collect in them. How much cleaning you do to the floors is contingent upon the type of tile or material you put down. Keep in mind that while ceramic flooring is elegant, you have to sweep it every day. Cabinets are easy to clean if they have a ‘baked on’ finish. Cabinets with a high gloss finish are easy to wipe down when you see the dirt on them. Cabinets should be easy to open using no more than 2 fingers. Inserts put in the cabinets and drawers will make for an easy cleanup. Having a sink that under mounts makes mess on the counter easier to clean.

About the author:
Want to find out more about kitchen design layout, then visit Richard McIntyre’s site on how to choose the best small kitchen design for your needs.

 

10/10/2010

Choosing the Right Type of Tile – A Guide to Different Tiles and Their Uses

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Bathroom Design, Ceramic Tile Countertops, custom floor designs, DIY, Do it Yourself, Floor Installations, Floor Maintenance, Flooring Choices, Granite, Green Flooring, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Laminate Flooring, Limestone, Marble, Pergo, Real Estate, Stone Flooring, Tile Flooring, Vinyl Flooring, wood flooring | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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By Joe Wallis

California Flooring Store Locations

California Flooring Store Locations

These days, tiles are used in more than just kitchen and bathroom projects. There are many different types of tiles, some of which can be installed both indoors and outdoors. Some are extremely versatile, and can be used just about anywhere.

Before choosing tile, it’s important to learn about the different types and their uses. Whether you want to simply remodel one room in your home or renovate an entire building, here is an overview to 10 different tiles and their uses.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tiles are forged from rich clay gathered from deep within the earth. Ceramic has an elegant, yet natural appearance, and the tiles are typically glazed in a matte or satin finish. You can also choose unglazed, or “quarry” tiles, if you prefer a more natural look.

Ceramic tile is usually found in residential kitchens and bathrooms. It can be used for flooring, walls, and countertops. If you’re looking for an extremely durable material that can withstand scratches and stains, then you might want to consider buying ceramic tile.

Marble Tile

Marble is extremely elegant. It comes in a variety of colors, with the most common being white, pink, gray, and black. The finish can be either matte or polished. This tile is ideal for countertops and walls in kitchens and bathrooms. Many sinks and vanities are made out of marble as well. Polished marble is not ideal for bathroom floors, as it gets slippery when wet. If you
want to buy marble flooring, be sure to choose tiles with a honed (matte) finish.

Vinyl Tile

 Vinyl tile is both durable and low-cost. As such, it’s a popular flooring material in high-traffic rooms. Not only is it resilient to impact damage, it is also supple and comfortable to walk on. As long as they are installed properly, vinyl tiles don’t need a lot of maintenance. It’s ideal for residential flooring and commercial flooring both. If you’re going for an antique look, you can buy vinyl tile that is designed to resemble wood or stone.

Granite Tile

Granite is a common building material. It has been used for centuries in both indoor and outdoor applications. It’s a very hard stone that is water and scratch-resistant. Since it doesn’t conduct heat, it can go anywhere in the kitchen. It can also be used for outdoor building projects, such as storage building construction and paving. Granite was even used to construct Mount Rushmore! You can choose granite tile in a variety of finishes, including sandblasted, flamed, honed, and polished.

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain is known for its beauty and durability. It’s easy to maintain and is available in different colors and textures. Porcelain tile is very frost-resistant, and therefore suitable for bathroom furniture, flooring, and walls. Some small
businesses also use porcelain tile since it holds up pretty well as light commercial traffic. Porcelain tile is available in high-polished, matte, and unglazed finishes.

Slate Tile

Slate has a rough texture and rustic appearance. However, it still scratches and stains easily, making it a bad choice for kitchen countertops. What it lacks in durability, slate makes up for in versatility. You can use it for interior and exterior projects. Some indoor uses for slate tile include bathroom and
kitchen flooring, walls, and indoor sunrooms. For the outdoors, you can use it as building material for a patio or porch.

Mosaic Tile

Mosaic tile is very translucent, beautiful, and versatile. It is produced in many different colors and textures. This makes it a perfect design for just about any renovation project. Mosaic looks great in bathrooms, kitchens, around pools, bathtubs, and even walls. Some manufacturers even create mosaic tiles for
artistic projects. A lot of artists use this material in their arts and crafts.

Travertine Tile

Travertine is a stone tile that is used in a variety of residential applications. It’s easy to cut for a stone; therefore, it can be cut to fit any type of area. In addition to flooring, travertine tile can be used on kitchen countertops sinks, in showers, and for fireplaces. For outdoor applications, it can be used as a garden path or patio. Travertine is rather porous and quickly absorbs liquids. For this reason, you need to wipe up spills as soon as they happen. Also, you need to be careful in regards to the cleaning products you use.

Laminate Tile

Laminate looks like hardwood, yet no wood is used in its construction. Laminate tiles are made up of a variety of materials which are bonded together under high pressure. They are topped with a photographic image of hardwood flooring, followed by a hard, clear coating. Laminate is an ideal choice if you want an inexpensive alternative to a wood floor. It can be installed in just about any room in your home, save for the bathroom and laundry room. This is because laminate tiles can swell when exposed to a lot of moisture.

Linoleum Tile

Linoleum is a great looking tile that looks attractive in both contemporary and traditional settings. Linoleum floors can last for a very long time, and don’t require a lot of maintenance. It’s extremely water-resistant, so you can put it in your bathroom, laundry room, patio, and just about any other indoor or outdoor setting. The downside to linoleum is that it doesn’t do well around heat, so avoid using it near a stove or fireplace.

About the author:
Joe Wallis is the editor of the Learn How to Lay Tile website, which provides information about how to choose tile and set it properly for a wide variety of home improvement projects.

 

06/05/2010

What to Look for When Purchasing Tile

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Bathroom Design, Ceramic Tile Countertops, custom floor designs, DIY, Do it Yourself, Floor Installations, Floor Maintenance, Flooring Choices, Granite, Green Flooring, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Limestone, Marble, Stone Flooring, Stone Flooring Maintenance, Tile Floor Installations, Tile Flooring, Tile Installations, Tile Maintanence | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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By Jordan Rocksmith

Picture of Bathroom Tile

Tile is a long lasting and effective product that can be used throughout your home. From countertops to flooring the options for where you can place tile are limitless. Tile is extremely durable and long lasting. You will easily find that it comes in many forms, colors, shapes and styles. Whether you are
remodeling your home, or constructing a new home tile should always be considered as a primary option.

Tile can be easily maintained and clean making it easier to keep your home sanitary. Tile is made of many different materials that consist of stone, marble, or a man made blend with sand, stone, color, and the compression of ingredients that create everlasting durability that easily suits everyday living.

Whether industrial, commercial, or residential tile is the product of today and our future.

When going to purchasing tile you can find it through a home improvement centers, contractors, or directly through flooring manufacturers.

When searching for tiles for your walls you want something smooth with a glassy texture that will be easy to wipe in-case something is spilled on the wall you can just wipe it up easily. Searching for flooring is different.

While searching for flooring you want to find the tile with the highest quality. When seeking tile for your floors it is good to look for tile that has more slip resistance than others. Slip resistant tiles are made with sand causing a bit of a rougher surface, they are still easy to clean and wipe up. Sand tiles are safer for your home, especially in areas such as the bathroom or kitchen. Tiles that are made with sand can last 20-30 years longer than most of the other tiles you may find today.

Tile is truly the flooring of the future so if you want to set your house up for increased value install tile today.

About the author:
Kelly and Glenn’s (http://www.tileoutletwilsonville.com/) specialty is Granite Countertops. Also offer one of the largest selections of Tile in the area.

 

12/28/2009

Fabulous and Inexpensive Ceramic Tiles

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Ceramic Tile Countertops, DIY, Do it Yourself, Floor Installations, Flooring Choices, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Real Estate, Tile Floor Installations, Tile Flooring, Tile Installations, Tile Maintanence | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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By Jacob Oramy

Ceramic tiles have emerged as the most popular, versatile and beautiful tiles options available to the homeowners today. These tiles are available in wide range of sizes, colors and designs. Whether you intend to set a new bath or remodeling a traditional look for your kitchen, you can always have a handy option of fitting a ceramic tile. It works equally well for flooring, countertop, backsplash or wall.

In simple terms, Ceramic tile is a mixture of clay which has been shaped and heated at high temperatures which results in its hard body. This hard material is then left untreated or it may receive a glazed wear layer. In its most basic form, ceramic tile is clay with colored glass coating packaged in a box.

Selecting ceramic tiles can be fun at the same time confusing. The market is flooded with several varieties, patterns, and colors of these tiles. The entire house, especially the bathroom and kitchen dramatically transforms with the installation of these tiles.

The first step is to choose the right kind of tiles. It is recommended that you consult a tile installer or a retailer and get the right combination of looks, durability and even price for a particular season. There are myriad tiles available in the section of ceramic tiles; this means that you will definitely find the right kind of tiles available for your bathroom or kitchen. You need to consider certain before you visit a ceramic tile store, like you should be aware of tile size that you are looking for, the color, texture and even the budgetary concerns. Having a good outline of what you require and you are looking for will help you to streamline your choices easily.

Once you have decided upon the tile of your choice, your next step is to weigh the installation aspects. Kick start the installation procedure with a clean, stable and a firm leveled surface, apply the mortar, lay the tiles and then let it dry properly. The tiles should be left to settle for at least 1 day is most. However it is important to remember the fact that the drying time depends on the characteristic and size of the installation. As the mortar gets completely dried then you need to apply the grout. Grout is the substance that fills the seams between the tiles and it also prevents the dirt and the moisture to get in between as well as beneath the tile and further it increases the life of the tile flooring, countertops and even walls in the restroom.

Ceramic tiles are an excellent material for tub and shower walls. It can withstand excess moisture, is easy to clean and maintain and durable enough to endure a lifetime of hot, soapy soakings. Still, tiles need some care and maintenance. Tiled walls are only as strong as the thin grout joints between the
tiles. Once the grout starts to soften and crack, it hardly takes time for water to seep in and damages the mortar and drywall behind the tile. The best way to abstain from major wall repair is to re-grout any joint when the first crack or stain
appears.

About the author:
Jacob Oramy is a renowned writer who has written several articles on different interior designing techniques and his articles also gives light on the various uses of kitchen’s interior, Ceramic tiles, Granite tiles, Bathroom tiles and Mosaic tiles.

 

12/21/2009

DIY – At Home Projects Anyone Can Do

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Bathroom Design, Ceramic Tile Countertops, DIY, Do it Yourself, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Real Estate, The Holidays, Tile Flooring, Tile Maintanence | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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By Annie Deakin
When money is tight but your home still needs attention, there are plenty of ways to make your home look like a million bucks while spending less than a hundred. You don’t even need a lot of talent. If you have some simple, common tools and some time, you’re on your way to a TV-worthy DIY remodel.Two areas in a home that will always add value to your property are the kitchen and bathrooms. Keep these in pristine up to date condition and you’re doing yourself a favor. The other rooms, in all fairness, look great because of furniture and decorations which, when  taken out, leave a pretty stark space. And that’s OK. Baths and kitchens, however, look good because of what needs to stay: vanities, lighting fixtures, tiles, showers, tubs, faucets.

Focus on the bathroom first. It’s probably smaller, and a good place to ‘practice’ if this is your first time doing anything more involved than hanging a curtain rod. If you have vanities/counters that need some updating, frequently a coat of paint will work wonders. If you’re really brave, you don’t need to settle on plain old paint. Use a texturizing agent meant for walls. Decals, stencils, and sponging can add details that your neighbors will be envious of.

Even a new faucet is easy to install, and you can find beautiful choices for reasonable prices. Your local home store probably has written instructions to remove the old one and install the new one. Don’t get nervous – this is really easier than you can imagine.

Now is not the time to learn how to lay tile, but you can still improve the look of the tile you have. You can buy kits to fill in chips and even tint the filler to match.

Is the grout dark and moldy? You don’t need to spend time and aggravation trying to clean it. Just re-grout over it. You can buy grout pens in a variety of colors and paint over the grout you have. This is quite the invention! It works on floors, walls
and even inside showers.

Any room can benefit from the addition of a chair railing. They add character and provide a basis for breaking the room into two or more colors. These are ideal in bathrooms where you might want paint on the top and tile on the bottom, or just two different colors of paint. Chair railings need nothing more than a few nails and the correct measurements to put up. It’s amazing what a simple strip of wood can add to the ambiance of a room.

Tired of that old wallpaper but you hate the thoughts of steaming it off? Don’t bother! Paints nowadays can cover anything, including a layer of paper. Pull off any that is hanging and then use a sander (you can rent one) with a medium  grade sanding tool (ask where you rent this). Sand the paper till the wall is smooth. Rinse off with pain water, let try, and paint! (Don’t forget to add a chair railing!)

About the author:
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is bathroom cabinets, coffee tables and wooden garden furniture

 

11/28/2009

Flooring Installation Video of the Week: Tile Tips

Posted by The Flooring Expert under Ceramic Tile Countertops, DIY, Do it Yourself, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Tile Installations | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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