PRODUCT FOCUS: flooring

Amtico's Spacia line features pale rustic wood grain (dry cedar) or dark brown shades (linear stone peat). The low-VOC floor is FloorScore certified and includes a backing of 100 percent recycled material.

FOR MORE INFO CIRCLE #56FOR MORE INFO CIRCLE #55Mannington offers its Cairo collection. This line of flooring combines modern technology and ancient beauty to form three exotic-inspired color palettes: papyrus, a neutral yet rich beige; scarab, a blend of browns and reds; and relic, a deep and dramatic mix of brown, gray and blue.Mediterranea introduces its Mountain Timber glazed porcelain tiles. They are designed to resemble fossilized wood that was petrified, or transformed into natural stone after years buried in the earth's sediment.FOR MORE INFO CIRCLE #57New Ravenna introduces the Giovanni Barbieri stone mosaics of the Barbieri Brothers Family. It transforms marble into a material emulating ancient stone. Individual tiles range in size from 2 in. by 2 in. to 12 in. by 24 in., and are squares, rectangles, triangles, or bricks with staggered or aligned joints.FOR MORE INFO CIRCLE #53The Zapala Collection from Walker Zanger is crafted from dolomitic limestone. It is available in herringbone, mini-planking and 3-in. by 4-in. mosaics.

FOR MORE INFO CIRCLE #57

MIGHT ON THE TILES

Kitchen

Style tipcity cork engineered flooring from pounds 24 per sqm (www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk, 0845 263 6586)Mix in patternThese fruity border tiles inject pattern and work brilliantly along worktops. V&A Tile collection William de Morgan grape, pounds 5.50 each; V&A Tile collection puddle glaze tile in olive, pounds 1 each (www.cpgroupuk.com, 0845 519 7039)Funky boldThe bathroom is the place for pampering - so go girly with a vintage vibe for this great retro look. Soft peach wall tiles pounds 89.26 per sqm (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)Garden city tiles in six designs, pounds 12.72 each (www.firedearth.com, 01295 814396)3 easy cheatsBathroomFresh turquoise goes well with slate for a modern look. For extra impact, contrast tile sizes. Aspects turquoise border tile pounds 9.89 each (www.johnson-tiles.com, 01782 524000)PRINT WALLPAPER Love the look but don't want to splash out? Check out this tile print wallpaper in buttercup blue, pounds 20/ meter, (www.louisebody.com)VintageEco chicSTICKERS Jazz up plain tiles with waterproof tile stickers.Pontevedra natural slate wall tiles (right wall) from pounds 3.15 per tile; Austurian stone mosaics (splashback) from pounds 72.95 per sqm; Chad Tumbled Earth mosaics (left wall)from pounds 154.95 per sqm (all www.originalstyle.com, 01392 473000)TILE PAINT You don't even have to buy new tiles... Give your old ones a fresh look with One Coat tile paint, pounds 17.99 for 250ml (www.international-paints.co.uk, 08447 709 444)Go retroLustres pearlescent tiles pounds 38.26 per sqm Johnson (www.johnson-tiles.com, 01782 524000)Get slatedSleek slate-effect tiles work equally well with contemporary schemes and traditional styles. Use with heritage colour walls for a sophisticated, grown-up finish. TileLOC anthraciteeffect tile pounds 11.98 per sqm (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)Eco-friendly anwd easy on the budget, cork tiles are a practical and stylish alternative.Mosaic tiles add glamour and create a glittery feature wall in a neutral scheme. natural stone glass mix mosaic sheet, pounds 15.99 each (www.toppstiles.co.uk, 0800 023 4703)Pop of colourA wall-mounted or free-standing sink offers the perfect opportunity for a tiled feature wall. Granada tiles in Montefrio, pounds 2.98 each (www.firedearth.com, 01295 814396)Prints charmingTry big tiles on one wall and smaller ones on the other, but check they are the same depth.Create a sweet vintage kitchen with brick-style tiles in pastel shades. Microline cream gloss ceramic tiles, pounds 65 per sqm (www.toppstiles.co.uk, 0800 023 4703)Feature splashbackWe used this great pattern at just pounds 12.50 for 8 (www.supernice.co.uk, 020 7613 3890)Tiling can be pricey so keep things simple and save your favourite ones for a small splashback. They don't have to match - in fact, clashing or mismatched tiles are all the rage at the moment, so be brave and go for an interesting mix.Damask print is the latest trend in tiling and looks sleek in contemporary monochrome. Designer black matt and damask 400 x 300mm wall tiles, pack of eight, pounds 19.98 (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)This island unit looks great with orange tiles. Lucia vertical tiles in naranja, pounds 29.19 for 25. White polished porcelain floor tiles pounds 21.39 for 6 (both www.homebase.co.uk, 0845 077 8888)Metal guruSparkly mosaicAdd a touch of sparkle with glass or glazed ceramic tiles.

Sleek slate-effect tiles work equally well with contemporary schemes and traditional styles. Use with heritage colour walls for a sophisticated, grown-up finish. TileLOC anthraciteeffect tile pounds 11.98 per sqm (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)

Guidelines To Restore Chipped Granite Worktops

Do you wish to repair those chipped granite worktops? If yes, then take help of the given below tips to restore their life.

Wear the gloves and prepare a paste of epoxy resin and a hardener. These constituents should be mixed in a required quantity. Hence, you should read the instructions on the cover to know the concentration of the resin.Garage floor tile return in disposable packages and already have adhesives applied to the downside. These will be peeled off and pasted on the garage floor after it has been cleaned to create it freed from grease and oil, just the way one would apply stickers. Minimal quantity of equipments are required for the task. Simply a combine of kneepads, a sharp utility knife to cut the overlapping tiles to shape, and a measuring tape are required to hold out the process. The time needed isn't too nice either. One or two days of effort are sometimes enough. This makes it the perfect weekend project.Allow the epoxy resin to dry. It might take few hours. Avoid the use of the granite worktrops during the repairing process.And lastly, apply a layer of sealant on the worktop. It will reinforce the shine and shimmer of the natural stone.These tiles are epitome of long lasting beauty and luster. One doesn't need to work hard towards their maintenance. They don't get damaged easily but face cracks or chips due to minor negligence. You can restore these chips with the given below strategy.Firstly, clean the chipped area with a soft sponge. Dip the sponge in the solution of warm water and soap. Wipe the surface thoroughly, so that the dirt and grease get detached from the granite worktops.Thus, you'll be able to restore the life of the granite worktops without major monetary investment.Let the surface dry completely. Keep the area untouched for at least an hour. There shouldn't be a single trace of water or cleaner on its surface.Garage floors can be shielded from everyday corrosion by a variety of protecting measures. Vinyl or lacquer paints can be applied to the floors. But the process is both time consuming and laborious. Not precisely the issue a busy professional will do in a very short time period. For the folks with little time in hand, garage floor tiles are the simplest options.

Thus, you'll be able to restore the life of the granite worktops without major monetary investment.

Author: Jason Colling

Garage Floor Tiles - Cheap and Long Lasting Flooring Solution

Garage floors get exposed to a selection of corrosive substances every day. Chemicals like grease, battery acids, antifreeze solutions, salt and motor oil will corrode garage floors created of concrete on prolonged exposure. The sad thing is that in spite of these risks, garage floor is usually the most neglected portion of any house. Folks might put up granite or marble tiles in their kitchen and toilet floors, however few ever pay a lot of attention to the cold, damp garage floor. Putting up dry walls in a very garage may be a sensible alternative to go for but that also won't protect the floor. Some kind of protection for the garage floor is critical, if it's to be expected to last long.

Now, apply the mixture on the chipped area. Spread the mixture uniformly with help of a tongue depressor. You can remove the excess paste from the tile with help of a razor blade.Granite worktops are available in a variety of colors and patterns. It is a durable stone with amazing properties. Several monuments, temples and palaces have been adorned by the beauty of granite. Each granite stone is a creative addition to the household. It is widely applicable and renders its service for a long time.Now, cover the broken area with a masking tape. Don't forget to tap the area near the chipped surface.

The garage floor tiles will increase the market price of a house to some extent. If a house owner chooses to sell his/her house in future, the tiled garage floor will raise the value of the house to quite an extent and will additionally entice prospective consumers at the identical time. Application of tiles on the garage floor is so a sensible combination of protection and worth addition for any house.

Author: Samantha Fisher

Scrap Off Excess Tile Adhesive Between Tiles

If your tile installation is left with excess tile adhesive between the tiles, then remove these chemicals before you start grouting the tile surface.

You can do this as follows:So, use these tips and remove the tile adhesive properly, so that the tiles get installed with perfection. You can also ask the tiler to remove the adhesive for the grouting purpose.If you are tiling a dry wall, then prefer mastic adhesive. This tile adhesive is ideal for the purpose. The mastic re-emulsifies as soon as you spray water on it. You can also buy a thin set. It is made up of a combination of chemicals and polymers.Wood is attractive and versatile, but it is very vulnerable to water damage and its porosity makes it hard to clean - especially in the bathroom. If you have to have a wood top in your bathroom be sure it�s well sealed with polyurethane or marine varnish. Note: extra care should be taken to seal around the edges of plumbing fixtures so standing water can't seep in and cause wood rot. Cost is between $25 and $40 a linear foot, installed.Soft-paste porcelain adds ground glass or frit (material for glass that is not yet fused and vitrified) and is fired to between cone 01 and 1 (1999 to 2109 degrees F). Because soft-paste porcelain is fired at lower temperatures, it does not completely vitrify and remains slightly porous. When soft-paste porcelain is broken, you can distinguish a grainy body covered with a glassy layer of glaze.Corian and Solid Surfacing is made of either a pure acrylic product or a polyester-acrylic mix. The most widely available and widely known 100 percent synthetic countertop material is Corian by Dupont, but other manufacturers including Wilsonart, Formica and Avenite also make it in a wide range of colors and textures. Some of the materials are solid colors, but most have flecks that give it a textured look that resembles real stone (that will run the cost up). Cost is between $75 to $150 a linear foot, installed.Artisans who paint porcelain (rather than actually make it) refer to three grades of porcelain: hard-paste, soft-paste, and bone china. They all contain kaolin but only hard-paste has feldspar and silica and is high-fired. The high temperatures cause the body and the glaze to fuse. When hard-paste porcelain is broken, it is impossible to distinguish the body from the glaze.

So, use these tips and remove the tile adhesive properly, so that the tiles get installed with perfection. You can also ask the tiler to remove the adhesive for the grouting purpose.

Author: Jason Colling

Putting Patterns on Porcelain

Today there are many options for putting colorful patterns onto porcelain china. Some, like decoupage, waterslide decals and air-dry paints like Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel are within the reach of any home crafter.

If the tiles got installed recently, then wait for 24hours before scrapping the tile adhesive. Clear the excess adhesive between the grout lines. You can remove the adhesive with help of a putty knife. Use the knife carefully without producing scratches on the tile surface.Granite slabs are the most expensive of all countertop surfaces, but this is one product that holds its weight. The expense of granite will vary greatly, depending on the type, quality and availability of granite that you select, as well as the finished edge that you choose. If you just can�t resist the look of granite and your purse is stretched, try going for granite tiles. Cost is between $75 to $200 a linear foot, installed.The two classic ways of putting patterns onto porcelain, hand-painting and transfer printing, still exist today. In addition, there is a high-tech version of waterslide decals used commercially which consists of screen-printing decals with glazes and applying the decals to the porcelain. In each case, the pottery is high-fired before decorating to at least cone 6. [Cone is a measure of heat absorption resulting from heat applied over time. Cone 6 translates to between 2165 and 2269 degrees F (depending on how fast the kiln heats � or ramps � up).] Such high-firing produces the hard almost-translucent quality of genuine porcelain. Then the piece is decorated and lightly fired repeatedly to melt and fuse the glazes to the porcelain.Make sure that you remove any kind of adhesive between the tiles. Ensure that the tiles don't get dislodged due to application of force on the surface. Hence, it�s apt to use a putty knife to scrap the adhesive.For more information about decoupage, waterslide decals, dye sublimation or other crafts, visit http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/craft-ideas.html.You should level the thin set completely. Even out the surface and ensure uniform thickness of the thin set. Prepare the thin set in adequate quantity so that you cover the surface with perfection.Others, like dye sublimation printing, transfer printing and hand-glazing high-fired pottery require substantial investment in equipment and are best suited to well-capitalized businesses and artists� cooperatives.

For more information about decoupage, waterslide decals, dye sublimation or other crafts, visit http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/craft-ideas.html.

Author: Eileen Bergen

Home Building - Bathroom - Bathroom Countertops

When it comes to bathroom countertops there�s no limit to how creative you can be, because most countertops are custom-designed for each installation. There are hundreds of colors, patterns, and materials to choose from, but not all of them work well in the bathroom where water and condensation are a constant concern. Your best choices are marble, granite, ceramic or porcelain tiles, solid surface materials and laminate surfacing.

Finally, go to a tile store and look at their �porcelain� tiles. If you turn them over, you will see base clay ranging from white to brown to gray. The definition of �porcelain� in the tile industry has nothing to do with the clay content or level of firing. Rather, tile manufacturers define as �porcelain� any tile fired to the point where it absorbs less than 3% moisture.Composite Stone is the hot new surface when it comes to tops and a big rival to granite. It is a stone-synthetic composite made of about 90 percent quartz particles and 10 percent acrylic or epoxy binder. Some of the composites look like natural stone, but not one that you could identify. Others are so close to real granite that you're left wondering if it�s real or not? Since the composites are man-made materials, they do not have the unexpected variation of granite or marble and they do not need to be sealed. The four major choices - Silestone, Okite, CaesarStone and DuPont's Zodiaq - all use the same process. The only differences between them for the end users are the colors and textures offered. Taken together, the four companies offer more than 130 countertop choices. Cost is between $110 to $250 a linear foot, installedPlastic Laminate is the most common and least expensive countertop material, by a considerable margin and is available in just about any color and texture you can imagine. The four major manufacturers - Wilsonart, Formica, Nevamar and Pionite -each offer more than a hundred colors and patterns. The latest rage is having your plastic laminate custom-designed to your own color, texture and style, but be prepared to spend a few bucks here. Laminate is a breeze to clean because of its smooth surface. Cost is between $25 and $50 per linear foot, installed.Bone china has bone ash added to the kaolin and vitrifies (becomes glass-like) somewhere between cone 2 and cone 5 (2034 to 2205 F). Though not as hard as true porcelain, bone china is more durable than soft-paste porcelain. The bone ash greatly increases the translucence of the porcelain.Tile adhesive is a chemical that is responsible for the binding force between the tiles. It should be placed with perfection; otherwise the tile gets cracked after sometime. Sometimes, the adhesive remains trapped between the tiles leaving no place for the grout. This error ruins the look of the tiling project. Hence, it is important that you remove the excess adhesive between the adjacent tiles.

Wood is attractive and versatile, but it is very vulnerable to water damage and its porosity makes it hard to clean - especially in the bathroom. If you have to have a wood top in your bathroom be sure it�s well sealed with polyurethane or marine varnish. Note: extra care should be taken to seal around the edges of plumbing fixtures so standing water can't seep in and cause wood rot. Cost is between $25 and $40 a linear foot, installed.

Author: Tammy Crosby