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Written by Dana
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Sunday, 19 October 2008 19:48 |
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Shower floor tiles need to be small. In order to provide for proper drainage, spacious shower floors can accommodate tiles as large as a 6"x6". However, if the shower pan requires a steep pitch, this size may mean that the installer will have to sliver the tile by the drain. These slivers can be fairly sharp. For most showers, the safest thing to do would be to stick with a 2”x2” mosaic tile or smaller. Squares are the easiest shape to work with, but basketweave mosaics and pebbles are also popular choices. Other mosaic shapes (like dogbone, 2”octagon, herringbone and interlocking basketweaves) can be used, but may not allow for enough of a slant to guarantee the proper pitch. When in doubt, consult your tile installer. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 November 2008 16:54 )
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Written by Dana Marino
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Monday, 22 September 2008 21:05 |
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There are those who tile bathroom floors and shower walls only, those who tile everything but the ceiling and those who tile four feet high outside the shower and to the ceiling in the shower. Many customers ask what they should do. There isn't a right or wrong answer. The key to remember is that tiles aren't just there for aesthetics. They protect your bathroom walls from moisture. If you have an automatic fan or are disciplined enough to open the window (even in the dead of winter) after your shower, then by all means leave the walls bare or go four feet up. If not, you may want to consider tiling further up. As far as aesthetics go, if you have an interesting floor and will be painting your walls a vibrant color, your untiled bathroom walls will look great. Baring that, your bathroom is going to look unfinished. Four feet of tile wainscoting dresses a bare wall but also gives it length (especially if the tiles are bricked) and height by creating a break in the wall. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 31 October 2008 02:48 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 22 September 2008 21:02 |
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The Italian word for tile basemoldings (or baseboards) is battiscopa.This literally translates into broom guard. Base moldings serve several functions. Where the wall meets the floor is where it will get smacked with brooms, scuffed by sneakers or sopped by mops. Wall paint doesn’t do well under any of these circumstances. Tile base moldings (ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone) are very durable and give rooms a finished look.
The base molding should match the floor not the wall paint. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 31 October 2008 02:58 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 22 September 2008 20:58 |
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Even the most prepared weekend warrior, often forgets to plan for bathroom accessories. These accessories can include toilet paper holders, towel bars, corner shelves, robe hooks and soapdishes for the tub or sink. These should be purchased before tiling begins; the contractor installs these with the tile, not on top of them. In the old days accessories were usually the same color as the accent color in the bathroom. For example, if you were recreating a 1950’s bathroom in canary yellow and black (a popular pairing then) you’d probably have a yellow mosaic floor, a black cove base, 4x4 canary yellow tiles going up the wall, finished off with a black mudcap. The toilet paper holder, the soap dish over the sink and the one in the tub would be black ceramic. Now I wouldn’t recommend this unless you’re trying to recreate a 50’s bathroom. People do still buy ceramic accessories – but mostly just toilet paper holders. Soapdishes have largely been expunged from the sink area and in the tub/shower they have been replaced with corner shelves. Corner shelves are most often made from marble. The resin sets are also quite nice and easily disappear in a rustic bathroom. The current trend is to select accessories that will blend into the wall tile. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 31 October 2008 03:02 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 22 September 2008 20:57 |
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Budget constraints or aesthetics may lead you to decide to tile your countertop. When selecting tiles for your countertop you should select a ceramic or porcelain tile with a 4 or 5 rating. How do you know its rating? The salesperson should know. But as a general rule, if you’re paying under $3.00 a square foot for it its probably not monocutura or a highly rated porcelain. This is not where you want to be penny-wise and pound foolish.
You should also look for a straight edge tile, you want to put these tiles as close together because grout is difficult to clean. There is also a line of glass tiles that comes in 12x12 or smaller and is scratch proof.
When selecting a tile, make sure you choose one that has a matching chairrail or bullnose for the front edge. This will give the countertop a finished look. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 31 October 2008 03:10 )
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