Laying tiles is a great way to add some class and style to your home or backyard. Although many people are uncomfortable with a Do-It-Yourself tiling program, the whole process is relatively easy and safe. Whether your project is an indoor bathroom or a total outdoor tile extravaganza, follow these six easy steps and it will be as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Step 1 – Measure

Grab a notepad, a pencil and some measuring tape and head to the area you want tiled. Measure the width and breadth of the space, making note of any obstacles, such as a drainage pipe or a fence.  As you measure, keep in the back of your mind the styles and shapes you want. A good idea before spending any money is to make a print-out of the tiles and to arrange them on the floor of the room. This way you can at least get a taste of what the space will look like when tiled.

Step 2 – Level the Ground

The surface area should be completely stripped and as flat as possible. If you are laying outdoor tiles, remove all rocks, grass roots, twigs and any other debris. If the surface is even a little bit sloped then the tile will not sit flat.

If you are laying tiles inside then the floor should already be relatively flat. If you are laying on concrete and the surface is not flat, then you may have to hire some equipment to sand the surface back.

Step 3 – Lay a Moisture Barrier

A moisture barrier will protect your tiles from the ground up. There is nothing more frustrating than spending thousands of dollars on tiles, only to find out that they all have to be ripped out because of water damage. If you are unsure about what moisture barrier to buy, talk to the salespeople at the store where you bought your tiles from, they can recommend a moisture barrier that is appropriate for your project.

Step 4 – Start to Lay Tiles

Once your moisture layer is in place you can start laying tiles. If your tiles are being laid inside, then you will also have to add some thin-set mortar on the surface before you start. Once that’s done, start laying tiles from the centre of the room and expand outwards. Make sure you use tile spacers to keep the distances between each tile uniform.

Step 5 – Cut Tiles for the Edges

Your tiles will never fit perfectly in your project space, so have tile cutting equipment ready in hand. Tile scribers and tile cutters are the two most common methods, but there are many different ways to cut a tile. Check out www.thetiledoctor.com for more information on tile cutters.

Note: if you are laying thick outdoor tiles, such as sandstone pavers, you may have to get them cut by a professional.

Step 6 – Fill the Spaces with Grout

Once your tiles are in place, fill the gaps with grout. Wipe away any excess grout with a wet towel and cover the entire surface with a sealer.

Well, there it is! Your brand new tiled surface is finished in just six easy steps.

Lay Your Own Tiles in 6 Easy Steps is a post from: Bellstone

Choosing the perfect floor tiles is an important task for most people. With the countless number of shapes, sizes and colours available on the market, it is of little wonder that many people find picking the right floor tiles  a stressful experience.

But choosing floors tiles involves a lot more than simple aesthetics. There are a lot of technical and professional considerations to floor tiling, and it doesn’t matter whether you are laying outdoor tiles or indoor tiles. So to simplify the whole process, this article will outline the main points to consider when choosing floor tiles:

Usage

Before you select any floor tiles, it is important to note how the tiled area will be used by you and your family. Is the space indoors or outdoors? Will it see light or heavy traffic? Is it under cover or totally exposed to the elements? Know the answers to these questions before you go tile shopping.

Durability

Durability is a key consideration when choosing a floor tile. According to the Porcelain Enamel Institute’s (PEI) durability rating, tiles range from Grade 1 – which offers light resistance, to Grade 5 – used in commercial areas such as airports and shopping malls. Odds are that you will need tiles in the Grade 3 or 4 categories.

Style

Tiles come in a variety of styles, almost too many to list. Here are the most popular styles:

• Sandstone Pavers – Great for outdoor areas, but make sure that you only buy high quality sandstone.
• Ceramic – One of the most popular styles due to the wide range of colours, textures, patterns and sizes available. Can be used indoors and outdoors, but be sure to check the PEI durability rating before buying.
• Slate – Made out of finely grained metamorphic rock, slate tiles are great for outdoor areas and living areas inside.
• Porcelain – More dense than ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles are great for outdoor use.

Size and Shape

Both indoor and outdoor tiles come in a variety of sizes. For indoor use, the most common size is 200mm x 200mm but any builder will be more than willing to cut smaller or larger tiles, for a price of course.

From a design perspective, larger tiles in a small room can make the room look bigger, but smaller tiles in the same space make the room look a bit frantic. Take into account that larger tiles are more expensive as they require more time and effort to cut. At the end of the day it all depends on your budget.

Almost all tiles are rectangular in shape, mainly due to the fact that it is easier to lay square tiles. One interesting new trend is to lay tiles in a diagonal pattern in smaller rooms. This gives the room an illusion of space, with the grout lines leading your eyes to the corners of each wall.

Colour and Design

Finally, it is important to pick tiles that will complement your existing surroundings. This is particularly important with indoor tiles, as you will have to make sure that the walls, furniture and any other features have a consistent style.

With this article in hand you are well on your way to choosing the perfect floor tiles! Good luck!

Choosing the Perfect Floor Tiles is a post from: Bellstone

Slate is one of the traditional quality building materials in civilization. It was prized for its reliability by ancient builders. It remains one of the world’s most loved architectural features to this day. The beauty of slate is a study of elegance. Slate tiles are also the cheapest of all natural stone flooring materials.

Beauty in concept- Slate as a flexible medium

Slate is a very versatile building material. It’s very popular on stairs because of its wear characteristics, and as a roofing material for its durability and long life. Those characteristics have also allowed designers to develop a wide range of motifs and interior designs with this stone.

Slate can also be worked in multiple tile designs and forms, even beautiful mosaics. Designers love working with slate, because of its strength and adaptability to any design concept. This stone can be precision tailored in any setting, anywhere in any home.

Beauty and light- Slate as a color scheme

The range of slate colors, from sky blue to brilliant yellow and dazzling earthy umbers, make slate a real feature stone for the most modern and traditional design concepts. The sheer range of slate tile styles is a very good indicator of its high values in a design capacity.

To say these styles can do anything could be an understatement. Top quality slate tiles include absolutely stunning natural color ranges which are more like works of art than flooring. If you didn’t know how much fun shopping for stone can be, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Beauty as an environment- Slate roof tiles and floor tiles

As roofing or floor tiles, slate really makes an impression when you see it in place. Slate roofs have geometrical elegance, precision and class, combined with real strength and virtues as building materials. This is the ultimate low maintenance building stone. It’s tough, it’s dependable, it’s cheap, and it’s beautiful.

Beauty in design- Slate for comprehensive home design

If your designer or architect is talking about slate, you’ve got a real professional who’s on your side in the design area who knows their materials well. Slate can be adapted to any purpose in design, and because of its versatility in color, you can work with any number of design concepts for your home. You can have a different slate design in every room, if you like.

Slate is a very high status designer building material, but it’s perfect for the family home. This is a very tolerant type of stone that can take a beating and look no worse for it. If you’ve got young kids or energetic older kids, slate will soak up the punishment easily. If you’ve ever tried to deal with flooring problems in a high usage are, you’ll know exactly what that means.

The beauty of slate is also very much in its practical applications, as well as the elegant appearance. There’s nothing it can’t do, and it does everything well.

Top 4 Beauty Secrets Of Slate Tiles And Floor Tiles is a post from: Bellstone