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Porcelain floor tiles and wall tiles.

Porcelain floor tiles will be commonly seen over larger expanses of floor in large shopping centres and places where a hard durable tile is necessary. Porcelain tiles are largely strong and durable due to the manufacturing process they go through and this is what makes them so popular over large expanses of floor.

Porcelain tiles have a large design and style choice which gives home owners the chance to find a style and design that suits the decor within the home and their personal preferences. Porcelain tiles have been used for years as a flooring material but their design and style choices were once quite limited, over the last decade however advancements in technologies have brought forward new and innovative tile designs.

Porcelain tile are incredibly strong, they are virtually scratch proof, heat resistant, stain proof and they are also frost proof.  Porcelain floor tiles also have a very low absorbency rate which means they will not absorb moisture easily, they are also very easy to clean and maintain and there are many cleaning solutions which are ideal for porcelain floor tiles. Some floor tile materials such as many natural stone tile materials are susceptible to damage when certain substances are used but porcelain tiles will not become damaged easily which makes hem incredibly attractive to home owners for both wall tiles an floor tile installation.

It is very acceptable and great design to have both porcelain wall tiles and porcelain floor tiles in one room. The advantages of porcelain wall tiles are much the same as floor tiles and they offer the home owner both fantastic functionality and design solutions.

There are both glazed porcelain tiles and unglazed porcelain tiles and this can confuse home owners a little. There are a few differences that home owners should be aware of but it is always best to check with the manufacturer or the tile store you purchase the tiles from to ensure you know the exact type of tile you have purchase and their functionalities.

Glazed porcelain tiles are incredibly strong and durable and no holes are usually present as any holes are filled, they will certainly not stain and have a very low absorbency rate. The unglazed variety may be more slip resistant than the glazed varieties but both glazed and unglazed varieties are very strong durable tiles that offer great functionality for the home owner.

Although porcelain tiles are generally described as frost resistant, there may be some varieties that are not and this aspect must be checked before purchase to ensure you have the right tile.

Porcelain tiles whether for floor tile or wall tile application make great additions to the home and they will offer both functionality and design style, they will last the test of time and are easy to clean and maintain which is very important for busy homes.

 

Crown tiles supply a wide range of floor tiles and wall tiles,we also supply advice and information on tiles and tiling. http://www.crowntiles.co.uk

Home Improvement Ideas

There are several home improvement ideas that could be implemented to increase the value of your home while making it more beautiful. Putting these ideas into action will make your home more livable, enhancing the comfort you experience daily. More than this though, making use of home improvement ideas to make your home better is a prudent investment.

When the term ‘home improvement’ is used, the most common mental image people have Do – It – Yourself (DIY) package. While home improvement can be DIY, it goes beyond that to professional installations and repairs. Home improvement projects range from a simple paint job to complete remodeling.
There are a number of home improvement projects which over time have become the most commonly undertaken, they are: Kitchen remodeling; Bathroom remodeling and additions; heating system installation; and window replacement among others. From these, there are countless ideas which you could implement to make your home more comfortable and beautiful.

The kitchen is a nice place to start when considering a home improvement project. Getting your kitchen to have that new and shiny look is a good start. The biggest challenge here would be the kitchen cabinets. To get around this, you could either remodel with new cabinets or reface the ones you already have; this will depend on your budget as remodeling your kitchen cabinets will cost twice as much as refacing the existing cabinets.

Another home improvement idea when working with your kitchen would be to change the kitchen flooring. The kitchen floor can make a world of difference to the overall look of the kitchen. Kitchen flooring comes in different selections these days. You have a choice of hardwood floors, ceramic and stone tiles. You could also decide to use laminate flooring, which is a pretty new but increasingly popular option.

The bathroom is another prime area of a house when it comes to home improvement. If and when you decide to put your home on the market, the bathroom is one place that could easily put off a potential buyer. So directing some attention that way can only be an advantage, especially as you get to enjoy a more comfortable surrounding as a result.

When it comes to the bathroom, there are several home improvement ideas that could be applied. Here, a change of tiles could just be what your bathroom needs for a more modern look. Adding wainscoting or changing the one that is already there could give the bathroom a more finished look. You might want to change the bathtub or add another one; there are just so many things one could do to give added beauty to a bathroom and make it more upscale.

Changing your windows to sliding windows, picture windows, bay windows or any of the many window styles available can also make a difference to the look of your house.

Shawn Hickman is the Search Marketing Manager for Sears Home Improvements. If you would like more Home Improvement Ideas, visit the Home Improvement section of the Sears Home Services website.

The Advantages of Wood Flooring

Designing our homes can be very difficult. We need to properly select those materials that are made of the highest quality but are still very affordable, materials that fit our taste and most especially, materials that are pleasing to look at. We need to carefully select materials that are perfect beginning from the ceiling all the way down to the flooring.

When it comes to our house, we always see to it that it is a very comfortable place to live, is very cozy and has this perfect ambiance for relaxing and cooling down. It may take a lot of money but nevertheless has it made a person to regret from building his own dream house. The expenses that are needed in building a house is no big joke considering the fact that the equipments and the labor fees are getting expensive by the minute.

It is such a nice feeling though that we are able to see the fruit of our hardwork and being admired by others. The most commonly admired materials in our home are the floorings. Basically, the flooring is one of the most expensive and most costly materials that we need to purchase in hard ware stores. Why? Because they are made of the finest materials like marble and wood for instance.

Wood flooring is the choice of many individuals. It is neat, stylish, and adds warmth to our homes. When you chose wood flooring for your home, you are ensured that it will last for many years as long as you know how to properly maintain its beauty and do some necessary repairs.

There are several advantages of wood floorings. First is its durability and its resistance to wear and tear. It is very warm to our feet and is perfect for those people with allergies. Cleaning is not a problem as well since you only need damp mopping to make the floor look shiny and fresh.

Second advantage is you can purchase it either pre-finished or finished. Purchasing pre-finished ones will save you a lot of money as well as time since you no longer need to buy floor varnishes or d sanding which only brings dust to your home.

Third is its longevity. Since it is durable, it will surely last for many long years just as long as you take care of it properly. Wood floorings can also be integrated in almost any home design or office decor. Therefore, the need to match curtains or sofas will not matter once you have installed your own wood flooring.

Lastly, wood floorings are very stylish. it is perfect in any spaces but make sure though to never use them in bathrooms as moisture can easily ruin the wood. Make sure to hire an expert when installing wood flooring so you will know the necessary maintenance of this type of flooring. Also, the expert will give you several tips on how to buy wood flooring that is perfect for your own home.

You can see a lot of hard ware stores that are selling cheap hardwood floors. You need to have a lot of options on where to buy wood floors that way you will determine which one is selling quality but yet affordable wood floors. We always make sure that everything is perfect and beautiful in our own homes and the wood flooring will surely meet our expectations.

Simply click this site http://www.discount-wood-flooring.org so you will learn more about wood flooring. Wood flooring is perfect for those individuals who wish to save money when building their own home. It is expensive but it is durable and has can last for many long years and thus saving you money from constantly changing floors. It is perfect for any home designs and is ideal for those individuals with allergies. You can get additional information when you visit http://www.discount-wood-flooring.org.

Bathroom wall tiles and floor tile choices.

The most important aspect of choosing floor tiles is the material you choose. If you are working towards a budget this will also play a huge role and the size of the area you are tiling is also important. There are many floor tile options in which to choose from and all good tile stores have an abundance of tile materials, styles and designs in which to look at. The first aspect is to visit some good tile stores and make a choice on the material you would like.

Bathrooms are wet and moist areas and it is always important to choose a tile that is ideal for wet areas. Ceramic wall tiles and porcelain wall tiles are the first tile materials that come to mind because they are ideal for bathroom areas. Glass wall tiles are also excellent choices although they are a little more expensive than other tile materials but they can be confined to certain areas such as the shower, around the bath and backsplash areas. Glass mosaic borders also work well combined with other tile materials.

Natural stone tile varieties cover a large selection of tiles including travertine tiles, granite tiles, slate tiles, limestone tiles and marble tiles. In general natural stone tiles are the more expensive option but if the area you are tiling is reasonably a small area, natural stone solutions might be an ideal choice. Natural stone floor tiles can also be sourced at reasonable prices especially if the particular tile and style is no longer being produced. In this instance home owners need to ensure that the tile store has enough of the particular floor tile to complete the job and a little extra for breakages.

Marble tiles often remind us of chic, elegant spaces and marble certainly has the ability to really add chic and design. Marble wall tiles can work well in certain areas. There is also the option to use mosaic marble tiles and again confine the marble tiles to certain areas to keep costs down.

The wall tile material you choose will also differ in the maintenance levels they require, marble tiles for instance are a higher maintenance tile that need to be cleaned and maintained regularly in order to keep them looking good. Ceramic wall tiles and porcelain wall tiles are versatile low maintenance tiles that are easy to clean and maintain.

Home owners are longer confined to design varieties and there are an abundance of choices in which to choose from. The first aspect is to visit a good tile store and get some inspiration and ideas before making your choice.

 

 

 

Tile choice offer a wide variety of tile choice for the walls and floors, we also supply underfloor heating systems. http://www.tilechoice.co.uk

Do It Yourself Around The House

Doing some painting around the house?

Don’t forget to use primer! If you have a dark wall that you want to paint a lighter color, primer will reduce the amount of coats you will need to paint over the darker color. If you use primer, you don’t have to worry about any of that old color showing through. Additionally, make sure you pick a roll of painter’s tape so you don’t accidently paint unwanted areas like your ceiling or floor.

Do you have unwanted marks on your tile?

Sometimes kids like to use your nice tile floor as their art studio. Not to worry; there are a couple of ways you can get those unwanted permanent marker stains off your floor. First try using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (this is non-abrasive and won’t do damage to your home), if that doesn’t work you can try Arm & Hammer toothpaste and a tooth brush. As a last resort, a little nail polish remover is sure to trick! The acetone is not a very nice chemical to use, but it is a great stain remover for surfaces like tile. Make sure you wipe it off the surface as soon as the stain is removed (the acetone can peel off the coverings on many tiles).

Planning to plaster a wall?

1) Pick your plaster carefully-often times people opt for a quick drying plaster, but these can be hard to work with and cause your more trouble than they are worth.

2) Measure a little extra plaster than you think you will need; you would rather have extra then find out you poured too little. Make sure carefully follow the directions when mixing your plaster; if you use too much water, you plaster will be runny.

3) Thoroughly mix the plaster ingredients; you can use a paint stir stick-there should be now powder left at all.

4) Using your putty knife, you know smear a good amount of plaster over the area you are trying to fix. Scrape off the extra plaster and let it dry-the surface does not need to be perfectly smooth.

5) After the area has dried (you should let it dry over night, just to be safe), take a piece of sand paper and smooth out the surface.

6) Then paint to blend with the rest of your wall!

New England Design & Construction is an award-winning architectural design and remodeling company in the Greater Boston area. With over 25 years of experience, and countless happy customers, we are recognized as the most- trusted team to design and remodel your home.

Cleaning Grout

Grout is one of the most difficult things to clean in your home and the less often it is tended to the harder the task. Bathrooms are probably one of the most common places to find dirty or stained grout, specifically in the shower. Even if someone is in the shower for five minutes any remaining moisture takes hours to dry and could cause mold or mildew to form in the grout.

The key to maintaining clean grout is maintenance. Clean often, even if its ten or fifteen minutes a week. This can sometimes be hard to schedule so make it a routine with your other house chores.

When youre cleaning, use gentle grout cleaners, as some are so abrasive they will damage the grout, which could cause new problems such as moisture leaking into walls or floor boards.

Now, when youre ready to proceed with the cleaning here are some items you may need: a toothbrush or grout brush, rubber gloves, cleaner (see below), rags, grout sealer, and safety goggles as some cleaners are toxic and with all the scrubbing the last thing you want is a harsh substance infiltrating your eye.

Also, make sure wherever you are cleaning to ventilate well by opening windows and if available, set up one or two fans.

How to clean:

1.Cleaner options:
Use vinegar and water at a ratio of one to one. You may add some baking soda to enhance the consistency.
Mild household detergent.
General household/bathroom cleaners. These may include bleach or sprays. NOTE: do not mix acidic solution household cleaners with bleach as it creates dangerous fumes.

2.Wipe away excess dirt before the actual grout cleaning.

3.Spray or apply your cleaner to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes fighting the stain and scrub the grout hard with the brush. Work it in well.

4.Rinse the brush and wipe the area with a rag to see if it worked. Depending on the type of stain you may need to repeat these steps.

5.Finally, sealing the grout so it stays clean is a good option. The sealer fills in pores and covers the area so mildew, mold or other bacteria doesnt find a home. By doing this you still need to give the grout a wipe once in a while but not with the same consistency. To apply run the sealer across the grout and wipe away any overflow on the tiles.

If you still havent found a solution to cleaning your grout, there are services for hire that will clean your grout but this must be weighed in terms of time and money; whether you have the time to do it yourself or the money to pay them.

Jakob Barry writes for Networx.com where you can find more information about grout cleaning services.

Bathroom Tile Ideas For Bathroom Floor Tile

Bathroom tile bathroom tile ideas that can help you understand what options to consider for your bathroom. The basis of a variety of shapes, sizes, patterns and textures with any bathroom design bathroom tiles. Bathroom tile ideas can help you have the best bathroom. Ceramic bathroom tiles are often used because of its durability, resistance to dampness, its safety when walking in the wet, its easy to clean.

If you choose tiles for your bathroom, consider using tiles, bathroom safety, which is one of the best bathroom tile idea, have a non-slip surface. If you buy and install unglazed tiles, they will need regular cleaning, because they are easy to absorb stains. The shape of the bathroom tiles can be square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, accent tiles can be narrow and small diamond-shaped pieces.Here bathroom tile ideas bathroom tiles:

1 – If you use solid color ceramic bathroom floor tile in bathroom, you can add a border of tiles in different colors of the tiles on the floor, or alternately in different colors, you can create a boundary.This visualization, you can create a more interesting bathroom floor.

2 – When using the same color of the floor and wall tiles, select the size of the different tile walls or lay the wall tiles diagonally to create a more interesting visual effect.

3 – Another of the bathroom tile idea is to choose a grout color contrast with the tile color. For example, if you are using white tiles, you can use the contrast of the blue, red or yellow grout. Please be sure and application of sealant, grout lines badly worn area, since the sealant will protect and preserve grout colors.

4 – If your bathroom favorite color is pink, for example, add some pink tiled walls or use shapes, textures and borders to give it some visual interest. Select some rows of the walls, you can also use some of the pink tiles placed diagonally.

5 – in order to allow the modern style of your bathroom, you see, consider using bright, bold colors with shapes or graphics on plain background. Contemporary style accessories and equipment, but also provides a modern bathroom appearance.

6 is – if you want to have a romantic Victorian look in your bathroom, using soft colors such as pink, light green or light blue. floral tiles and hand-painted ceramic sink may be wooden floors. Mediterranean bathroom look, mixed clay tiles with Mexican or other hand-painted tile floors. For countertops, perhaps mixed with other plain tiles hand-painted tiles.

7 – Bathroom tile ideas and tile color is very important, because the color can greatly affect your mood, make you feel calm or motivate you. Peach and yellow warm fun bathroom feel more comfortable with more countries, they go looking for bathroom decoration.

If you use neutral colors such as beige and white, make the room look larger, they will reflect light, they are always in style. Was as quiet colors or cool colors, such as blue, green and purple. Bright colors, such as black or red add drama decorative absorb light and make the room look smaller.

A large number of windows and the lighting of the room, you can consider using darker tiles to offset the ambient lighting. You can also color through the use of accent tiles and accessories you want. Have fun, you choose the style, color, pattern, as the size of your bathroom and the bathroom floor tiles and related accessories.

You will want your bathroom to be a fun, comfortable rooms, take the time and bathroom tiles can help create this atmosphere. Bathroom tile ideas to help you have a special bathroom, you can enjoy every day.Content the 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Basins, taps, towlel rails, toliets and baths. Burlington bathroom
, Imperial bathroom
 

Floor tiles and Natural stone tiles.

There are many wall tile choices and the list is endless, home owners are never stuck for choice and variety, in fact the one problem that may arise is choosing the material you would like. More and more home owners are turning their hand to tiling and renovating projects to cut installation costs and because they enjoy the challenge and the creativity of designing their own kitchen or bathroom.

The usual choices and the most popular wall tiles are ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles and both are good choices for bathroom areas as well as wall tiles and floor tiles but if you want something a little different, some natural stone tiles can be installed on walls with fantastic results.

The most important aspect of installing natural stone tiles on the walls is to get as much advice as you can and all good tile stores and manufacturers will be happy to offer vital advice. The surface of the walls has to be suitable in order to install natural stone wall tiles and the weight of the natural stone plays a very important part in the installation process.

The grout you use should always be suitable for the natural stone wall tiles you are installing and all good tile stores will be able to advise on this.

Granite tiles are extremely beautiful tiles and work really well on kitchen countertops, backsplash areas and pool areas. Granite tiles can also be installed on kitchen and bathroom walls but the thickness of the tiles will affect the weight and you need to seek advice from any good tile store. There is no mistaking that granite tiles are a thing of beauty and will be a great addition to your home by adding warmth, beauty and real elegant style.

Marble is one of the most expensive natural stone tiles but will add beauty and style to any home but there are places that marble tiles are not suitable for. Marble tiles work well on some surfaces in the kitchen such as countertops and some types of marble can be used as floor tiles. Marble tiles will stain and mark more easily than other tile options and the maintenance is higher, for this reason they are not really used as wall tiles or installed in bathrooms over large areas.

Slate tiles are a great addition to the bathroom and kitchen and can be used on floors, countertops and as wall tiles. The beautiful shades of slate will add a real earthy feel.

Travertine tiles have a classic look and feel and work well in bathrooms and kitchens, travertine tiles are very versatile tiles that can be sued in many places such as bathrooms, kitchens, on countertops and floors.

Always shop around and check any tile material choices with the manufacture, ensure that they are suitable for installation on walls and floors and always follow all guidelines and instructions on the manufacturer’s guidelines before use.

Natural stone tiles can make excellent wall tiles and add real style and design to any home as well as adding warmth and elegance.

 

 

Tile choice offer a wide variety of Tile choice for the walls and floors, we also supply underfloor heating systems. http://www.tilechoice.co.uk

DIY Corner Unit Options

A corner unit may come in the form of a cabinet, a home d?cor or a table which you can place in a corner of your house to maximize space and to possibly add storage. One of the best ways to really maximize that corner in your living room or bedroom is to have a corner cabinet.

Though you can easily buy one at a nearby furniture shop or even online, there can be a problem if it doesn’t fit into that corner you want to place it to. One way to go about this is to purchase customized corner cabinets or you can build one yourself.

To Buy or Not to Buy

If you prefer to purchase customized corner units, make sure you know the measurements of that corner of your room. This is very important because any wrong measurements can cause problems.

If you will be building a corner unit by yourself or with the help of an experienced woodworker, you will be able to save money doing this. All you need would be:

? A good set of corner cabinet plans (blueprint)
? Building tools
? Building materials

When it comes to buying plans, you will be able to find a lot of offers online. Though there are free plans you can use, most of them are not really that reliable. If you are an experienced wood worker then you may know how to tweak problems you’ll see on free blueprints for corner cabinets. However, if you are a newbie and you still prefer to use free plans, it is a good idea to have an experienced woodworker assist you in your project. Another option would be to buy a kit. This way, you don’t need to worry about labor; you’ll just follow the instructions on the kit. The down part is – these kits can be a bit expensive.

Going back to doing the building yourself, another important factor (as mentioned) to consider would be the building tools. Of course, to build a cabinet, you need to have the necessary tools such as a hammer, saw, tape measure or other measuring materials and more. You don’t need to worry because the tools you will need will also be listed on the plans you will be using. This also goes for the building materials. Even the measurements will be provided.

Building a corner unit may be a lot harder than buying one. However, if you have a small corner and you think regular tables or cabinets won’t fit into then it’s best to build a corner cabinet or to buy a customized cabinet. This will ensure cabinets or tables having the right measurements. Furthermore, you can choose a design that can match the theme of that room.

For more information about having a “>corner unit and for more home design tips, go to CornerUnit.Net.

laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is a versatile option for a wide variety of situations. Many homes have laminate flooring as an alternative to real wood flooring, as it is easier to maintain and lay. Carpets and linoleum soon become faded and lose their fresh appearance, especially in areas where there is a high volume of traffic such as the kitchen or living area. Families may find that spills and mess from children and any pets in the home cause carpets to become tired looking and may even hold odours.

Laminate flooring is easy to clean and care for, with no requirement for specialist care other than a few simple rules. Avoid sliding furniture across the floor, as this will scratch the laminate. When you clean laminate floor, use a damp cloth and don’t apply liquid directly to the floor. Spills won’t damage the floor as long as they are cleaned up as soon as possible. With regular sweeping and a wipe over, laminate flooring will keep its fresh appearance for many years.

Laminate flooring is also a cost effective option as it will stay looking new for much longer than carpets, and is much harder wearing than real wood. You can fit laminate flooring yourself as you don’t require any specialist skills. It is advisable to obtain advice from a reputable supplier before commencing this DIY project to ensure that you purchase the most appropriate laminate flooring for its intended location and lay it correctly. Here at Wickes, we stock everything you require to lay a laminate floor, including accessories such as skirting trim to cover the gap around the edges of the wall. You can also purchase pipe trim which covers the gaps left around pipes, leaving a professional and neat finish.

You can use laminate flooring in any room, although there are different types for varying levels of use. For instance, if you want laminate flooring in the living area and entrance hall, use laminate which is intended for heavy domestic use. You should always lay laminate on a floor which is even and free from clutter to ensure a level surface, as this could cause problems with your floor at a later date. For concrete floors you will require a damp proof membrane which will protect your laminate from any damp, causing distortion and expansion of the boards.

Underlay is required for soundproofing. This is especially required for upstairs rooms such as bedrooms. You can purchase different types of underlay according to the room type and your requirements. For many simple rooms such as the bedroom, laying a laminate floor may be completed within a few hours. For a room with a concrete floor or a larger area, you may need a little more time, but you can generally complete a room within the day.

Take the time to do some research before laying your laminate floor and making sure you have the tools and accessories required to help you achieve a professional and neat finish. Spending more time in the planning stages will ensure you enjoy many years of a perfect laminate floor.

Emma writes articles on Home Improvement, including tips on Laminate Flooring and how to get the best out of your Wickes DIY.