Natural Stone Tiles Buying Secrets

Porcelain Tiles in the Home

2009-03-20T05:21:00.001-07:00

Created a new Squidoo lens yesterday about Porcelain Tiles, called "Porcelain Tiles in the Home". Tiles are not just for the bathroom or kitchen, they can enhance the decor in any room. In particular, Porcelain Tiles are extremely hard wearing and functional, as well as being available in a wide variety of patterns, colours and finishes. Check out the lens for more ideas.

Posted via web from UK Tiles Review

Porcelain Tiles for Floors and Walls

2009-03-04T13:11:00.001-08:00

When choosing porcelain tiles for your home, it is important to consider the many different finishes, effects and processes which can be applied to porcelain tiles. Porcelain is a completely non-porous material and is extremely hard wearing, which makes it the perfect tiling material to be used in all areas of the home. Porcelain tiles are available in glazed, double-glazed, unglazed and full bodied varieties. The cost of the tiles is determined by the materials used, the manufacturing processes and the country of origin. The main differences between natural stone tiles and porcelain tiles lie in the practicality of porcelain, which does not require any special sealants during installation and very little maintenance after the material is installed. This makes porcelain an ideal material for bathroom and kitchen floor tiles. Porcelain floor tiles will also perform superbly in any other area which receives high domestic use. View the comprehensive range and order your free sample Porcelain Tiles from Stone and Porcelain.

Posted via web from Gardening's posterous

Porcelain Tiles are Fantastic

2009-02-22T04:17:00.001-08:00

Porcelain Tiles are known for their durability and are fantastic in high traffic areas such as kitchens. Porcelain is completely non-porous, which also makes porcelain tiles ideal for bathrooms and other wet areas.

View the comprehensive range and order your free sample Porcelain Tiles here.

Bathroom Floor Tiles

2009-02-07T13:18:00.001-08:00

It is always a good idea to think about what goes on in your bathroom before you remodel it. One of the most important things to remember is that you use a lot of water, and it might go everywhere, especially if you have kids. This is why tiles are very popular for the bathroom. They are water resistant, and they are easy to clean and install. Bathroom tiles do not have to be boring, but they are an exceptionally good idea to protect your walls and floors from water damage.

You can go with the basic white bathroom tiles if you wish, and these can be a great look. Some like to have an all white bathroom, and that can look fresh and clean. Many more, however, love to have some color. You can get your bathroom tiles in many colors, or you can save the color for your shower curtains, window curtains, towels, and wash clothes. There are endless ways to add color, so it’s quite alright to get white tiles if that is what you want to have.

Installing your bathroom tiles can be something you do yourself, though some prefer to have someone else do it for them. If you don’t think you are very handy, or you simply don’t have the time to do it on your own, there are many qualified people who can do the job for you, and they can usually do it very quickly. When it comes to laying tile, you may have to cut some to get the room to look right, and many fear doing this wrong. However, if you want to do it on your own, find somewhere to learn. It won’t be that hard if you have instruction.

When choosing bathroom tiles, remember that you are making an investment that will last a long time. Tiles are generally durable, and you won’t have to worry about replacing them. That makes them a bargain. They are also easier to clean, even for those who might have hard water. Concentrate on finding the right colors and patterns, and choose something you know you can live with for years to come. Some like to remodel quite often, but most can’t afford to do so. That is why choosing something you love is important, but following trends might not be. Trends will come and go, but your bathroom will remain the same.

To help you choose the perfect tiles for your bathroom project, order a free sample from the comprehensive selection at UK Tiles.

You can also get some great tips by following the UK Tiles Blog.

Posted via web from Gardening's posterous

Natural Stone Tiles Buyers Guide

2009-01-07T13:00:00.003-08:00

When choosing natural stone tiles for your home refurbishment or renovation project, it is important to consider the many different finishes, effects and processes which can be applied to stone tiles. You will frequently find many natural stone tiles listed with various descriptive phrases which can easily cause confusion for someone with only a basic knowledge of the materials. Detailed below is a glossary of the main industry terms used to describe the different processes applied to stone tile products.

Antique(d) – A word used to describe various ageing and distressing methods applied to give a material a weathered effect. This method can often make the material more fitting to traditional surroundings. In different countries different methods are used to achieve the antique effect, therefore the appearance of antiqued stone will vary from source to source.

Brushed – Similar to antique, brushed stone has only slight surface texture and soft, rounded edges.

Calibrated – When the stone has been manufactured to a uniform depth.

Chipped – When the stone has been worked (usually by hand) to give the edges a rough ‘chipped’ appearance.

Filled – Filling stone is a process applied predominantly to Travertine. This is when the small holes on the surface of the material are filled with a similar coloured resin.

Honed – When the stone tiles are machine worked to give a smooth flat surface to the face of the stone.

Polished – When the stone tiles are worked to achieve a high gloss finish to the face of a tile.

Riven – When blocks of stone are split to achieve an un-even, natural finish to the face of the stone. This is particularly common with sandstone and can provide a more traditional feel.

Tumbled – A process which provides round soft edges to a tile. This is a common feature of Travertine.

Uncalibrated – When there is a slight variation in the depth of a tile.

Veining – A term used to describe natural mineral lines found in stone.
For a comprehensive selection of stone and porcelain tiles visit UK Tiles, to view their ever expanding range of the highest quality natural stone and porcelain tiles available.

If you need further tips to help with your project, follow the UK Tiles Blog.

Natural Stone Tiles Buying Secrets

2009-01-07T13:00:00.001-08:00

When purchasing stone tiles there are many different points to consider. The first would be the size of the tile. Stone tiles come in a large multitude of sizes and this is one of the first things you should consider, what are the ideal sizes for your area and do you require just one size of stone tile or several in order to create a pattern. Also consider the depth of the stone tiles you are looking to purchase. The depths of stone tiles commonly vary between 10mm and 20mm and normally the larger the size, the thicker the depth.

When considering the type of material to use, as well as thinking about the kind of look you are aiming to achieve it is important to consider the practicalities in regards to the environment the stone tiles are being used in. Do you require a hard wearing tile, a tile which can withstand frost and do you require a tile which can be cut easily enough for awkward laying areas.

Another important aspect to consider is the finish of the material. There are two common finishes for stone tiles, polished and natural. A polished effect gives the tile a high-gloss reflective finish and this is common in marble and granite stone tiles. A natural finish gives the tile a matt, non-glossy finish, this is common in limestone tiles and also makes the tiles less slippery under foot compared to polished material. Most stone tiles have a honed finish which is a term used to describe how the face of stone is ground down to the same level, where as some stone tiles (often slates and sandstone) can have a riven finish which is where the surface is left with its natural riven texture. The edges of natural stone tiles can be sharp or softened, again this varies with the material.

When dealing with a natural stone vendor, it is important to ensure that the stone tiles you purchase all come from the same quarried batch, if they are all to be laid in the same area. It also a good idea to check the companies back ground and history in order to avoid dealing with a business which may not supply with you with consistently high quality material.
For a comprehensive selection of stone and porcelain tiles visit UK Tiles, to view their ever expanding range of the highest quality natural stone and porcelain tiles available.

If you need further tips to help with your project, follow the UK Tiles Blog.