The finishing touch
STORY Maureen Willson M
ore than just functional, tiles create statement in a room if used to compliment
other features. Whether you are covering walls or floors, creating a fireplace or splash back feature the colour and texture of tiles today is amazing. Available in almost every colour
dimension, pattern and material; they are fabulous products to use to completely transform a room. Tiles are easy to clean, resilient and the obvious choice for bathrooms and kitchens where moisture will be present.
Spoilt for choice Choice is the challenge; there is
almost too much. The one certainty is that there will be something to suit everyone’s budget, colour preference, pattern and style. However you need to do the project well to achieve the overall look and finish desired and that is where our ‘How to’ feature supplied by
www.tradesupermarket.com will help to ensure the perfect application of tiles to your selected surface and also help you to choose a sealant and grout (as required).
Tiling accessories and tools Tools: A tile cutter, nippers,
adhesive spreader, bucket and sponge, spirit level, tile spacers, set square, pencil, tape measure, drill, notched trowel, safety goggles. Most websites offering a wide selection of tiles will also offer a wide range of tile accessories and tools, which may help to make the job easier.
Preparation No matter whether it is a wall
or floor that you are tiling - as with all forms of decoration, it is the preparation that will give you that overall perfect impact that you wish to achieve regardless of the colour style or finish that you have chosen. Pay attention to ensuring that all holes, dinks or dents have been filled and rubbed down in advance of commencing the tiling. A level surface is an absolute must to achieve a perfect finish.
Cutting Tiles Tiles can be very sharp when cut so
always ensure that you are wearing safety goggles when cutting. For detailed planning of how to cut tiles to refer to our featured ‘How to’ article. No matter how vigilante you are
in your home; moisture from your kitchen and bathrooms will get in to your wallpaper and possibly cause problems in the long term. It is for this reason that most interior designers will recommend wall tiles, a practical
26 Self Build Homes | April 2012
alternative, which will last the tests of time and still allow for an equally attractive appearance. There will be a wide range of tiles, suitable for every budget and design sensibility; whether hoping for a dark, clean and stylish look or instead preferring a more distinctive and vibrant, statement from your room.
Bathroom Tiles When choosing bathroom tiles
it is important to make sure you consider the appearance of the tiles. All ceramic tiles will be glazed; this is a technical part of the tile that protects the biscuit (ceramic) part of the tile from water. Once the tile is printed it is then put through the glazing process. Gloss and Satin are the most
common types of glaze used. Gloss is a more traditional finish, providing a shiny, ref lective and fresh look to the tiles, with many white tiles, tiles that are glazed with a gloss finish are whiter than a satin version of the same tile. Satin is used on more natural looking tiles, such a stone effect ceramic tile. This helps to replicate the natural stone look that is then sealed with a suitable sealer. However! Many people like
the polished stone look and this is where a gloss glaze works very well on a stone effect ceramic tile. Marmaros has been a great selling tile for some while providing that clean and fresh polished stone look.
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