Design Tiles
As far as ongoing maintenance goes, there isn’t really much difference as they are both glazed, so the tile is protected but some satin glazed tiles can be a little harder to get them back to a good as new look. It really is a personal choice as to
what you prefer and it is often the case that certain tile designs suit one or other finish as the designers have a finish in mind when designing the tile.
Adhesives As well as adhesives and cements,
Grouts and
which will aid levelling when setting tiles, together with those with a rapid set function, there is a wide selection of coloured grouts available. Today in order to disguise the colour differentiation between tiles it is possible to buy pre-coloured grout. If you prefer the look of the a light- coloured grout between tiles, it is possible to select an off white colour so that with even a little wear and tear your floor does not immediately look discoloured.
Buying tips Many tile companies now allow
you to design on-line using a room set function on the website. This aids the customers’ ability to view what the room may look like and to supply a quick overview on costings. Standard room sets are based on
a room, 2m x 2m on floor plan, by a height of 2.5m - an average sized bathroom. No deductions for windows or doors are made, but generally no additions for waste when cutting are made. In general, one will cancel out the other.
Tile Trends There is a stunning trend on Mosaic
tiles at the moment reflecting the detail and beauty of bygone days and that of Roman baths. Not surprisingly some of the most stunning tiles available are manufactured in Italy.
Combinations Borders are playing a huge feature
in decoration and dividing certain elements and detail in a bathroom or kitchen by a border, can combine elements and colours or equally create a bold and distinct identity of areas within a room.
April 2012 | Self Build Homes 27
Tile Estimators and calculators Many websites will offer a free
and easy to use online tile estimator. Most of these will have a provision for factoring the size and pattern detail of the tile to ensure that enough tiles are purchased. Essentially you input the measurements of your room, and at the click of a button, a calculator will work out the amount of tiles, borders, adhesives and grouts required. The majority of these systems
will allow you to calculate in metric or imperial dimensions. They will subsequently convert these to your preferred way of measuring your room. Whichever system you’re using, the
tile calculator will work out how many tiles you need in square metres so you can easily use the area to work out how many packs you will require. The total area of wall tiles required to cover the measurements you entered will be shown in m2, and if you require a border to run around the perimeter of the room, this length is also calculated. At the same time an approximate guide to adhesive and grout is calculated, depending on the condition of your walls you may require more adhesive, but these guides are based on averages.
* If you have made deductions for windows and doors, please ensure to allow between 5-10% for cuts and waste.
Special Notes If you want warmth underfoot,
don’t forget to take a look at the ever changing under floor heating solutions now available. No matter what kind of flooring you choose there is almost certainly an under floor heating system which is fit for your purpose. Regardless of whether you are a DIY fanatic or prefer the ‘get someone in’ approach, it is remarkably easy to achieve a lovely warm floor whatever your floor covering.
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