When you are planning to lay tile, you may spend hours deliberating over the many choices of tile, but don’t forget the grout. It is what keeps the tiles bound together and stops them from moving and cracking. It is integral to the overall look of the finished tiled surface and needs to be color compatible and long lasting. You need to consider three main elements:

• The size of the grout joints

• Where the tiles will be laid – which determines how stain resistant the grout should be

• How easy is the grout to apply – important if you intend to lay the tile yourself

On the subject of grout joint size, if the spaces between the tiles are up to an eighth of an
inch wide, use unsanded grout. Any bigger and you should be using sanded grout which, unsurprisingly, contains sand and helps reduce any shrinkage or cracking of the grout in these bigger joints. Please note: do not use sanded grout for marble and granite tiles, because the sand contained in the grout mix will scratch the marble and granite over time.

Cement Based Tile Grouting
This grouting comes as a dry powder of Portland cement, colorant plus additives and must be mixed with water. It’s cheap and easy to apply. However, it needs to be sealed to ensure resistance to stains. The sealant is also easy to apply but must be reapplied annually to prolong the life and good looks of the grout.

Epoxy Tile Grouting
Epoxy grouts include a resin of epoxy and a hardener. This type of grout is extremely durable and highly resistant to chemicals such as acids, and greasy foodstuffs that might get dropped on the floor. Epoxy grouts require no sealant. While this all sounds wonderful, it is a tricky substance to work with and isn’t a project to undertake lightly. Unless you are completely confident in your DIY skills, it may be time to call in the experts.

Saying that, epoxy grout is far easier to work with than in the past, when it was not only difficult to apply but hardened quickly, within the hour. Today’s manufacturers of epoxy grouts have sensibly added detergent which makes things easier as the grout can be cleaned up with water. However, there are some other limitations for this type of grout: it is expensive and can only be applied to certain tiles: those with a thickness of more than half an inch and where the grout joints are at least a quarter of an inch wide.
Fundamentally, epoxy tile grouting is ideally suited to rooms which are likely to suffer chemical or foodstuff spills such as in industrial or commercial settings and is normally applied by professionals.

Acrylic Tile Grouting
The advantages of acrylic grouting lie in the fact that it contains silicone and is pre-mixed with Portland cement. This grout is strongly adhesive and is ideal for outdoor settings because it is undamaged by wide ranges in temperature – it can freeze and thaw without problem. So consider this type of grout if you wish to tile a patio or garage.
Another great advantage over epoxy grout is that acrylic grout is easy to work with: it can squeeze into much smaller grout joints, less than an eighth of an inch, can be applied just to the joints.

Acrylic tile grout is resistant to staining and is available in a variety of colors. It is the best option for marble and granite tile, as sanded grout will undoubtedly scratch these natural stones.

Premixed Urethane Tile Grouting
A relatively new addition to the DIY enthusiast’s options, urethane grout is great because of its long working time, the fact that it is water based allowing for easy cleaning of tools and because it needs no sealing. It can also be used on very narrow grout joints. However, care needs to be taken to wipe down the tiles completely before the grout dries or you may have a problem removing the grout residue.

When you have decided on the right grout for the job, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, put on your protective clothing and get grouting. As always, don’t forget to buy a grout cleaner and grout sealer to keep your tile and grout looking great for many years to come.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Granite countertops in the bathroom and kitchen are a great investment to any home. They are certainly not to be considered a cheap option and when properly cleaned with specific granite cleaners, they will never need to be replaced in your lifetime. Put that way, granite countertops sound like a great investment and furthermore they will definitely increase the value of your home.

Granite is an exceedingly tough stone making it great for heavy use in the kitchen and bathroom. But once installed you do need to lavish some tender loving care on it – primarily by not abusing the surface and using an appropriate cleaner. So once you have decided that granite countertops are the way to go, just how much will it cost you?

Granite tiles and granite slabs are both options. The granite should be sealed first to increase its durability and ease of maintenance.

Granite tiles are about one square foot in dimension and are easy to transport to your home. If you have do-it-yourself skills in laying tiles, you can install them yourself. However during installation they are quite easy to break so have a few left in reserve in case they are needed. Prices for granite tiles can range from about $20 to $50 per square foot depending on the quality and the species of the granite.

Granite slabs are custom produced countertops made from a single piece of granite and installed in one piece. You need a concerted team effort to install a slab since it is heavy and one false move can ruin the whole countertop. Unsurprisingly these tailor made slabs cost more than simple tiles – typically from $40 to $100 per square foot, but prices can be much higher depending on the quality and origin of the granite.

If you’re not up to installing granite countertops yourself, call in the professionals. This will of course increase the overall costs. As will the degree of customization of the granite for your particular kitchen or bathroom space. If you have a number of tricky corners to deal with, or desire ornate edges, the price will rise as the granite will need to be cut and fabricated accordingly. But once your home has its new granite countertops in place you will be delighted with the result. So look after them, clean them only with the best granite cleaners and sit back and enjoy them for a long time to come.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

When choosing tiles for your floor think carefully about color, design and how easy they will be to clean. Floor tiles are available in every color under the sun from muted beiges and tasteful terracotta to imposing black. They may be monochrome, multicolored and with or without some kind of pattern or design. Choosing the right color for your room is paramount and especially for rooms with a lot of footfall, you need to ensure that you use an appropriate tile cleaner to keep them looking in tip top condition. Here are some key points to consider.

• Don’t choose a tile that will clash with the existing color scheme of the room – make sure it complements the walls and soft furnishings.
• Plain tiles will act as a more neutral base for the furniture in the room whereas highly designed and multicolored tiles will call attention to themselves.
• Keep to the style of your house: shiny black tiles can be very sophisticated in a large, modern room but would look out of place in a rustic style house.
• Darker tiles will also make a room look smaller, whereas pale colors such as beige and cream will make a smaller room look much bigger.

Discuss your requirements with the store where you are making your purchase. They have plenty of experience and will help narrow down your choices of tile to one that is suitable for the room you wish to tile and will be easy to keep clean with a reputable tile cleaner.

Before you start to lay one single tile, take a few different samples back home and view them in the room they are destined for. Check them out in both natural and artificial light as they may look quite different in both.

Once you have made your final decision, you are just one step away to having a beautifully tiled room and as always – don’t forget to purchase tile cleaning products to protect and clean your tile to keep it looking new.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites