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Ceramic tiles
Especially attractive as kitchen, bathroom, entrance hall or
glassed-in veranda floor covering, ceramic tiles are also
well suited to work surfaces and walls that are subjected to
on-going wear and tear. They offer durability, variety in
texture and finish, and flexibility in matching and mixing,
all precious assets in interior design and decorating.
Removing ceramic without damage
To remove a piece of split or damaged ceramic tile that must
be replaced, an option that works in some cases consists of
heating the piece with a flat iron covered with a towel. The
heated ceramic tile should pry out easily with a metal
scraper.
Uniform grout joints
To get smooth, uniform grout joints, draw your finger across
the grouted surface that you have already scraped out with a
nail head of the right size to produce a shallow cavity
between the ceramic tiles and the other joints.
Ceramic on solid surfaces
You want to lay down a ceramic floor, but the existing
surface is warped? There are two ways to go. Spread a layer
of cement, making sure that the underlying structure can
support the weight. Or, build a sub-floor over a layer of
tarpaper, levelling the underboards, sixteen inch center to
center, with cedar shims. Cover the entire surface with
tongue and grooved plywood screwed at every eight inches.
Ceramic can be painted
To avoid a big renovation job that requires removing old
ceramic tiles, it is possible to paint them inexpensively
with the color of your choice. Sand the tiles lightly and
apply a micro pourous primer like Coverstain, Bin or Zinger.
Cleaning ceramic after installation
After installing ceramic tiles, wash the tiles with a
solution of water and vinegar to efficiently remove grout
residue and assure a clean, shiny floor. |
