There's a wide variety of ceramic tile available - how do you decide what's right for you? Here are some guidelines to follow.
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1. Be sure that the tile suits your need. Some rugged tiles can be installed outdoors, some can withstand wear & tear on indoor floors only & others strong are enough only for walls & countertops. Ask at the store if in doubt.
2. Tiles are rated for slip-resistance. Heavily glazed, high-sheen tiles won't suit wet areas such as bathrooms, entry ways & kitchens. If slip-resistance is important in your application, ask for this information at the store.
3. Larger tiles and tile sheets glued to a backing will install quickly.
4. Ask for trim pieces such as bullnose tiles (tiles with one or two rounded edges rather than four 90-degree corners) & cove/curved tiles. For installing tile on steps, bathrooms & kitchens, these pieces can be critical to aesthetic success.
If there's no trim tile available in your pattern, you can choose a second tile & adapt its trim pieces for use in a coordinated design or use wood strips in place of trim (at the edges of stairs & countertops, for example).
1. Choose a pattern with care; tiles will last for possibly a lifetime & trendy patterns quickly look dated. Solid or lightly patterned tiles in neutral colors, as well as stone-look tiles, are classics.
2. Remember that solids, especially very light (almond & white) & very dark tiles (navy, black, & chocolate brown), will show more soil.
3. High-sheen tiles will quickly show dull footprints from people & pets.
4. Choose a large, light-colored tile if you want a room to seem larger and smaller, darker tiles to make a space seem smaller & more intimate.
5. Take sample tiles home from dealers & try them out. Dry-lay (set on the surface without grout) several tiles to see whether the color & design work under the room's lighting; test potential floor & countertop tiles for heel & pot marks.
White & light-colored grouts on floors & counter tops, can be difficult to maintain. Thus choose a darker grout - perhaps slate gray or walnut brown.
Vinyl flooring comes in more colors & designs than ever before & creates an attractive, reasonably priced choice for kitchen, bathroom & laundry room floors.
1. Measure the floor area to be covered with vinyl.
2. Visit home centers or flooring showrooms & look at the various types of vinyl. Get samples of paint, wallpaper & curtains to help select a flooring style that will go with the rest of your decor.
3. Determine what type of flooring you want. Vinyl flooring comes in two primary forms: large rolls or small (usually 12-by-12-inch) squares.
4. High-use areas may warrant more durable (& expensive) tiling.
5. Make your selection & order the flooring.
6. Purchase sufficient adhesive to lay all the flooring. Inquire the manufacturer's specifications regarding the amount of adhesive per square foot.
Remember that vinyl flooring is not a structural flooring material (as is 3/4- inch oak, for example) & you will need a plywood sub floor in place to lay the vinyl. Make sure that the sub floor is clean & level before installing the vinyl.
Ceramic or marble is an excellent flooring material & can be used throughout. Decorative tiles are also frequently used for countertops, fireplace surrounds & backsplashes. Make sure you hire the best installer for the job.
1. Shop around & price the tile you want from an independent tile supplier. Your contractor may recommend a supplieror provide for a material allowance in the bid, so it's wise to be an educated consumer.
2. Decide the patterns you want on the tiling surface & Sketch it out on paper.
3. Ask friends & relatives for recommendations of tile installers, or look in the yellow pages under "tile contractors."
4. Have many installers measure the square footage of the area and give estimates.
5. Make sure that the material you want is specified in the bids, whether you use a supplier the contractor recommends or you'll be supplying the tiles yourself.
6. Ask about the costs of having your old floor or countertop removed before the installation begins. (You may decide to do this yourself, pay the installer extra to complete this work, or hire someone completely different for the removal.)
7. Ask the installer for pictures of past jobs especially if you require elaborate designs or expensive materials.
8. Ask the contractors for references from past customers and contact them.
9. Select the contractor with the best combination of price & satisfied customers.
10. Execute a contract that clearly specifies the material, start & completion date, cost & payment schedule. Minimize up-front deposits, keep the payment schedule closely aligned to the progress of the work & the delivery of materials to the site. If the material is to be laid in a pattern, ensure that a sketch is attached to the contract.
Many types of tiles are available at varied costs. Expect to spend approximately $6 to $7 per square foot (labor & material) for a basic bathroom tile, with costs rising to $8 to $12 for somewhat higher-end choices for kitchens & entry foyers.
Specialty tiles begin above $10, with marble & granite prices typically starting around $15 per square foot.
Prices for hand-painted tiles & rare marbles & granites can exceed $30 to
$50. (These prices reflect labor & material costs.)
Removal costs for old tile or linoleum are not included in these prices. Special designs or odd room layouts that require excessive cutting of tiles & will result in significantly higher costs for labor.
To save money on a basic job, try to buy tiles on sale at a tile supplier or building supply house & contract out the labor portion of the job.
Check options - never just go to just one supplier recommended by an installer.
Removing Scuff Marks from Vinyl Flooring
If your vinyl kitchen floor looks like a basketball court - follow these easy steps.
1. Rub each mark with a rubber eraser.
2. If you can't erase the scuffmarks, make a paste of 2 tbsp. baking powder & a bit of water. Rub the mixture into the scuff marks with a clean, dry, white cloth.
3. Alternatively, rub toothpaste (nongel) into the marks with a clean, dry cloth.
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