For those about to take on a bathroom remodeling project that involves a new shower, listen up! In most cases your contractor will be the one to take on such a job since waterproofing and tiling a shower takes skills beyond those of most weekend DIY warriors. What you can do is to talk through the project with your contractor and it might be worth it for you to ask about the use of products from Schluter Systems before the project begins.

Schluter continues to improve and expand their product line for waterproofing shower installations. They offer a KERDI Shower Kit that sells for less than $500 in most cases for a decent size shower floor and includes “each of the components required to create a maintenance-free, watertight shower assembly without a mortar bed.

Schluter Systems has been developing innovative tile installation products for more than 30 years and continues to excel as a leader in the industry. Talk to your tile installer about installation products available from Schluter Systems.

Given that summer is just around the corner and pool season is coming fast we know that a lot of our customers have been working feverishly to complete their pool and other outdoor projects in order to be ready for the summer swim season. For this reason we want to remind those of you who might be working with a contractor or pool company, make sure that when installing tiles as a water line decoration in your swimming pool your contractor does the following:

* uses an anti-fracture membrane to prep the surface before installing any tiles

* installs the tiles using expansion joints to allow for settling and any “flex” in the concrete. Installing expansion joints is very important especially when installing glass tiles in a pool area

Following proper installation procedures will ensure your tiles last for many years without any problems to speak of.

We tell our customers that if they are installing their Cardiff crackle Subway tiles in a bathroom shower in a wet area then yes you should seal the crackle finish in order to protect the tiles from long term crazing. If you are installing your crackle finish subway tiles on a kitchen backsplash then it is not necessary to seal the tiles since the crackle subway tiles will not be subject to repeated moisture exposure.

Hopefully this helps those considering our tiles. If you have any more detailed questions about our Cardiff tiles or any of our other tiles please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

As always, we appreciate your business and your support!

When tiling any areas that may be subject to repeated exposure to water make sure to use a waterproofing product to waterproof the area prior to tiling. Some types of ceramic tiles are porous and stone tiles such as travertine, marble, and granite are very porous. Water can seep through tile and grout and leak in to cracks at corners and other intersections.

The best way to protect these areas is to apply a waterproof product such as RedGard, NobleSeal, CompuSeal or any other such product for proper protection of these areas. A little bit of protection goes a long way in such moisture prone areas.

Earlier this week we introduced a new product in the form of a 10 inch Diamond Blade made for cutting Glass Tiles. Our diamond blade products are made for WET use on a tile wet saw and they are manufactured with a continuous rim and the finer diamonds found on glass tile blades.

Our Glass tile diamond blade in 10 inch size is made by a true R & D company who continually strives to manufacture the finest products on the market. Because of this commitment to making quality diamond blade products our customers can expect a longer blade life on their tile jobs and no shredding or chipping of the glass which can be common for lower cost glass tile blades.

Our diamond blade products are now in stock and can be shipped immediately to your home or business location.

When grouting tile one of the biggest mistakes made by tilers is washing the grout too soon. When the grout is washed and wiped before it’s hardened a bit this can allow too much water to penetrate the surface. This can cause blotchy looking grout, hairline cracking as the grout does cure, or even grout that falls out because excess water does not allow the grout to cure properly.

To avoid these problems, make sure the grout is very firm before you start cleaning it – almost like a wine cork. Press your fingertip in to the grout to test it and if it dents easily then wait a little longer before wiping.

Installing our Harmony Wood tiles are quite easy as long as you follow four basic steps. Let’s review these steps here and add any clarification beyond what is on our website for the benefit of those who read our Blog.

The four wood tile installation steps include:

* As customers do when purchasing wood floors, we also recommend that you let our wood tiles sit in the location where they will ultimately be installed for three to four days prior to the beginning of any installation work in order to acclimate to the buildings environment.

* Install wood tiles on a solid substrate such as backer board to ensure a smooth installation and longevity for your new tile installation

* Install wood tiles using Epoxy mortar

* Install wood tiles using Epoxy grout

The instructions are actually quite simple even though folks get intimidated when they see the word Epoxy. There is no need however because most of our clients are homeowners just like you and many of our clients have installed their own wood without any hiccups. Give us a call if you are thinking about purchasing some of our wood products but have some questions first. We would love to hear from you.

CertainTeed Corporation has introduced a new product called GlasRoc Tile Backer which is specially designed for walls, ceilings, and countertops and made to meet the unique demands of high moisture areas. The product features CertainTeed’s Embedded Glass Reinforced gypsum (EGRG) technology which combines reinforcing glass mats fully embedded in to a water-resistant gypsum core and a textured acrylic surface coating.

The interesting point that caught our attention with this product is the fact that CertainTeed claims that the GlasRoc Tile Backer boards moisture blocking capabilities eliminate the need for a separate moisture barrier normally required with traditional cement boards. In addition, the coating apparently results in stronger adhesion of latex-modified thinset mortars for tile installations and the product scores and cuts with any standard utility blade. Each of the above points could simplify a shower job for the Do-it-Yourselfers out there and make the whole tile installation process a more pleasurable experience.

CertainTeed products are generally available at many lumber suppliers and building supply houses around the country. Sounds like a nice product worthy of any consideration especially when performing installations in high moisture areas.

As homeowners are now showing a preference for larger tiles for flooring installations, it is becoming more important for installers to make sure they are giving each tile a good bond before placing it on the floor. We are hearing more stories from clients that they have loose tiles or “hollow” spots on the tiles on their floor where the bond was not sufficient enough to secure the tile to the substrate.

In order to prevent this problem from happening to you, take the time to trowel a thin layer of thin set on the back of each tile before you set it. Spread the mortar using the flat side of your trowel from the center of the tile out to the edge. Rotate the tile one-half turn and repeat the process until the back is evenly covered. When installing larger tiles on your floor, adding this step to your installation should eliminate the possibility of having any hollow or loose tiles down the line.

We offer a very beautiful line of handmade ceramic tiles which we call our Seaside Ceramic Subway Tiles. The Seaside line comes with full trim including both bullnose and quarter round pieces for customers needing these types of edge pieces.

Installing handmade ceramic tiles requires more a few more steps than does a machine made tile and it is always recommended to read the manufacturers recommendations first before beginning the tile installation process.

The main points to keep in mind when installing handmade tiles are as follows:

* Tiles should be removed from the box and sealed with a clear, penetrating sealer made for ceramic tiles prior to beginning the installation process. Lay the tiles on the counter or the floor and apply sealer with a brush or roller in a thin consistent coat so sealer goes on evenly

* Install the tiles using white mortar in most cases to account for the white ceramic body that most handmade tiles are made with. Read manufacturers instructions for any variances to this point

* Grout joints on most handmade tiles are 1/8” or larger to account for the uneven nature of handmade tiles. Install tiles using sanded grout in this case

* Once grouting is complete, seal grout using the same clear penetrating sealer as was used on the tile initially

Follow these simple steps for an error free installation and you can then enjoy your tiles for many years to come.