BROOKE-BOARDS HOME IMPROVEMENTBROOKE-BOARDS HOME IMPROVEMENT AND SUPPLY

Dry Tile

7 Tips For Bathroom Tile Installation The Best Way

Ceramic Tile works great anywhere it's wet.  That's why tile is the perfect choice for bathroom floor tiles and walls.  Bathroom tile installation is often a favorite do it yourself project too.  Install tile and you get a more beautiful and useful home and a more valuable one too.  You see ceramic bathroom tiles make your home more valuable and easier to sell too.  If you plan to install bathroom tile, here are seven tips for a successful project.

Think Creative With Bathroom Tile Installation

Tile comes in so many shapes, colors and textures that you can design an endless variety of looks.  Of course you can install a wall or floor that's all the same design, that's fine.  That's not the only way to do it though.  Why not use different colors of tile is a pattern.  Maybe you prefer to just mix in a few different tiles of a different pattern just for some variety.  Another option is to choose border tiles of a different color, texture or pattern.  This is a chance to practice some art in floor design.

Design Then Shop

Try sketching out some ideas before you do much shopping.  Try different patterns and colors on paper until you get a general idea of what you like.  See, choosing the tile is a major part of the project.  Once you have some ideas, shopping will be easier since you've narrowed your choices.

Gather Tools

If you will install the bathroom tiles yourself, you'll need to gather your tools.  Any project is worth buying a few new tools.  Tile installation requires just a few special tools.  The major decision is how you will cut tiles.  A professional saw is the best option, but you're looking at major money.  You could rent a saw, but that puts pressure on you to hurry.  You could also buy a light duty saw.  That may be plenty good enough for just a few small jobs.  Other tools you need are trowels, a mixing attachment for your drill, tile nippers and then a host of other small items.

Get The Base Right

In the rush to lay tiles, it is easy to overlook a basic step.  You can lay tile over all kinds of surfaces.  But whatever the surface, it should be smooth, clean and solid.  Bouncy floors that move result in cracked tiles.  Often the first step for a professional tile setter is to put down a layer of cement board. 

Lay Dry Tiles

An easy, cheap way to get the tile in the right place is to practice.  Put tiles in place with no adhesive to see how the surface will look.  That beats sticking tiles down and then pulling them up again. 

Cuts Are Key

Tiles are cut with a wet saw.  Also you can use a cutter board and tile nippers.  The nippers are the main cutter for small cuts and they are the key to curved cuts too.  Planning cuts will help you put the cut tiles in the right place.  Put the cuts where they are least visible for best results.

Spacers Keep It Straight

Get the first tile in the right place and you're off to a good start.  Tile spacers come in different widths and are the best way to keep going straight.  Experienced tile setters can keep all the lines just right by eye.  Less experienced tile setters use spacers, chalk lines and carpenter squares to get the same result just a little slower.

Bathroom tile installation is a step by step process.  A little thought and planning saves time and money.  Think of the satisfaction you can get from designing a bathroom tile surface just like you want.  Do it yourself and you can point to a project that's a result of your own efforts and new skills.

About the Author

You can get access to video tutorials showing the professional tricks for bathroom tile installation .

Al Bullington invites you to visit http://InstallingCeramicTile.net for more ceramic tile hints.

Alpha Dry Tile Cutting System and Alpha Katana Blade

Choosing Between Hardwood Flooring and Tile

When faced with the question of what style flooring to choose, a homeowner has many options. Generally when someone is looking for a higher quality, durable surface they can narrow their choices down to tile flooring or hardwood flooring. When torn between these two options there are a number of questions that should be asked. What type of room is in need of new flooring? How much area does the floor need to cover? How much are you looking to pay?

Here, we will discuss pros and cons to both hardwood and tile.

Variety is never a problem when it comes to either types of flooring. The slight advantage in this category goes to tile due to the endless amounts of designs, colors, and size of tiles. This is not to discount the variety of hardwood flooring in Denver. There is a vast assortment of woods as well as a number of finishes that can offer up almost any look.

Both options are very durable and easily sustainable. A hardwood floor from ProSource Denver can last up to 100 years and is relatively easy to make look new again by sanding and refinishing.

Though both are easy to clean, tile is more resistant to water and scratching. When considering which surface to use, the type of room needs to be considered. Tile is great for bathrooms, kitchens and around doors that lead outside. Where there is extra risk of liquid falling on the floor without being cleaned up before it dries, tile is a better option because liquids won't ruin the finish. Tile flooring in Denver is good around main doors when it snows because water is tracked in along with gravel on the bottom of shoes.

Another question that needs to be asked is how much area needs to be covered. Hardwood flooring is a great insulator, and it instantly adds value to any property. In a cold Denver winter, both options can be cold on the bottom of the feet, though hardwood seems to be less so. Though tile is very visually appealing it looks better when covering smaller areas. Hardwood has a warmer feel to it, especially in larger areas like a living room.

A big concern when looking to add new flooring is price range. If you're looking for cheap tile flooring is good because it adds a professional appearance while being very cost efficient. Hardwood flooring increases the selling price of any property, but costs a little more than tile to install. There are different installment options for hardwood flooring that allow you to choose a higher quality or a lower quality when being more price conscious.

When choosing between these flooring options it is important to consider the specific room that needs a new surface, how much area needs to be covered, and how much you are looking to pay. A quality flooring company such as ProSource Denver will be happy to help you make the best decision for your needs. For more information, visit http://www.prosourcedenver.com/.

About the Author

Prosource Denver is an independently owned wholesale flooring store serving the entire Front Range of Colorado with professional flooring products at the lowest wholesale prices. From Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs, and everywhere in between, ProSource Denver offers the best flooring products for the best prices, saving you time and money. Contact ProSource Denver Phone: 303-778-7776 Email: salesmgr@prosourcedenver.com Website: http://www.prosourcedenver.com.

[phpbay]Dry Tile, 51, "", ""[/phpbay]

	Hoover FloorMate Spinscrub 800 Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner with Tools, H3060 List Price: $209.98 Sale Price: $499.99 Average Rating:
	This 2nd generation model vacs, washes and dries hard surface floors (wood, tile, vinyl, etc ) with ease. If you can use an upright vacuum, you can FloorMate. Exclusive, removable SpinScrub brushes --- 7 in all --- do all the work for you...

	Orange Glo Hardwood Floor Wet & Dry Cleaning Pad 1 ea Sale Price: $2.99
	For use with Orange Glo® Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Mop.Micro Fiber Grabsa, Traps & CleansOrange Glo® Microfiber: Pad contains millions of tiny, wedge-shaped microfibers that grab, trap and absorb messes for quick, easy and effective cleaning...

	Swiffer Sweeper, Dry Sweeping Cloths, X-Large 16 ea List Price: $10.99 Sale Price: $8.64 Average Rating:
	Sweeps up dust & dirt in large areas fast!1.5 X Wider*16 E

	Swiffer Sweeper, Dry Sweeping Cloths, X-Large 16 ea Sale Price: $8.49 Average Rating:
	Sweeps up dust & dirt in large areas fast!1.5 X Wider*16 Extra-Large Sweeping Cloths45.2 x 25.4cm (17.8 x 10.0 IN/PO)Swiffer Sweeper X-Large picks up more soils than regular Swiffer Sweeper in a single swipe! Swiffer cloth's deep, V-shaped ridges trap and lock:DustDirtHairCrumbsThe V-shaped ridges each into uneven places, like a grout line, to get your floor thoroughly clean...

	Lowercase Letters (Teaching Tiles) List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $9.41 Average Rating:
	1854 Develop basic skills as kids learn letter recognition and beginning reading skills. Includes 86 uppercase letter tiles. Features: -Teaching Tiles Lowercase Letters. -Includes 86 lowercase letter tiles...

	Uppercase Letters (Teaching Tiles) List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $8.99
	1853 Develop basic skills as kids learn letter recognition and beginning reading skills. Features: -Teaching Tiles Uppercase Letters. -Includes 86 uppercase letter tiles. -The perfect hands - on way to introduce and reinforce reading skills, from readiness skills, like matching upper - and lowercase letters, to forming words and sentences...

	Educational Insights Magnetic Alphabet List Price: $12.99 Sale Price: $11.69 Average Rating:
	Children love forming words and sentences with these color-coded magnetic tiles. Perfect for readiness and beginning reading activities including alphabet match-up games, word and sentence construction, phonics practice, and more...

	MK Diamond 157222 MK-170 1/3-Horsepower 7-Inch Bench Wet Tile Saw List Price: $214.00 Sale Price: $159.00 Average Rating:
	This is a great little tabletop saw that is perfect for the weekend do-it-yourselfer. It's easy to set up, very lightweight and precise. The 1/3 hp motor provides plenty of power for projects like cutting counters or floor tiles...

	Bosch DB4543 Premium Plus 4-1/2-Inch Dry Cutting Continuous Rim Diamond Saw Blade with 7/8-Inch Arbor for Tile List Price: $16.92 Sale Price: $15.18 Average Rating:
	Application: Tile Arbor : 7/8" + 20 mm + 5/8" Description : Premium Continuous Diameter : 4-1/2" Tool Type : Small angle grinders

Tile Guard Tile Grout Coating $8.79 4.3oz tile grout coating Restores grout lines to original white color Guards against soiling For showers, counter tops, floors, and walls Not recommended for unglazed tile, slate, or concrete block Allow 4 hour minimum to dry, 12 to 24 hours preferred Easy clean up with water Color: White 4.3 oz. bottle with applicator, blister carded Brand #: Homax Group Inc 9310 UPC: 041072093101 Keywords: grout coating tile guard restorer

Tile Grout $2.41 1lb white tile grout White, nonsanded dry tile grout Portland cement-based, cures hard, is nonshrinking and durable Specifically formulated for grouting porous-bodied floor and wall tiles with joints up to 1/8? wide Suitable for use in commercial kitchens, schools, hospitals, residential floors, walls, showers, and countertops Ideal for use with soft glazed, high glazed and marble tiles that could be scratched by sanded grouts 1 lb. box Brand #: Custom Building Prod. WDG1-6 UPC: 010186081557 Keywords: tile grout nonsanded floor wall

5Lb White Dry Tile Grout $15.05 *Image: PRODUCT_IMAGE [6720312] UPC: 010186081670 19.5L x 11W x 9H 5.45 LB 1.12 Cubes

Ceramic Tile Blade $84.21 10? porcelain blade For cutting tile, marble, and granite For wet and dry cutting 5/8? arbor Full rim blade Available Only At Mesquite, Woodburn 10?, ideal for cutting porcelain tile Brand #: Black & Decker/DWLT DW4762 UPC: 028877468884 Keywords: blade ceramic tile