Blog : Home Improvement General | Flooring Supply Shop Blog

Planning a smooth home renovation

Whether you’re planning for a new kitchen or bathroom, living through a renovation can be stressful, despite what you see on TV. But with the right decisions, budget planning, and style choices, renovating your home can be an extremely rewarding project. Below are our best tips to help your renovation dreams become reality.

Make sure your budget is realistic

The most common mistake homeowners make is maxing out their budget on materials, without putting aside extra for unexpected costs. Do your research before you commit to a number, and make your budget 80% of what you can afford, to allow room for surprises. And remember, most budgets on TV are not realistic!

Draw up a timeline for completion

Even if you have planned to the best of your ability, delays happen. Materials might be out of stock, or contractors may underestimate the time needed to complete a project. Before you get started on renovations, draw up a timeline with the contractor so you know what to expect.

Use expert help where possible

Before choosing to hire someone because they offer cheap labour, make sure they can provide references and draw up a formal contract. Draw up a list of questions you have for them and communicate any concerns you have before starting renovations. And remember, if they sound too good to be true, they probably are!

Find temporary living arrangements if necessary

It’s important to be realistic about living through a renovation. If work is likely to be disruptive to you and/or your family members, consider moving out for a temporary period. Often, the job site will also operate more efficiently without other people being in the way.

Think beyond current trends

Are you choosing a design that can be easily adapted to current trends as they change? Or will your design look dated within a few years? If you’re not sure, often hiring an interior design or decorator is a good investment. They will make sure your visions become reality while offering their expert opinion.

Stretch your budget with our special offers on flooring: Shop now!

Top 5 tips for making your tile and stone floors sparkle

If you’re looking for a natural look for your floor, which adds character and sparkle to your home, our tile and stone ranges are a great choice. To keep that sparkle all year round, it’s important to know how to clean your floors properly, particularly during the busy summer months. Here we’ve put together our top tips for keeping your floors happy.

1. Ensure flooring is properly sealed

Your flooring installer should do this, but prompt them to be sure. Also make sure the area between the flooring and wall is caulked to prevent moisture from damaging the floor beneath, which may rot and cause flooring to become soft.

2. Use the right vacuum

Why? Because sand, grit and dirt are abrasive and can damage your floor’s surface. Use a vacuum, but be sure to use an attachment with a brush or soft surface to avoid scratching the finish. Our Microfiber Cleaning Pad, does just as good a job!

3. Use doormats at all entrances

Doormats prevent dirt and moisture being tracked onto your floor. While vacuuming is great, keeping the dirt out in the first place is even better! Keep them clean by running a vacuum over weekly.

4. Easy on the soap!

Damp mopping your tile or stone floor will keep it looking shiny and new. Use soap, rather than detergent, but be sure to rinse well. Too much cleaner or soap can leave a film and cause streaks. Also avoid products containing lemon juice, vinegar or acids, which dull your tiles.

5. Dry quickly after mopping

What happens when you wet the floor and someone walks through it? The new dirt will quickly set in wet areas, soon becoming hard-to-remove grimes. Use a dry mop straight after to avoid this happening.

Keep your ceramic and stone floors gleaming with ease! This vibrant infographic highlights our top five expert-approved tips for preserving that fresh-from-the-showroom shine—whether you’re dealing with grout buildup, abrasive grit, or dulling residue. Follow along to discover simple, effective ways to maintain showroom-worthy sparkle every day.

Finding the best tile for your kitchen backsplash

A functional and decorative detail, the backsplash is the perfect opportunity to be creative and play with a variety textures and materials. Whether your kitchen is traditional and has a cozy feel or is modern and minimalistic, the style you choose for the backsplash can accentuate your kitchen’s overall aesthetic. However, so many choices can be overwhelming, which is why we have put together a quick guide to our tiles to help you choose the material that meets your needs.

Photo by Mauricio Nava Design, LLC

Metal
The variety of shades in the aluminum, copper and bronze colors will certainly add character to your kitchen. And if you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, our Victorian Metals tile is made with 98% post-consumer recycled aluminum.

Photo by Black and Milk Residential

Marble
The silky surface of timeless marble tiles not only emphasizes elegance and a contemporary feeling but is also very easy to clean.

Photo by Giulietti Schouten Architects

Glass
Vibrant and colorful glass tiles can liven up solid-hued counters creating a sleek, modern look.

Photo by Chioco Design

Stone
Durable and easy to clean, natural stone adds flair to your kitchen with many possibilities in color and texture.

Photo by Design Platform

Ceramic
Undoubtedly the most versatile backsplash material, ceramic tile is a popular choice because it’s widely available and comes in a vast range of styles.

A New World of Weekend Bathroom Updates Awaits with TileWare Bath Fixtures

Calling All DIYers: A New World of Weekend Bathroom Updates Awaits with TileWare Bath Fixtures

Reasons to renovate and make small changes to your home are as varied as your life’s situations: Perhaps you have a growing family or find yourself in an empty nest situation, where you need to change your home to reflect and accommodate a new lifestyle. Whatever your renovation needs – additional space for entertaining, an expanding at-home business, updating or modernizing – there are advantages to renovating right now. A newly remodeled kitchen, for example, represents a value-added enhancement to the entire home because family meals, entertaining with friends and holiday gatherings tend to center around the kitchen. Likewise, bathroom renovations can directly impact your comfort and convenience by creating a retreat for you to enjoy each time you walk through the door – improved lighting, updated fixtures and easier access for the elderly can add quality of life, lower your energy rates, and add value to your home.

If you’re a DIY type, the TileWare company has launched a plethora of bath fixture products that makes it easy to update a bathroom in only a weekend’s time. Amongst the myriad of tile and bath items offered by TileWare is a distinct collection of bath fixtures that have caused quite the splash – no pun intended – in the home industry, including the Promessa Series’ baskets, shower hooks, towel bars, as well as the Victoria Series of grab bars, a product that is also part of TileWare’s Victoria Series of structural surface shelves.

As a premier retailer for TileWare bath fixtures, Flooring Supply Shop is proud to offer many of this company’s fine products that aid in taking your home from ordinary to extraordinary. We carry TileWare’s Promessa rectangular soap baskets, Promessa cone hooks, Victoria radius grab bars, straight grab combos, and traditional towel bars and more.

We are often asked by many of our customers exactly what it is that separates brands like TileWare from other manufacturers of bath fixtures and accessories…and why TileWare commands a premium over more “generic” types of bathroom supplies. The company’s vision – which has always been to innovate, engineer and connect product applications that have their primary value illustrated in and through mortar-based products – enables it to revalue decorative and functional amenities as tile industry brand commodities. TileWare’s best-selling Promessa Series shower baskets, for example, are designed to fit a broad style palette and work with any tile motif and pattern; with the basket options, you’ll be able to organize bath soaps, scrubbers and containers ranging in size from one ounce to 32 ounces and even professional salon-sized containers.

The secret to TileWare fixture appeal is the uncanny ease of installation these products boast, and at the heart of it is the company’s watermark PermaTile Fastener System. This is the first non-penetrating, non-intrusive mortar-based fastening system exclusively designed and engineered for the tile industry. That means the PermaTile System is a patented technology for secure installation of accessories such as basket shelving, hooks, towel bars and grab bars without drilling through post-construction, finished tile surfaces. The system also avoids the penetrations and intrusions that occur when plastic wall anchors and screw-type fasteners are used for mounting. And while the PermaTile System Is installed by professionals in new construction and renovation projects at the time of tile installation, TileWare’s bath fixtures themselves have become increasingly popular among DIY weekend warriors.

From easy installation to strong, durable products revered on the home building circuit, TileWare makes the dream of updating your bathroom in merely a weekend a vivid reality.

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Awaken Your Senses with Steam

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Almost anyone who has ever taken a regular shower knows that the warmth and soothing rhythm of the water can provide great stress relief. When it comes to steam showers, you can enjoy those familiar benefits as well as a number of others.

A steam shower provides wet heat that can open your pores, causing you to sweat and helping your body to release toxins. If that was the only potential benefit, it might be enough. But a steam shower may also help your circulation, open up your sinus passages, assist you with weight loss and offer you the opportunity to relax your thoughts as well as your body.

You may have enjoyed these kinds of benefits in a sauna at a spa, but with the Serene Steam shower, you can now enjoy them in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Although it’s a luxurious product, its simplicity of design and ease of installation may surprise you. The stainless steel shower system comes boxed and ready to install by your plumber or contractor. It requires no hook-up to electricity.

Showerheads and Audio System

Serene Steam is a shower system that includes a rainfall shower head and a Bluetooth audio system in addition to its steam function. Its large showerhead, either round or rectangular depending on the model, can be angled to regulate water flow the way you want it. There is also a back and shoulder shower head which can be swiveled to the angle that works best. This shower head directs a high pressure flow of water to areas of your body that often hold tension, your shoulders and upper back. Water can also be diverted to a hand held shower head.

The sound system is one of the most interesting features, providing you with the chance to enjoy lovely music while you relax in the steam. The waterproof Bluetooth sound system is placed in a semi-flush position inside the shower unit. It uses a lithium ion battery which should never need to be replaced. The speaker system is docked in such a way that it’s removable, so you can take it out when you need to recharge it. A cable and charger come with the system. The system manual, which can be printed from the company’s website, details the speaker system and how it can be removed and replaced. The manual also provides instructions for connecting the speaker system to a Bluetooth enabled portable device.

Steam Control and Aromatherapy

The highlight of the Serene Steam shower is its steam control dial, which can be easily turned to an open or close position to release steam. Once you’ve reached the steam level you desire, usually within about five minutes, you can turn the function to a halfway “cruise” mode to complete the steam experience. Steam will be released from the main vent, raising the temperature to a comfortable warmth.

You can also utilize the system’s aromatherapy feature to enjoy a relaxing scent with your steam. A few drops of essential oil are placed in the proper opening so scent will be delivered with the steam. Per warranty, only official fragrances like Eucalyptus Fusion and Mint Lavander, from approved vendors such as Flooring Supply Store can be used in the system in order to avoid any potential problems.

The Serene Steam shower system delivers a relaxing shower and steam experience. Its modern design, relatively easy installation and enhanced features such as Bluetooth audio and aromatherapy make it a luxurious investment. However, it’s also an eco-friendly system as steam generally only uses about half the water volume of regular showers so you’ll save both energy and water.

For those of us who live such fast paced lives that we can hardly catch up, let alone treat ourselves to some much needed pampering, a steam shower is a perfect option. It turns even the most mundane of tasks into a spa like experience that will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed.

Serene Steam Showers FAQ

Category: Home Improvement General