Blog : Flooring Supply Shop Blog | Flooring and Floor Heating Supply - Part 31Flooring Supplies

Paint Your Tile Floor for a New Look

Many homeowners choose tile flooring for their home as these are durable, attractive and available in an assortment of colors. However, over the years, tiles look dull and dated; hence, you need to change them. Instead of tearing them apart, an inexpensive and fast way of changing the look is to paint the tiles.

There are different types of tile paints available in the market, though the most commonly used ones are enamel and latex paints. Latex is a water soluble paint which is comparatively less dangerous than enamel. Enamel paint is soluble in thinner or alcohol which air dries to a hard and glossy finish. Though this paint lasts longer, one needs to be careful while using it because of its fume content.

An important factor to keep into perspective while choosing the paint is the area where the tile is installed. The wear and tear as well as the exposure to moisture the area is subjected to, plays a significant role is assessing whether a certain type of paint is right for a particular room or not. You cannot use latex-based paint in rooms which have high foot traffic because it tends to chip with the slightest impact. The tiles in such areas should be refinished, which not only make it long lasting but also enhances the look.

You also need to choose the right color which complements the decor of the room. The right color contrast can drastically change the look of the place, making it more appealing. You can even use two or more different colors to make beautiful patterns and designs. Only caution while doing this to have a proper layout and work accordingly. This requires certain amount of skill, hence do not do it on your own if you lack the artistic bent of mind. Instead take help of professionals to get beautiful floor designs and add uniqueness to your home.

Painting is not a daunting task and you can easily do it on your own. Before you start painting you need to thoroughly clean the tiles and grout, to remove the dirt and other buildup. You can use bleach or hydrogen peroxide for removing the molds and mildews on the grout. Once done, thoroughly rinse it with water. After cleansing, the next step involves sanding the tiles so that, the paint sticks to it. You can either use fine grit sandpaper or an electric sander. After sanding, remove all the dust.

Next apply primer on the tiles, use the one that is recommended for glossy surface. It is advisable to apply two coats and after it has dried sand it again. After this, clean the whole surface and once done, you can paint the tiles. Painting can be done by brush or spray paint. The spray paint offers better and faster results, in comparison to painting done by brush. Moreover, spray paint tends to dry quickly. Give enough time for the paint to dry before you step on the floor. Once painting and drying is over, your home will have a whole new look.

Does Your Home Have A Sinking Foundation

One of the most structurally significant aspects of your house is the foundation that supports the whole building. In order to maintain its integrity and keep it standing for decades, the foundation needs to be solid, firm and strong. In case the house is not set on a solid foundation, it may give rise to a host of problems. If the foundation is set improperly or over an unstable soil, it may lead to sinking foundation, which needs to be addressed at the earliest. This will not only prevent further damage to the house, but will also save you repair costs, if the situation got worse.

Foremost, you need to ascertain whether or not your house stands on a sinking foundation. In case you observe that your home is gradually slanting to one side, you definitely have some foundation problem that needs to be resolved immediately. Besides this, there are various other symptoms, which can indicate that your home has a sinking foundation. Presence of jammed or misaligned windows and doors indicate that there is a sinking foundation problem. You can even lookout for cracks in the slabs, basements and on walls of your home. Formation of water puddles near the base of your house may also imply that there is some problem with the foundation. Foundation problem is also indicated by the occurrence of upheaval of the floors or if the floors tend to become sloped. Areas that have unstable soil may have increased risk of sinking foundation and homeowners living in such areas must watch out for any such occurrences.

After examination, if you feel that your house does have a sinking foundation, you must address this issue without any delay. Foremost, you need to get your house inspected by a professional. To detect foundation problems, it is generally advised to hire a structural engineer, who will not only examine your house but will also suggest what needs to be done to rectify the problem. Structural engineers only give suggestion, they do not perform the repair work on their own; this is the job of general contractor or a foundation specialist. Since the structural engineers do not have any vested interest or concerns about monetary incentives, they give an accurate and unbiased review of the situation.

Once you are aware of the exact problems, the next step is to hire foundation specialist or general contractor. The sinking foundation repair can incur heavy expenses and be tricky; hence, you will have to make a wise decision about hiring the right professional. You will have to get several quotes as well as look at the overall profile and credentials of the professional, you plan to hire. Before you hire anyone, check references to ensure that the professional has successfully accomplished a similar task, without any hassle.

There are various techniques used for repairing sinking foundation, depending upon the actual problem. Commonly used, the high-pressure grouting improves integrity by injecting grout into the soil. Additionally, this is also effective in lifting up the structure of the house. A permanent and affordable solution for sinking foundation is the introduction of load-bearing piers that lift and stabilize the foundation. In case of presence of fill material or high water table, helical piers are used.

Addressing the sinking foundation is important and adequate steps must be taken to ensure that the foundation is strong enough to firmly hold up the house over the long haul.

Why Should you Choose Brand Name Flooring

living room with hardwood flooring

One of major decisions that every homeowner needs to make is to choose the right flooring material for their home. The wide variety of flooring options, make the decision all the more daunting. However, choosing brand name flooring material, over generic flooring options, proves beneficial for homeowners in several ways. Although, homeowners may have to pay little more for these branded products but it is worth spending the extra money as brand name flooring products are durable and cost effective. Once installed, homeowners can enjoy the benefit of good durable flooring, for years to come.

Branded products are beneficial in every way, as it offers better quality, guarantee and material which is durable. The leading brand names offer customers a wide range of options, including different materials such as marble, hardwood, tiles and laminate flooring. These are available in wide choices of colors, patterns and styles, which make it easier for the buyer to choose from. Moreover, the brand names ensure quality. Whatever branded flooring material you buy, would come with assured quality, which is worth all the investment. In addition, one of the biggest advantages of branded products is that all these flooring options are durable. With proper maintenance and care, the branded flooring options are long lasting which increase the overall value of the house. A company becomes a brand only when it offers quality and durable products, which eventually earns them a broad clientele. Hence, if you choose a brand name, you can be rest assured that the product is of high quality which will be long lasting.

The leading brands in the field constantly carry out research & development, in order to produce new and innovative products. The options available to the customers increase manifold with the introduction of new & useful products. Companies also offer customized solutions to incorporate the specific requirements of their customers. Moreover, with the increasing competition, companies strive to offer better quality products at lower rates, which eventually saves customers significant amount of money.

In addition, branded products last longer, and the flooring does not demand frequent repairs. Good quality branded products makes the flooring strong & durable to withstand greater foot traffic without fading and staining. With the use of branded products the maintenance cost for flooring decreases, which add on to the savings for the customers. An important reason why customers should opt for branded products is because these products come with a warranty. For the sake of their reputation, big brands of the industry ensure to provide quality products that prove beneficial to the customer.

Owing to all this certain companies have become household names and leading brands, whose products can be bought by customers with surety of quality and durability. Hence, in case you are contemplating with the idea of purchasing flooring for your home, consider buying brand name products. Though you may have to pay a little more for these branded products; it will save you time, effort and money as these lasts longer and offer value for your money.

The fact about Glass Tile

For centuries, glass has been a featured material in mosaic media to decorate and articulate a building. Glass tiles are essentially pieces of glass formed into consistent shapes. Glass mosaic tiles are suitable for both internal and external applications as they are impervious to frost, sunlight, and water. This quality makes it best suited for wet or constantly submerged areas. They are easy to clean, maintain, and they never discolor. Glass tiles have a varied application in black slashes of drawing-room, dining, kitchen, bath-room etc…, They are also used to highlight certain features. The spot lighting has further increased their use. Although glass tiles are complex to install the benefits and beauty makes us over see.

Production methods determine look and feel of a glass tile. There are four major types of glass tile based on their manufacturing method.

They are Smalti tile, Fused glass, Sintered and Glass casting

In addition, there are two other eminent glass surface treatments for these tiles: slumping and etching.

Smalti tile is type of glass tile which is Frosted glass, or opaque glass. It has been in use from ancient times. “Smalti” is an Italian word, and refers to a glass paste. Smalti is made by mixing molten glass with metal oxides for color. Translucent Smalti is a popular variant of smalti glass tile. It looks like stained glass with uniform colors.

Byzantine Glass is another smalti variant made from thinner slabs of glass. Metallic Smalti is a swirl of a copper-bearing mineral added into the molten glass before it is pressed. Gold Smalti are made by applying a gold leaf and a thin layer of blown glass.

Fused Tile is manufactured using the fusion method. In this type a flat glass is cut into tiles shapes and then fired in a furnace. The clear glass will show the tile until treated with a color. In this method colors are added to the top or bottom of the glass. Fused glass tiles are characterized with a translucent area and a layer of opaque color visible through the tile. These tiles are further treated with an etching or other coating, for aesthetics or abrasion.

Sintered glass tile is a variety made by pressing glass powder into dies and then heated until the particles fuse. The color is either added into the powder or added topically after cooling. Unlike smalti tiles, sintered tiles tend to have a uniform look. This milky and scratch-resistant finish makes it versatile.

Cast tile is made by inserting chunks of glass into a mold which gives it a layered look. Most recycled glass tile products are made using this method making it environment friendly.

All these variants can be treated to slumping and etching. Slumped glasses are curved into convex/concave shape during firing. Etched glass is a process of applying a thin-translucent layer on the surface of a tile. All these features give glass tile a unique appearance which is unachievable with the conventional tiles. The reverberant and depth of color makes them unique.

How to install vinyl flooring effectively

There are a number of factors that need to be considered while selecting a flooring type for your house. Durability, ease of installation, moisture resistance and the cost are some of the major factors that people consider while selecting flooring. Vinyl is one of the most popular flooring types since it stands good on all of the above mentioned factors. Vinyl flooring offers high aesthetics and is quite inexpensive as compared to a number of other flooring types.

However, in order to get maximum benefit out of your vinyl flooring it is essential to install it properly. One of the key considerations in installing vinyl flooring is the sub floor. Vinyl requires the foundation to be even and smooth so that the finish is of the highest quality. It is for this reason that sanded plywood is considered to be the ideal choice of sub floors for vinyl flooring. Another effective option is to install the vinyl flooring over the existing one. This will eliminate the need to install a new sub floor before using vinyl flooring.

Before you start installing vinyl flooring it is essential to take the exact measurements of the room concerned. This will enable you to accurately estimate the amount of vinyl that you need to purchase. Furthermore, it is always advised to purchase a little extra vinyl to allow for trimming and cutting after the installation.

In case you are installing vinyl over your existing sub floor you need to ensure that it is smooth and free from any holes. In case there are holes in your sub floor you should use a patching mixture to fill them before you install vinyl.

Cutting vinyl can be a tricky job, and it is not uncommon to hear of vinyl tearing while it is being laid down. You should lay down the vinyl cover over the area that needs to be floored and mark the exact places to be cut. Make sure that you have left some extra space to trim and cut later.

Adhesive is another crucial step that can determine the durability and effectiveness of your vinyl flooring. You should purchase a high quality adhesive material and should apply it evenly to ensure strong adhesive. Apply firm pressure while laying down the flooring. You should allow the adhesion to dry for at least two hours before using the floor. Even after a strong bond has been created it is essential to carefully move any furniture over the flooring. This is so, since even a minor tear would require to re-do the entire job again.

Since vinyl floors require less maintenance, and are highly durable they have become the material of choice in a number of commercial establishments as well as households. However, adequate care needs to be taken while installing vinyl for maximum effectiveness. Although, a number of individuals consider it to be a ‘do-it-yourself’ job, in case you are not confident about it; it would be advisable to avail the services of a professional contractor.

Paint Your Tile Floor for a New Look

Does Your Home Have A Sinking Foundation

Why Should you Choose Brand Name Flooring

The fact about Glass Tile

How to install vinyl flooring effectively

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