Blog : Flooring Supply Shop Blog | Flooring and Floor Heating Supply - Part 47Flooring Supplies

Custom designed shower area made easy

While building a custom designed shower area, most do-it-yourself’ enthusiasts will face the problem of designing an appropriate floor pitch. An appropriate floor pitch ensures that water flows directly into the shower drain and does not accumulate on the shower floor. You might use complicated and sophisticated measurement tools to create the perfect floor slope, but there is still no guarantee of achieving the desired results.

However, technological advancement in the form of Quick Pitch has emerged as an ideal solution to the problem of an irregular shower floor pitch. The simplicity of this product makes it ideal for people who are looking to build a custom designed shower area with the minimum of fuss. Quick Pitch consists of float sticks and a center ring, which are used to create a standard slope of 1/4" per 12" on the shower floor.

The problem of irregular floor pitch is not a minor one, and should not be taken lightly while designing a shower floor. Water that accumulates on the shower floor can easily seep into the mud bed, thereby resulting in various ‘water ponding’ issues.

Another advantage of a proper shower pitch is that since water would not accumulate on the shower floor, the tile floor will last for a longer duration of time. Water seeping through the tiles can weaken the bond, thereby forcing you to redo your tile flooring after regular intervals of time. In order to create a long-lasting tiling on your shower floor, you should avail of the Quick Pitch system.

For maximum utility, you should use Quick Pitch along with Pre Pitch and Kirb Perfect systems. Not only is it necessary to have a proper slope on the shower floor, but it is equally important to have a proper slope on the sub floor as well. Pre Pitch is an easy to install system that facilitates an apt sloping sub floor beneath the pan liner. This slope will ensure that any moisture that seeps through the mud bed does not remain accumulated above the pan liner and is effectively directed towards the weep holes.

Using the Kirb Perfect system will allow you to easily and conveniently build a curb for your shower floor. Although the frame of a shower curb is traditionally built out of wood, there is a serious chance of damaging the pan liner while building such a curb around the shower area. While nailing the curb frame to the floor, you can easily damage the pan liner, thereby increasing the chances of a water leak. Since installing Kirb Perfect does not require you to nail the frame to the shower floor, there is no possibility of damaging your pan liner.

Since Quick Pitch has been specially designed for the convenience of ‘do-it-yourself’ enthusiasts, you will find that its use will significantly streamline your process of designing a shower area. So you can go ahead and install the Quick Pitch system and enjoy the benefits of a properly sloped and a well drained shower area.

Select the right tile trim

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Tile trims have been in use for a long time and are widely used to enhance the aesthetics of the tiled area. Trims are generally used on external corners to protect the external edges of tiles from damage. Therefore, trims can not only be used to give a professional and finished look to the tiles but can also be used to enhance their durability.

Tile trims are available in a wide variety of finishes such as plastic, matte, silk and glossy. You can either select a trim that blends in with the theme of your bathroom and kitchen, or you can select one that is in complete contrast. Further, trims are also available in various profile shapes such as round edged, straight edged and square edged. Your selection of the tile trim to use will depend on various factors such as the tiled area, size of the tiles and the color and design theme of the tiled area.

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Matching of the trim and the tile grout is important to ensure a consistent look throughout the entire tiled area. The color of grout used by most people is generally white or in related shades. In case you are considering a different colored grout make sure that your choice of tile trim matches with it.

The main use of trims on floors is to provide an effective transition of the tiles into the adjacent floor covering, such as hardwood or carpet. You can even use a sloped trim in case there is a height difference between the tiled floor and the adjacent floor. One essential factor to consider while selecting floor tile trims is that there should be no extra space for the dust to accumulate. It is for this reason that a trim with a cove shaped base is generally preferred when it comes to selecting a trim for floor tiles.

Tile trims are also ideal for use on countertops to form a waterproof and aesthetically pleasing assembly. You can easily find specific tile trims for areas under the sink, sink rails as well as countertop transitions. Tile trims in such areas will ensure that there no open spaces around the tiles for dirt and food to accumulate.

After selecting the tile trim you wish to use in your tiled area, it is essential to install it properly. Cutting trims the right way is essential to create a finished and professional look. Therefore, it is important to use a specialist’s tool to cut the trims in an accurate and precise manner. Next, you should properly clean the surface before installing the trim to ensure that there is no dust or impurity present. Finally, installing the trim in a perfect straight line is important for the final look of the tiled area.

Although the use of a tile trim is optional, it is highly recommended to use it in order to enhance the aesthetics as well as functionality of the tiled area. You would be able to make a better decision regarding the tile trim to use after inspecting the tiles that you are going to use.

The most effective way of achieving a lippage free floor

Marble and stone flooring are widely used by people to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their house. While installing marbles or stones on the floor and on the walls a common problem faced by many is that of lippage. Lippage refers to a situation where adjacent marble or stone tiles are not on the same level. This uneven surface level brings about an irregular finish, thereby affecting the aesthetics of the house. Further, marble tiles that are not evenly laid out are more likely to crack.

It is always better to eliminate the problem of lippage while laying out a tile or a stone floor to prevent any expenses on repairs later. In case of a marble floor, eliminating lippage would require extensive grinding, which would consume a lot of your time and money. Further, you would be required to polish the marble once the grinding work has been completed.

To avoid this problem one needs to take care of lippage at the time of laying out the floor. If you are facing the problem of lippage, the ‘Tuscan Leveling System’ can help you. This is a revolutionary product that can help you lay out a lippage free stone or tile floor in a convenient and affordable manner. By using the Tuscan Leveling System you will be able to ensure that there is no settling from shrinkage, thereby eliminating the need to re-lift the tiles in order to level them. The easy to use mechanism of Tuscan Leveling System is so convenient that one does not need to hire external help to fix the problem. This further helps in reducing your repair costs.

A major factor that produces lippage is the spacing or the grout joint between the tiles. A narrow grout joint significantly accentuates lippage; it is therefore advisable not to keep the grout joints too close to each other. The Tuscan Leveling System straps will automatically create a grout joint of 1/32”, and will ensure that the problem of lippage does not occur due to grout spacing. Further, the Tuscan Leveling System is highly flexible and can be used along with all common spacers. This ensures that you are able to set stones and tiles in an even manner and with the desired distance between them.

When you are installing tiles that are significantly larger in size the chance of lippage increases. The Tuscan Leveling system works ideally with tiles that are 12 inches or more, thereby ensuring that you easily and conveniently are able to use large tiles without worrying about lippage. Although lippage is not a very serious problem and can be fixed, it is still recommended to eliminate it during the initial stages to avoid any troubles later. It is for this reason that products such as the Tuscan Leveling system are constantly gaining popularity. Not only does the Tuscan Leveling System eliminate lippage, but it also reduces the installation time significantly, ensuring high utility and value for money.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter

The first night of Passover is Monday evening March 29th, until the following night on March 30th. Easter is on Sunday, April 4th.

Easter is the only Christian holiday whose date is fixed by the lunar calendar (like all Jewish and Muslim holidays), therefore it’s always falls near Passover. The name for Easter in Greek, paska, literally means Passover.

I would like to take this opportunity and wish all my Christian and Jewish customers and friends Happy Easter and Happy Passover.

And for those non Jewish or Christian, have a good long weekend LOL!!

The flooringsupplyshop.com Team

How to improve the effectiveness of your hardwood flooring

Most people are opting for hardwood flooring over traditional wall to wall carpeting due to the various benefits offered by it. Some of the advantages of hardwood flooring include its longevity, easy to clean nature and its aesthetic appeal. Further, due to the longevity of hardwood flooring, the resale value of your house will also increase significantly.

Apart from the numerous benefits that are offered by hardwood flooring, you can take a few steps on your own to enhance its effectiveness. One of the first steps that you can take in order to ensure maximum effectiveness out of your hardwood flooring is to install it properly. There are numerous methods through which you can install a hardwood floor such as nailing or gluing it. It is always beneficial to consult an expert to get an idea about the best way to install hardwood flooring in your house.

Hardwood floors have a natural warm and cozy look, and wood is an effective insulator. You can further enhance the insulation properties of your hardwood floor by taking two steps; adding extra insulation and installing a floor heating system. Extra insulation can be added in the form of wool, cellulose, wood fiber boards and plant fiber boards. An extra layer of insulation will ensure that heat does not escape from the floor, thereby keeping it warm and cozy. You can also opt for an effective under-floor heating system to enhance the insulation properties of your hardwood flooring. An under-floor heating system will further enable you to save on your energy bills by not only heating the floor but the entire room as well. This will let you turn down your main thermostat a few degrees, thereby resulting in significant savings on electricity.

Regular cleaning and shining of your hardwood flooring will enhance the longevity of your hardwood flooring. You can use high quality varnish or vinegar regularly to shine your hardwood floor and to ensure that it remains shiny and smooth all year round.

Protecting your hardwood flooring from direct sunlight and denting is essential to keep it looking attractive for a long period of time. Portions of your hardwood floor that are exposed to direct sunlight will get discolored easily, in order to avoid discoloration you will need to keep your curtains closed or place a rug over such areas. In order to avoid denting on the floor you will need to provide padding under heavy furniture; also, you must avoid dragging objects over hardwood floors.

Finally, moisture is the biggest enemy of hardwood floors and excess exposure to it can lead to serious mold problems; for this reason, applying a waterproofing chemical is necessary, especially in areas where exposure to moisture is unavoidable.

Although hardwood floors are aesthetically attractive and long lasting, they require constant care and maintenance. By following the above mentioned steps, you will be able to ensure that your hardwood flooring remains attractive & strong for a long time to come.

Custom designed shower area made easy

Select the right tile trim

The most effective way of achieving a lippage free floor

Happy Passover and Happy Easter

How to improve the effectiveness of your hardwood flooring

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