Posts

How to Clean Cultured Marble Tiles?

/in /by

Cultured marble tiles is a resilient material frequently used for tiles, sinks, and vanities. Mineral deposits and soap scum can build up on your marble tiles, negatively impacting its appearance. Remove mild buildup and stains with a soft rag and white vinegar. Eliminate difficult stains with hydrogen peroxide or a special, heavy-duty cleaning solution.


Ensure safe cleaning by avoiding harsh chemicals and abrasives. Some stubborn stains might require a longer soak time. However, soaking your marble tiles too long in this solution may be harmful to its finish. Cleanse the area with water. Rinse the cleaned area with cold water in the same fashion as previously described.


Wipe up water remaining on your marble tiles and any dirtiness with a clean, dry, soft rag. Your cultured marble tiles should now be clean. Any excess sealer that’s pooled on the surface of your marble tiles or that has not been absorbed must be removed for the health and appearance of your marble tiles, as leftover sealer can stain it.


Allow the sealer to set for 24 hours. Let the sealer fully absorb and dry into your marble tiles before trying to use your shower again. You should seal your marble tiles bathtub once every six months. Let everyone in your house know that using the shower before the sealer dries could damage your marble tiles.


After receiving your pre-cut marble tiles slabs, the first thing to do is make sure they fit on your tiles. Place the slabs on top of their installation location—also known as dry-fitting—and make sure that each piece fits into its space without creating any large gaps between its surroundings.

How Cleaning Your Grout?

/in /by

Choose a scrubbing solution. Grout, especially between floor tiles, gets especially dingy and dirty over time. Depending on the severity of your grout discoloration, you will need to use a different cleaning solution. For mild discoloration, use a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. For more severe discoloration, use an oxygen bleach to whiten your grout.

Do a preliminary clean. In order to avoid extra work when you really start scrubbing, do a mild clean down of your grout prior to deep-cleaning it. Use a mixture of bleach and water to kill mold and mildew, and wipe off any grime or dirt that might be present on the surface.

Apply your cleaner. Working in small sections of tile/grout (try 1sq. ft. at a time), apply your cleaner to the grout. Leave it to set for 3-5 minutes, as this will make the scrubbing much easier.

Start scrubbing the grout. Use a brand new toothbrush (electric is preferable) to scrub away the dirt and discoloration on the grout. This can be relatively time consuming, so don’t give up if at first you don’t succeed. Use fresh water and a rag to wipe off the cleaning residue, and apply another coat of your cleaner if necessary.

Continue cleaning your grout. Work your way outwards from your starting point, using the aforementioned process. Add cleaner to small sections, let it set, and scrub away until bright, clean, and shiny grout can be seen underneath.

How Adding a Temporary Covering?

/in /by

Lay down a large area rug to cover unsightly tile flooring. Measure the area that you want to cover, and find a large rug that will cover most of the flooring. Try to get as close as possible to the correct dimensions for the room to ensure that the tile is mostly covered. If you’re having trouble finding inexpensive rugs, shop at thrift stores, or purchase a variety of smaller rugs to layer them and cover the floor.

Remember to place a sticky mat under the rugs, since the fabric can sometimes slide over the tiles. You can find inexpensive sticky mats at most home improvement stores and supermarkets. If you like the original color of the tiles and want to give them a quick update, you can add decals that let the color of the tiles show through.

Stick vinyl decals over flooring or a backsplash for a fresh look. Purchase a large sheet of vinyl decals to add character to tile flooring or a backsplash. Make sure you measure the area that you want to cover, and be sure to buy enough decals to completely cover the area. When you’re ready to apply the decals, simply trim them to size, peel the backing off, stick them to the tiles, and smooth them with a credit card to remove air bubbles.

This is a great way to add a pattern to plain tiling without painting, and it’s easily removable when you want to change it up. All you have to do is peel off the decals to start over. Some decals have more “traditional” tile patterns, like mosaics or Tuscan tiles, while others are simple solid colors.

Use adhesive carpet tiles to conceal large areas of tiled floor. Measure the area that you want to cover, and visit a home improvement or flooring store to see what kind of carpeting they have in stock. Keep in mind that most carpet tiles cost about $1 for 1 foot (0.30 m) squared, so you can plan your budget accordingly. When you’re ready, peel off the backing and stick them to the tile.

What Should We Do Before Laying Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles Floor?

/in /by

Laying a ceramic or porcelain tile floor can be considered a daunting task, but with adequate planning and preparation, this perception can be overcome. Laying one’s own polished tile is also much less expensive (and possibly more rewarding) than having it professionally installed. Cost can be minimized by careful planning and preparation.

Laying the foundation. An unpleasant question to be faced is “What is your floor made up of?” Plywood is good. But, if you have the typical 1/2″ to 5/8″ particle board on top of a deck made of 2x8s, you have some work to do. After removal of the base trim, the particle board should be pulled up (this is easiest if you first cut it into about 16″ squares)and replaced by plywood. You will need a Skil saw, and if you’re doing the kitchen, you’ll need a “toe-kick saw.” Replace the particle board up to where the wood tile will stop. While you have the particle board off, you can inspect the deck to make sure it is firmly attached to the floor tiles joists. Now you’re ready for leveling compound (if needed).

Lay the backer board. You will need to lay backboard (fiberglass or preferably cement tiles sheets that are usually 3 by 5 feet) as well, or the tiles design will pop off. Evaluate the wall tiles space to be tiled. A first phase of evaluation is to determine the size of the room to be tiled (or re-tiled). The number of kitchen tiles you will need will depend on the size of the tiles you wish to lay, as well as the small tiles pattern you will like on the floor. Using a tape measure or digital laser tape, measure the room from one wall to the opposite wall, and note the distance. Let’s say the measure of this distance is 12 feet (3.7 m). Measure the distance of the opposing walls to each other. Let’s say this distance is 7 feet (2.1 m). Multiplying these 2 distances (12 feet x 7 feet) will yield a total area of 84 square feet.

These measurements are based on squared dimensions. If the room is not perfectly “squared” (or in this case “rectangle”) because of an irregular floor plan (where there might be a small section off of one side, for example), do not factor this space into your measurement. While you will of course need to marble tile this space, factoring this space into your measurements will affect finding the “center” of the room, which will be discussed shortly. This area is important to note, since it will provide you with an estimate of the number of tiles you will need to purchase to cover the area to be tiled.