Tiling

TILING

It is commonly thought that professional tilers must be hired to install ceramic tiles. It is assumed that it takes years of practise and special tools to achieve that perfect finish. Years ago this might have been the case, but new tiles, tools and techniques have made tiling easier for the do-it-yourself amateur.
Tiles installation still requires patience and some basic skills, but with the right information, proper tools and correct materials, homeowners can now achieve real professional looking jobs all on their own.
Even if you decide not to do the job yourself a little knowledge of new materials and techniques available will help you manage the job effectively, finding the right contractor and getting the result you want at the price you want.
Later we will discuss the types of tile available and the areas in which they should be used, we will also discus the skills needed for the various options to help you access whether you feel you have the skills and the time to tackle the job yourself.
We will cover some of the basic tiling skills and gain an understanding of the steps necessary to complete various tiling projects.
Finally we will deal with “maintenance and repair” to make your existing tile installations look like almost new again and to ensure that your new installations continue to look their best.

SAFETY

Preparation is the key to a successful tiling job. It is important that your first consideration when planning or starting a new tiling project is safety. Take the time to fully read all instructions supplied with your materials and tools, take special note of any warnings given.
Never use tools that are in poor condition or are need of sharpening, do not use electrical tools in wet areas and make sure your work area is well lit and ventilated. Mortars, grouts, adhesives and sealants can contain compounds that can irritate the skin or worse solvents that can damage your lungs and eyes. Always wear a good set of gloves, a filter mask and protective eyewear.
When cutting, drilling, breaking or removing tiles sharp shards of tile will most likely fly through the air. Any unprotected skin, especially eyes will be vulnerable and protective clothing and eyewear is essential.
Avoid carrying any sharp objects in your pockets, a tool belt will prove helpful for carrying and quickly locating the tools you need. Avoid loose clothing and tie up your hair if appropriate.
Keep an adequate first aid kit to hand and invest in a good pair of knee pads, tiling often involves a lot of kneeling and tile pieces are very uncomfortable to kneel on.

TILES

Tiles have been around a long time and many fine examples are to be found in early Roman remains in the UK. With proven durability and limitless colours and finishes available tiles are now more popular than ever.
Thanks to the new tile and tool store at: http://www.tileandtoolstore.com/ tiles and tools are now well within the budget and capability of all do-it-yourself enthusiasts.
Whether you want a traditional or a contemporary finish to your bathroom, kitchen, living room, hall or conservatory you will find a limitless selection of colours, textures and sizes available, your biggest challenge will making your final choice of tile.
Perhaps the easiest way to plan your project will be to visit one of the larger tile showrooms, where a full range of tiles will be available to see and touch and room settings and tiled boards will give you inspiration and ideas. One of the finest showrooms for variety and value is http://www.tilesuk.com/ visit their site for details of their nearest showroom.
Once you have chosen the general colour and style of tile you want do your price comparison, the internet is a good tool for quick browsing and http://www.google.com/ is still the best search engine around.
Manufacturing the tile:A glazed tile consists of two quite different parts, the backing or " body," and the glaze; and naturally the body is made first, and the glaze applied afterwards. The body of a glazed tile consists of one or more kinds of clay, usually with an admixture of certain other substances. The standard white body is used in over ninety per cent of glazed tiles, in the UK there are two kinds of clay used – china clay and ball clay – in conjunction with two other materials, flint and Cornish stone. China clay is clay in its purest form. It gets its English name from the country where it was used. The principal source of supply is Cornwall, where it is found in great abundance. Ball clay, which comes chiefly from the shires of Devon and Dorset, differs from China clay in that it contains certain organic impurities.
The firing of the tile, for five days the temperature of the firing oven will rise steadily till it stands at about 1,250 degrees centigrade – slightly above the melting point of cast iron. The heat will then be allowed to die down for about two or three days.
After their first firing, tiles destined for glazing are known as "biscuit" tiles; and the same term is applied to the first firing itself –"biscuit" firing. This is curious, since biscuit – from the French bis cuit – means twice baked, the original edible biscuits having been so named because they were baked first on one side and then, after being turned over, on the other. At this stage of our process, when the firing of green ware has just been completed, we come upon the essential difference between glazed tile and unglazed tile manufacture.Glazed tiles will have to go through a second main stage of the process – that of the glazing. The glaze is simply a form of glass, so that this process is carried out in what is in effect a miniature glass factory. Here such materials as felspar, China clay, flint, soda, potash, lime, and oxide of lead are mixed together in carefully determined proportions, placed in a special form of kiln, and fired to a white heat. The molten glass thus formed is run off into water, by which means it is suddenly and violently chilled. Making it more suitable for grinding, than if the liquid had been allowed to cool gradually. The grinding is done in rubber-lined cylinders; and plenty of water is introduced to form a "slop" or thick liquid. There are of course many types of glaze, some will fire clear, some opaque, some bright, some matt. The different colours are obtained by adding to the "slop" glaze certain staining materials, notably certain metallic oxides such as those of copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, and uranium. The purpose of the glaze in tile manufacture is both utilitarian and aesthetic: utilitarian in that it seals the pores of the biscuit, thus providing a tile that does not harbour dirt and is therefore hygienic and aesthetic endowing the tile with a pleasing, often a very beautiful finish.
The firing by which the applied glaze is fused to the face of the biscuit is known as the "glost" firing – the firing, that is, of the "glost" (i.e., the glossed or glazed) ware. The final process the glost firing can take up to 40 hours to produce the glazed ceramic tile to which we are all now familiar.
Tiles have been a popular flooring choice for many years, recently improved glazing, sealing and anti-slip techniques have significantly increased their range of usage. In addition to tile improvements under-floor heating technologies have opened up additional wonderful new opportunities for their usage in bathrooms and especially conservatories, where they provide an easily cleaned and very durable finish.