by Mr G’s Travels

Grungy Tile Floor

Image by GrungeTextures
Closeup of grungy tile floor.

This texture is provided free of charge under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License with the condition that a credit (printed use) or a hyperlink (online use) is made to www.grungetextures.com. Thanks!

Have you created artwork using this texture? Post it in the Grunge Textures Showcase flickr group. We’d love to see your work.

Learn how to install ceramic floor tile by doing it yourself. It’s easy! Follow these basic and straightforward steps, and you’ll be able to create your desired floor design come to life.

Get the right tools for the job.

For starters, if you want to know how to install ceramic floor tile by yourself, you should have the right tools and materials for the job. You can easily buy, or rent, most of the tools and materials you’ll need at you neighborhood hardware store, or home center. For equipment that would be too expensive like a tile cutter, or hand held micro cutter, you may be able to rent these tools from your local home center or a tool rental yard. Here are most of the basic tools you will need for your tiling job:

a) Always wear safety clothing and gear. Use a pair of safety glasses, heavy leather gloves, and long-sleeved work clothes, especially if it involves taking out the existing ceramic tiles. Broken shards and other debris can cause nasty cuts, if you are not careful. b) A tape measure, tile spacers, carpenter’s square and a bubble level. c) A mallet and hammer, a putty knife and a trowel (preferably, the notched kind), and a rubber grout float and a putty knife. d) A tile cutter (which may be rented) and a pair of tile nippers. e) Mortar material like a thin set mortar, or any one of a wide selection of tile adhesives. f) Tiling grout and sealant. Tiling grout comes in many color tints that you can choose from to fit your desired look and floor design.

Prepare your subfloor before installing your tiles.

Most tiling jobs start at this stage. It would be a great experience for you to learn how to install ceramic floor tile by learning about the type of floors you will be putting your tiles on. Always check for cracks and debris when If you’re working on a concrete subfloor. Make it is smooth and clean. Repair as many of the cracks as you can. If you see cracks that are too large to repair, replace the floor section where they are found with new concrete. For plywood subfloors, be sure that the wood is at least 1 and 1/8 inches thick and is supported by an equally strong underlayment. Otherwise, your ceramic tiles will dislodge easily, or worse, break and need replacing.

An existing ceramic tile floor may add another stage to your tiling job, and present something of a challenge for you. You’ll need to tear out the existing tiles. For starters, all you need to do is use a large flat-bladed chisel and a mallet, and just hammer away. Then, you’ll need to clean out the debris. If you to smoothen your subfloor — you may want to rent a sander to do the job. Be sure to keep yourself protected. Use heavy-duty leather work gloves, safety glasses, and long-sleeved work clothes.

Lay out your floor.

Measuring the length and width of your floor will help you determine how to install ceramic floor tile and help you know estimate the number of ceramic floor tiles you will need to purchase. Start by finding the center point of your floor area. You can do this by measuring across the room and marking the center. Do this in opposite direction and mark the center, as well. The intersection of the two lines is the center of the floor you will be tiling over. Run chalk lines over the intersection lines. These chalk lines will help you with how to install ceramic floor tile and with your tile positioning.

Let the tiling begin!

Place the first tile at the intersection of the two lines you made. Then, bond it to your subfloor by using a thin set mortar, or a tile adhesive of your choice. Using a notched trowel for applying the mortar is best on how to install ceramic floor tile. But you may actually use the more common trowel variety is you don’t have one. To secure the ceramic tile in its place, press down while twisting it back and forth till the tile no longer is set. If some of the mortar or adhesive oozes out, use your trowel (or a damp sponge) to scrape off the excess. Do this process over with the next tile, and so on and so forth, until you’ve finished your ceramic floor tiling.

Time to grout and seal.

After your ceramic floor tiles have set, it’s time to put the tiling grout in. Tiling grout is a material that you should know more about when you want to know how to install ceramic floor tile flooring. Tiling grout is a material made cement, sand and water, and a little color. It is used to fill in gaps and seal in the spaces between tiles. Tiling grout comes in a wide variety of color tints that may be matched to your tile color. Use a rubber grout float and work the tiling grout into the gaps between the tiles. Use your grout float at an angle so that you can fill in the joint gap with as much tiling grout as possible.

After laying in the tiling grout in between the gaps of your floor ceramic tiles, use a damp sponge to wipe off the excess grout. Rinse the sponge frequently to get as much of the excess grout off, and keep each tile clean. You have the option of applying a sealant to the grout lines after they dry.

And there you have it! Learning about how to install ceramic floor tile is easy! By following these basic steps, you too can realize your ceramic floor design. Learning how to install ceramic floor tile properly will give you a sense of satisfaction at a job well done, and a beautiful ceramic tiled floor.

DIYonDVD – Tiling – Floor Tiling

by cbmd

Are you searching for the best natural material to tile your floors? Here you can learn where slate originates and why it is as reliable as flooring. You will find out how slate tile is fashioned. How its characteristic variations in colouring are wonderful when using slate floor tiles. You will learn why it is essential to do a dry run, before you actually install your slate tiles. You will also learn what split-faced slate tile is and the reason it adds an extraordinary atmosphere to any area, inside or out.

Slate Flooring Features
Do you know that the most trouble free materials used for flooring are those that need little modification from their natural form? It is true; the earth itself is the most reliable maker of tile flooring.
Slate is rising in popularity as one of the choicest materials for natural stone flooring. Versatility is one of the strongest characteristics of slate tile. Slate flooring is available for many locations.
* Kitchen
* Dinning Room
* Living Room
* Family Room
* Bathrooms
* Showers
* Hallways
* Offices
* Patio
* Pool
Inside or outside, slate floor tiles, features such a natural slip-resistant versatility, it is functional and complementary in any surrounding.
Slate floor tiles are wonderful for areas that see a lot of foot traffic, such as the entrances of public and commercial property. Slate tiles are especially useful for bathrooms, since wetness is to be expected. This is because slate is one of the most reliable surfaces around that reduces the probability of slipping and sliding. It features an attracted durability while being practical and stunning in your surroundings.

A Slate flooring provides wide-ranging benefits. However, where exactly does slate come from, how is it fashioned into tiles?

The Natural Origin of Slate
Large concentrations of slate deposits originate in continental coastal regions. These areas were ancient oceans, where many mineral elements including silt remain long after the waters are receded. Heat and enormous pressure have pressed on these ancient ocean beds of clay, soil and minerals for millions of years. This pressure and heat forge these ancient seabed into a naturally, rugged and durable stone, we call this slate.
Some of minerals fused in slate are mica, quartz and chlorite as well as many others. They act as stabilizing agents, which lends such a resistance to all manners of stress. This strong naturally random mixture accounts for the various luxurious hues found within slate floor tiles. Since slate is a natural mineral content, the appearance of each will vary. Given its harsh beginnings, slate floor tiles features are remarkably durable, and are a great eye-catching material. Whether you use on the interior or exterior, slate is highly suitable for any project at home or office.

Slate Floor Tiles – Gauge and Calibration
Slate tiles are not only decorative and durable; they are especially easy for any experienced tile installer to work with. For simple installation of slate tile flooring, many manufacturers make the process easy, so that slate stays largely unchanged and natural. Gauge and calibration of slate tile are two processes. Gauge is the process that squares off the edges of slate by precision cutting. This process permits the slate tile to become an easy interlocking material. Calibration is a process of machine honing the back of the slate tile. It can be either smooth or ribbed, depending on the type of tile you choose. Calibration is an essential process that ensures the slate tile lay flat upon installation. Their design features easy installation and a great walking surface.

Split-face Slate Floor Tiles
Spilt-face slate tile flooring features the natural face of slate and is one of the most popular choices for any area. Split-face tile is the slate that is split apart from the bed of slate and removable. This variation of slate tile flooring features the unevenly textured, natural surface, which is distinctive from other varieties of natural stone. It is one of the best choices for a slip-resistant floor surface. It provides a tactile dimension of its own, while adding the sensational character of a slate tile floor that is a great addition to any home of office. You will find split-face slate floor tiles add a wonderfully rich color scheme to your surroundings.

Color Variations in Slate Tile Flooring and the Dry Run
Since slate contains such a vast and random set of elements, there are naturally color variations in every batch of slate tile. Therefore, no slate tile floor offers the same identity as another. When you are in search of a beautiful flooring material for your project, slate tile flooring offers an exceptional choice. Upon receiving your new batch of slate tiles, it is recommendable that you open all the boxes to view the unique range of color that is in your shipment.
Since every slate tile-flooring project is unique, this is your opportunity to discover all the possible layouts in a dry run. To get a better visual idea of what your floor will look like you lay out your slate tiles without using the mortar. Since the tiles will vary in their natural coloring, you can use this time to make a significant difference in the overall appearance of your flooring project. Whether inside or outside, the opening of the boxes and the dry run allow you to check the thickness variation of the slate tiles.
Slate Floor Tiles a Touch of Classy Strength
Slate flooring is useful and popular in any area of commercial of residential structures. Whether inside or out, it features both eye appeal and versatility. It is easy to work with and install while adding a luscious variation in decorative color. It is naturally slip-resistant, practical and classically beautiful. When you use slate, you always have a firm foothold.

Related Floor Tiling Articles

by ImTheQ

Floor Tile Reflections

Image by Bill Gracey
I love to take pictures of reflections because of the beautiful abstract color and/or shapes you can get. It turns out floor tile works pretty good, and the ones at the mall area at the Venetian reflect well. Now, I’ve got a whole lot of them.

Rubber floor tiles are manufactured from a combination of natural and synthetic rubber. As a result this makes rubber floor tiles highly resilient and ideal for areas with high traffic, workplace interiors and public places such as airports, schools, and shopping centres, as well as other health care, hospitality, retail and office environments. But those examples are a thing of the past.

Rubber – the future in flooring solutions These days, rubber flooring is as much at home in a domestic kitchen or bathroom than it is in an office or shopping centre. In the past your options for rubber flooring tiles would have been limited to a handful of colours; whereas these days, if you’re looking to fit rubber flooring in your apartment or home, the variety of rubber flooring tile colours and textures is incredible, so it’s easy to find a floor tile that fits in with your existing décor.

Of course it’s not just about the look, rubber flooring is also highly practical. And because it’s made from such resistant material, it’s ideal for all sorts of uses. Helpfully, the way that rubber floor tiles are laid down also makes it a really good option for reducing noise. This is because rubber flooring seems to absorb sound better than most alternative flooring options; so if you’re thinking about laying flooring in the gym where you might be pounding the ground often, or an apartment hallway where you don’t want to disturb your neighbours, rubber floor tiles will absorb any additional sound – rather than bouncing it around the room like wooden or marble flooring would do.

Unlike carpet, if you spill something on your rubber flooring, a quick mop and wipe will clear away the mess and leave your floor tiles in pristine condition; making it ideal for kitchens, or for playrooms for the kids to romp around on.

While rubber floor tiles aren’t as cushioned as carpet, they are slightly cushioned for safety purposes so that if you do slip on them, you won’t be left with a huge bruise; the rubber floor will absorb some of the impact.

All of these qualities make rubber flooring tiles ideal for practically any room in the home; whether it’s for a kitchen, hallways, flooring for your bathroom, indestructible flooring for the children’s play room, floor tiles for the garage which won’t need a lot of care and are easy to clean, or anywhere where there’s a lot of foot traffic. But – and there’s always a but – rubber floor tiles are only good for interior installation. They’re not good for outdoor building that are pervious to the climate.

We’ve talked about the virtues of rubber floor tiles, but how do you know what to get or where to get them? There are many different qualities of rubber flooring tiles available on the market, so just like any other product you should pick out a reputable supplier to be certain your tiles will last.

The highest quality of materials and workmanship are employed in the making of UK Flooring Online’s Rubber Floor Tiles and careful inspections are made before products are dispatched. Rubber floor tiles have become the popular choice of flooring for a variety of rooms. And as they’re such a versatile, easy to lay, and non-slip flooring option that comes in a variety of colours and patterns, rubber floor tiles are ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, playrooms, offices, work areas, basements, or garages; you name it and they’ll fit right in.

These floor tiles are extremely durable, easy to clean, and are long lasting too. They absorb noise and the impact of falling objects, so that your floor is less likely to get damaged. Brilliant. Best of all rubber floor tiles have been made with DIY enthusiasts in mind, so you don’t need a degree in floor laying or a CV including decades of skilled experience to produce well-laid floors. As long as you can follow simple instructions and use some common sense, you’re away!

So what do you need to get started?

Rubber floor tiles Measuring tape Chalk line if you have one, or a pen and string attached will do if you don’t A long metal ruler Stanley knife Glue Roller

First things first… Prepare the room. Clear out the room you’re going be working in. Make sure that the area is dirt, dust, glue, and bits and pieces free. You don’t want anything other than a clean space for your lovely new rubber flooring. There’s nothing worse then getting to the end and realising that there’s a bump in the middle that’s been created from a left over bit of glue.

Next steps Once you’ve cleared out the room take your rubber flooring tiles and place them in the room. It’s best for floor tiles to acclimatise to the room temperature before you lay them down. This way they’re less likely to shrink or expand. We’re now ready to lay down the rubber tiles.

Step 1 – Measurements: Find the centre point of the room. To find the centre point of the room start with the 2 longest walls and measure the length of these walls. Divide each length by 2 and mark a line on the floor at exactly half way. Do this on all sides of the room.

You now should have 4 lines marked, one in the middle of each wall of the room. Using a chalk line, take one end and anchor it to one of your marks, which is at the midpoint of the wall. Stretch the line across the room to the opposite wall and anchor the line at your midpoint mark. Make sure your line is tight and “snap” the line by lifting the line up a little and letting go so it snaps a nice clean chalk line across the room.

Repeat this step on the other wall and when completed you should have your room divided into 4 quadrants. Where the lines intersect will be the centre of your room. Now take your tape measure and measure from the centre point to each corner of the room and each of these measurements should be equal.

Step 2 – Dry lay run: Lay out your tiles without any adhesive to get a visual of how your tiles will look once installed. This also helps to determine if you need to make any adjustments. Pick one quadrant, and starting from the centre point work your way outwards towards the wall.

Once you have laid all of your rubber floor tiles in one quadrant move on to the next. When the whole floor has been dry laid, view your rubber flooring under normal, occupied lighting conditions. Once you are satisfied that the tiles are laid out correctly, you’re ready to start gluing.

Step 3 – Glue preparation: Only Adesilex’s G19 two-part polyurethane adhesive is approved for installing UK Flooring Online’s Rubber Floor Tiles. It’s important to get the mix right, so please read the adhesive label for mixing directions, trowel recommendations, and floor porosity conditions, as after all the hard work you wouldn’t want to get it wrong at this stage. Now the glue’s ready, spread it over the floor and place your rubber flooring tiles down on top.

Lower the tiles gently into the adhesive, sliding the floor tiles will result in forcing the adhesive out between the seams. Position the tile and butt the edges tightly. Work off the tile surface or use a kneeling board. Periodically, lift the corner of an installed tile to ensure proper transfer of the adhesive.

If there’s any wet adhesive at the seams or on the rubber tile surface, clean it off straightaway with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol or water. If you don’t do it then, it’s going to be really difficult once it’s dried, and that could damage your rubber floor tiles.

Step 4 – Roller: Once you’ve laid all of the floor tiles down, using a roller (ideally a 45 Kg. 3-section roller) go over the rubber floor tiles. An hour later, roll over the rubber tiles a second time. Inspect the floor 2-1/2 hours after installation and roll a third time, if necessary. Use a hand roller in areas, which cannot be reached with a large roller. Inspect the floor surface (especially at any seams) and remove any visible adhesive on the surface.

Step 5 – Admire your rubber flooring tiles: Understandably, you’ll probably want to test out your new rubber flooring straightaway, but it’s best to wait for 72 hours before you let people trample over the rubber flooring.

Give it at least 12 hours to settle, and then allow only limited light traffic for the following 48 hours.