Detailed information on finishes and maintenance
Finishes
Both trims and border tiles can add a very professional finish to your tiling project. Borders emphasize transitions between spaces drawing the eye to the highlighted area and serve mainly a decorative purpose. A tiled flooring border can often also enhance the size of a room.
Check out the pictures of trims, borders, and listellos on our website, or visit a Project Tile Design showroom to get ideas from our many display boards.
Exterior tiles are frost resistant or frost proof and generally have a slightly gritty surface to make them slip resistant. Generally this type of tile is not used inside as it would be difficult to keep clean as a sponge would get destroyed.
Ceramic or porcelain tiles do not require polishing as they come with a natural glaze?finish. In fact polishing these types of surfaces can make them very slippery and dangerous to walk on.
Tile Maintenance
Regular sweeping is the easiest way to protect flooring surfaces.
Mopping on a regular basis is also recommended for smooth surfaces to remove any dirt and grime.
Project Tile Design carry a full range of products that are specifically manufactured for cleaning tiles, but stay away from acids or harsh chemical cleaners.
Additional tips to keep your tiles looking like new:
- Keep your tiled surface clean from dirt
- Wipe away spills immediately
- Avoid dropping heavy objects on your tiles
Replacing Broken Tiles
If you happen to break a tile (it is quite hard to do) you can replace it. Try that with vinyl or wooden flooring.
Safety first: always wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when replacing broken tiles.
Firstly, remove the grout from around the broken tile. Place masking tape over the damaged tile and hammer the centre of the tile. Remove the masking tape along with the tiling pieces stuck to it and proceed chipping away at the rest of the tile from the centre out. Once the whole tile has been removed clean out the area as well as possible with a chisel – being extra careful not to slip and damage any of the surrounding tiles. Spread a layer of adhesive to both the surface to be tiled and the back of the replacement tile. Press the tile firmly into place making it as level as possible with the existing tiles. Allow the adhesive to set and dry before grouting 24 hours later.
Regrouting
If the grouting between your tiles has become discoloured or is looking shabby it is best to remove it and regrout. Ardex Grout is available in different colours – if you feel like a change now is your chance! To remove the hard grout use a sharp point cutting tool to scrape it out being careful not to chip the surrounding tiles. You can purchase a special tool from Project Tile Design. You can then use an old tooth brush to brush away all the loose pieces still left in the cracks. Force the new grout into the cracks wiping away any excess grout with a damp (not wet) sponge. Make sure you wring out the sponge because you don’t want to introduce more water into the grout. Allow the grout to dry, apply water based grout sealant and finally polish off the tiles with a soft dry cloth.
