Sunday 30 December 2012

Enhance the look of your homes with tiles Kingston



Tiles Kinston

Tiles are very important elements necessitated in the home décor. They are responsible for adding more appeal and grace to the homes and giving it an exquisite and elegant look. Tiles Kingston is an avenue which cannot be overlooked if you want to give the feeling of beauty to your home. The demand for tiles is seen increasing due to the awareness in the minds of the people regarding their importance. More and more individuals and families are relying on convenient and simple methods for retaining the beauty of homes. The tiles are major contributors to this. The proclaimed truth that money is always earned, becomes relevant while you buy anything. Purchasing of the correct tiles too forms part of this aspect, and hence they need to be chosen correctly.

You do not obviously want to regret your decision, anytime in the future in relation to your interior design. Hence, the tiles need to match exactly to your mood and décor, as re-installing the tiles can be a tedious job which can consume money again. You always need to choose a dealer dealing in tiles who is authentic and is experienced enough for providing the best. The dealer also needs to have trained tile installers. There might be situations wherein you are not in a position to select the best tiles for your house. It is advised that you take professional advice in this regards. There are many companies dealing in tiles in the United Kingdom. You just need to check for the best in the business, and the ones that are close to your vicinity.

Benefits of installing tiles

Installing tiles to your floorings, walls, bathrooms and kitchen has numerous benefits. Wall tiles ensure that the art work of your kids does not affect the design of your walls. Good tiles in the kitchen make it easier for you to keep it clean. Proper tiling in the bathrooms ensures that your walls are not affected due to the water, and good tiles on the floors ensure that the floor remains skid proof. Tiles Kingston also ensure that you keep your walls and floors away from algal and fungal infections. It also saves the walls from acquiring moisture patches during the rainy season.

There are variety of designer as well as contemporary tiles available for making a choice. The tiles are manufactured in different materials such as limestone, metal, slate, porcelain and ceramic. You just need to choose what fits your budget the best, and more importantly what is necessary for your home. People usually give less prominence to the bathrooms, corridors and kitchens of the house along with other such smaller sections. Tiles are designed and manufactured according to the different areas of the house. Hence, if you are not aware, professionals can guide you in this regard. Tiles Kingston can result in making the rooms look large or small due to the various colours and designs they are manufactured in. So make correct choices, if you do not intend to spoil the show.

Friday 14 December 2012

Why Choose Porcelain Floor Tiles?



Porcelain tiles are a source of beauty and enjoyment but this is no their only purpose.  Porcelain tiles can also be an investment when it comes to the value of your home.  Potential buyers are much savvier these days and are easily able to see past a quick lick of paint, they are looking for more than just appearance but quality as well.  When a potential buyer looks at your porcelain tiled floor they will be able to see that you take pride in the way your home looks and they will also see that you have chosen a material that will give them the lasting quality they have come to expect.  If you decide to sell your home you will be able to ask a higher listing price because your house has higher value.
Porcelain Floor Tiles

You may wonder how porcelain tiles can add so much value to your home and the first answer would be is that they are extremely attractive.  By using porcelain for tiles you can create a number of different looks ranging from a charming cottage feel to a sleek and sophisticated look.  Tiles can create a focal point in a room and look and feel of porcelain tiles conveys simple quality while at the same time giving a hint of luxury.

High quality porcelain floor tiles are extremely durable and are also resistant to impact, water absorption, scratching, staining and chemicals.  Maintaining porcelain floor tiles is also relatively east especially if the tiles have been well glazed.  These characteristics also make these tiles a hygienic choice especially for a kitchen or bathroom.  This a great selling point for any homebuyer as what could be better than a floor that look amazing and is also easy to clean.

Porcelain floor tiles are created by exposing the clay to very high temperatures which hardens the surface.  Because the tiles are made in this way they are hugely durable and as I mention before when porcelain floor tiles are used the floor becomes impact-resistant.  Because porcelain tiles are long-lasting they will continue to look beautiful for a lot longer than other types of flooring materials.  Any homebuyer looking at your home will see a floor that looks gorgeous and will also not have to be replaces any time soon and this means this it will eventually become their investment.

In summary, a well crafted and laid porcelain tile floor will add value to your home.  Porcelain floor tiles will reflect the commitment and care you have for your home and most potential buyers will know that no one would go to the expense of installing porcelain floor tiles if the rest of their home is subpar.  If you care about your home, then convey your sense of pride and value by installing a wonderful porcelain floor tile.

Sunday 9 December 2012

Victorian Floor Tiles – How to Keep Them Clean



Victorian Floor Tiles
Victorian floor tiles look wonderful but to keep them intact and clean they will need a lot of care and attention.  Most period tiling designs have a combination of plain tiles and encaustic tiles that have different coloured clays inlaid to create the designs and these tend to become ingrained with dirt.  Victorian floor tiles can also become dull due to hundreds of years of wear and tear.

If you decide to clean your Victorian floor tiles yourself then beware of the ridiculous advice that is posted on the internet as using these methods will more than likely damage your tiles.  Do NOT use any of the suggestions listed below:

·         Wire wool - scratches the surface of tile very easily, dirt then clings to the scratches
·         Sandpaper - basically abrades the clay tile away, tile is now more fragile
·         Brick acid - just think about it, Sulphamic acid poured on to your floor?
·         Caustic soda - May cause bleaching and discolouration
·         High alkaline cleaner dwelled for 10 - 15 minutes - Bleaches tiles permanently
·         Paint stripper - Application movements will be etched into the tiles permanently
·         Boiled linseed oil - Oil dies, stains and then discolours your floor, very hard to remove

The best way to clean and maintain your Victorian floor tiles is to use an alkaline cleaner. Always start in an unobtrusive corner so you can test the cleaning product.  You should pre-wet the tiles and apply the cleaning product onto the surface of the tiles.  Agitate the product manually by using a green pan scourer as these are made from a plastic material which is abrasive enough to work the product into the body of the tile but will not scratch the surface.  Leave the product on for 20 minutes and then thoroughly rinse off.  You should never allow the product to dry on the surface of the tiles and you should give each tile individual attention.  If there are hardened substances on the tiles, such as paint splashes, you can use a blade at a 45 degree angle.

After the cleaning process is completed it is often a good idea to re-grout the tiles.  New and clean grout will give Victorian floor tiles a visual lift and will also protect the edges of tiles that are in areas of heavy footfall.  It is better to use weak cement grout rather than lime mortar grout as lime is more than likely to stain the tiles.  You should also reseal the tiles so that they don’t absorb further spills or dirt. You should never use bees wax or linseed oil as a protective coating.