We Love Floors and Walls: Tiling, Tiles, Pictures and Design Ideas

Remodelling or redecorating your bathroom or your kitchen floor can be a dilemma especially if you’re trying to do things on your own. However, you can do it successfully by using proper tools. One specific project in remodelling or redecorating is cutting tiles off a wall without impairing the tiles around it. Below are ways to properly do it yourself so there is no need to hire contractors.

1. Prepare the things needed for this project: safety glasses, face mask, circular saw, small diamond saw blade(s), tarp, tape measure, plastic sheeting, pencil, small chisel, hammer, electric sander, small crowbar, and masking tape.
2. Find out how much tile needs to be removed for your project. Measure and mark the area using a tape measure and a pencil, respectively. With the use of a tarp, protect areas that will gradually be covered with dust from cutting tiles. Plastic sheeting and masking tape also come handy when containing the area or room you will be working on. It would be easier to clean the area afterwards.
3. Using a diamond blade inserted into the circular saw, cautiously start cutting on the pencil marks. Always wear safety goggles and face mask while scoring through the tiles.
4. Using a small crowbar, insert its plane end beneath the tiles that are to be detached. Gently and firmly pull the crowbar till the tiles that were cut come off the wall.
5. Any residual grout and mortar that glued the tiles to the walls need to be removed. By using a hammer and a small chisel, gradually take away the remaining mortar and grout. The safety glasses and face mask should still be worn when doing this process.
6. Using an electric sander, moderately sand any residue from the wall where the tile was glued. This leaves the region in great shape for the next phase of your DIY project.

When it comes to flooring, tile floors are preferred due to their durability. They are considered to be long-term investments that can literally last a lifetime. However, one should remember that for them to preserve their appearance and worth, they should be well taken cared of. Below are a few tips on how you can take care of your floorboards.

1. Avert surface scratching that can be caused by debris. This can be done through vacuuming or sweeping the tile floor surface with a dust mop on a regular basis.

2. Use an eco-friendly cleaning solution and a damp mop to do a deeper cleaning of the tile floor. Do not use cleaners that are acidic, abrasive and ammonia-based. Bleach is also a no-no.

3. To prevent probable staining from taking place, make sure to wipe spills straightaway and clean the spill area with a sponge soaked in soap and water solution. This ensures protection of the tile appearance.

4. Walk-off mats as well as area rugs are must-haves and should be strategically placed in areas that are prone to water and areas with high traffic such as entryways. By doing this, debris and dirt are collected by the mats and rugs instead of reaching the floor. Make sure to regularly shake out the mats and rugs to get rid of little rubbles.

5. You can install furniture feet protectors under your furniture to lessen possible scratching or staining on the tile floor surface. Do not drag furniture through the tile floor when moving it from one place to another. Carefully raise and carry it to its location. Dragging furniture can cause potential damage to the tiles such as surface scratching, cracks or chips under extreme force.

By being proactive and reactive, your floor tiles can be well cared and can last very long.

Dirt and grime that accumulate in grout can ruin the look of your ceramic tile floors and bathrooms. One way to help keep grout clean is sealing it once a year. But, it is vital to clean the grout before sealing it. There are plenty of ways to clean grout. Some of the ways in cleaning grout are also dependent on the type of tile that you have. Instead of using standard grout cleaners available in the market today, you can try a homemade grout cleaning solution. You’ll be surprised to know that the basic household supplies such as ammonia, baking soda and white vinegar can work wonders. Check out the video below highlighting a stress-free way of cleaning grout in 60 seconds.

Additionally, below is a step-by-step guide outlined in the video. Say hello to stress-free grout cleaning!

Things Needed:

• Mop
• Scrub Brush
• Gloves
• Ammonia
• Baking soda
• White Vinegar

Procedure:

1. To prepare a cleaning solution, mix the following: 1/3 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup white vinegar
2. Use the brush to scrub in the cleaning solution. Wait for an interval of 15 to 20 minutes before scrubbing again.
3. Rinse and mop the floor thoroughly.

Note: Items specified above are for ceramic and porcelain tiles only.