Bathrooms that are smaller in size do not have to be less in design. Using tile in small bathrooms won’t expand your space but, if used right, can help create the illusion or more room. Plumbtile has an extensive collection of tiles to choose from the complement and enhance your space. Continue reading →
Beautiful Glass and Mosaic Tile
When you add beautiful glass and mosaic tile to any surface they enhance the design of the room they are in. Their intricate designs, patterns, and accents bring elegance and beauty to the overall design of the space. Plumbtile offers an array of sophisticated glass and mosiac products.
There are a variety of products available to match any style preference or budget. Whether you are looking for something classic or modern, you can find it in glass and mosaic tile. There are great options for flooring, counter tops, windows and more.
Check out some of these great options from Plumbtile!
How to: Replace Broken Tile
Cracks in the tile are generally caused by the building settling, but can also be due to improper tile installation, the wrong kind of tile being used, or accidents. Whatever the reason, broken tiles are generally considered unsightly, and can even lead to more serious problems if moisture happens to get into and under the cracks.
Obviously, in most cases, you won’t want to replace the entire floor due to one or two broken tiles. Here is how to remove and replace the broken tiles easily.
Materials:
• Replacement tile
• Tile adhesive
• Grout
• Water
Tools:
• Grout Scraper
• Hammer
• Pry bar
• Safety glasses
• Trowel
• Grout float
• Sponge
• Small bucket
• Filling knife
- Scrape the Grout
Working around the tile joints (seams), scratch out the grout using the grout scraper. You’ll be getting a pretty fine mess going, but you need to get as much of the grout out as possible. This will separate the broken tile(s) from the ones that are not broken and will make it easier to get a pry bar under the edges if necessary later on. - Break/Loosen the Tile
With the hammer, hit the tile a couple of times to loosen it from the surface it is adhered to. Depending on the size of the tile, you will probably have to remove it in chunks. Once you’ve broken it up, use the other side of the hammer or the pry bar to lift up the tile pieces. - Scrape Adhesive
Once you’ve gotten as much of the tile as possible removed, you need to get rid of the old adhesive. Use a scraper, filling knife or even putty knife to scrape it all off. - Clean the surface
To be sure your new tile properly adheres; you will need to at least dust off the surface. At best, try to clean the surface with a damp cloth and some mild soap. Wait until it is completely dry before moving to the next step. Do not use a wet cloth! Damp will pick up the dust; wet will get water under the adjacent tiles and cause a lot of issues later on. - Add New Adhesive
Use the trowel to apply the adhesive back onto the surface (just as the old stuff was.) The layer should be only about ¼ inch. - Set the Tile
Now place the new tile on top of the adhesive and press firmly in the middle, corners, and along the sides. Press many times and even wiggle the tile a little bit to be sure it is set firmly. - Re-grout
Now you can mix up your grout into the same paste consistency as the adhesive and use your grout float to smear it along the sides of the tile. Be sure the grout is getting into all of the seams around the tile – don’t leave gaps; fill up each seam completely! - Clean up
Finally, you can use your sponge and bucket of water to clean all of the excess grout off the surface of the tiles. The sponge should be damp enough to pick up excess grout, but NOT soaking wet enough to alter the consistency of the grout in the joint.
The Top 4 Things You Missed at Dwell On Design
So for those of you who missed it last weekend, the Dwell on Design show was amazing. It’s the West Coast’s biggest design event, was at the LA Convention Center and is put on by Dwell magazine (check out their twitter here). The top names in interior decoration, kitchen fixtures, bathroom tile, modern furniture and advanced appliances were present to help turn the houses of today into the homes of the future. Continue reading →
How-To: Lay Glass Tile
Glass tile has steadily risen in popularity these past few years, and as a result costs have been driven down as competition increases between makers. Even better, eco-friendly processes have become involved, and some makers boast 100% recycled glass tile lines.
However, some contractors are reluctant to lay glass tile because they are not used to the methods to set it down. It’s different from ceramic tile and if done wrong can be costly to re-do. Contrary to popular belief, it’s fairly easy to do, as long as you’re prepared appropriately. Continue reading →
Oceanside Glasstile's Faceted Radiance- Durable, Sustainable Tile
You can’t forget about tile when designing your bath or kitchen. Even if your arrangement doesn’t call for it, Oceanside Glasstile can change your whole composition when used as an accent. The focus of my last few posts have been about the functional side of the products we offer: faucets, handles, showers and accessories. Just as important is the background that your kitchen and bath fixtures are placed in front of.
Hastings Tile and Bath- New Tile and Faucet Innovations
A recent discovery I’ve made is the Hastings Bath and Tile Collection. They started out a paving company over 100 years ago, but in the past few decades have turned to the bath and tile industry exclusively. This is a good thing, considering the showerheads, faucets, handles, paneling, tiles and accessories they have to offer.