Are you thinking about installing or replacing the tile in your home and not sure if you want to DIY or hire a professional tile installation specialist? The experts at A & E Painting & Renovations are your #1 resource in flooring installation in Houston, Texas and the surrounding areas.
Types of Tile Flooring
There are many different types of tiles available on the market such as stone, ceramic and porcelain. Floor tiles are resilient and you never have to worry about moisture caused by stains or spills. Tiles have a hard surface covering and are the number one flooring choice for areas such as kitchens, entryways and bathrooms in Houston, Texas and the surrounding areas
Reasons to Hire a Professional to Install your Tile Flooring
Poor installation can ruin the appearance of tile flooring, walls or backsplashes. If you are going to spend you hard earned dollars on tile such as stone, ceramic or porcelain, it’s definitely worth your while to invest your money in the expertise and craftsmanship of an A & E Painting & Renovations specialist.
• Protect the product warranty – many tile manufacturers will not cover tile or grout that develops damage due to improper installation.
• Fast tile installation – professional tile installation means you can save your valuable time and money and should any unexpected issues arise, your professional tile installation specialist has the training, knowledge and experience to take care of them immediately.
• Specialized tile and grout installation equipment – Cutting, setting, and grouting tile requires special tools and a precise eye. A professional tile installation specialist has all the tools needed to spread mortar & grout, get smooth tile edges, and make precise cuts guaranteed to fit irregular shaped spaces.
• Reduce tile waste – professional tile installation will include taking precise measurements and calculating the materials needed to keep your product costs down. Plus there will be fewer tiles wasted due to incorrect cuts and broken tile.
• Prevent future water damage – if your tile isn’t installed or grouted correctly, water can enter cracks which can lead to mold and mildew forming in your walls and flooring.
If you are planning to install ceramic floors as a DIY project, the knowledgeable tile installation specialists at A & E Painting & Renovations have provided 5 tips to help make your tiling project a success.
• Don’t forget to remove the baseboard – leaving the baseboard on when installing tile can add additional hours of cutting and measuring. If you remove the baseboard, your measurements and cuts don’t have to be perfect or precise but you still run the risk of wasting tiles with accidental breaks due to inexperienced handling of equipment.
• Position the first row of tiles with guide boards – Chalk is the most affordable practice for positioning the first row but can be problematic if your tiles move when you try to position the second row. Arrange the first tile with the aid of guide boards which although time consuming will it will stop the tiles from moving out of place.
• Use a diamond blade grinder for tougher cuts – although a grinder is not exactly ideal for cutting tiles since it has a tendency to leave tile edges jagged or chipped and will also leave a dust cloud, it is the best tool to shape curves or make cuts that other domestic tools can’t cope with.
• Hold back from too much tile cutting – cutting is definitely a necessary part of tiling but you should minimize your tile cutting as much as you can. Tile cutting is tedious and back breaking work and cut tiles never look as appealing on the floor as a full size tile. Even placing cut tiles out of site can diminish visual appearance of your floors
• Slow drying works best – To avoid potential problems with your tiled floors drying too quickly, mix latex additives with the thin-set rather than water.
