Can You Lay Tile Directly Over a Plywood Subfloor?
Chris asks, “Can you tile directly over a plywood subfloor without using cement backer board?”To keep the grout or tile from cracking, you need to put down either cement backer board or an underlayment membrane before tiling over a plywood subfloor. Read on to find out more.
via Can You Lay Tile Directly Over a Plywood Subfloor?.
Leave a comment
Tile Patterns
Always one to stay educated on topics of interest (in this case, tile and home decor), I thought it’d be useful to share some handy pattern terms so it’s easier to describe what you want when looking for tile or talking to a designer.
Diagonal: Tile is set at a 45-degree angle to the wall.
Pic courtesy of DIY Network
Square: Tile is set at a 90-degree angle to the wall.
Offset: Square tiles are set in a staggered pattern.
Herringbone: Tiles are set in adjoining vertical rows of slanting lines, in which two adjacent lines form a V or inverted V. More examples at this link.
Checkerboard: Square tiles alternate in differing shades to create a checkerboard pattern.
Modular: A distinctive Old World pattern formed by placing together tiles of differing sizes and shapes.
Random: Tiles of various sizes and shapes are set in an undetermined pattern.
Bordered: Strips of field tile, or contrasting colored tile, are used to create a boarder, whether to outline a room or to create carpet effect.
Brick style: Rectangular tiles are staggered, like bricks in a wall.
Octagonal: Clipping all four corners of a square tile resulting in an octagon; a decorative accent or contrasting “dot” can be inserted between these tiles.
Basket weave: Rectangular tiles are set in a pattern that mimics woven material. See Mosaic’s selection of Basketweave tile.
Crisscross: Square tiles are bordered on all four sides with contrasting material of a smaller width, resulting in a criss cross pattern when repeated through a room.
Ref: Tile Style2 Comments
Ikea
Who doesn’t love a bargain? I hear people go on and on about how Ikea’s products are of poor quality, good for only college dorm rooms or apartments. It’s not completely true and I have also heard just as many (if not more) people praise the quality of Ikea’s products and a lot of people especially like their kitchen installations. Seemingly expensive and stylish kitchens have been put together solely using what Ikea offers and the ones I’ve seen have been quite impressive so before you poo-poo the idea, know that custom work whether from Ikea or from us is never out of your reach and there’s a price range for everyone without having to sacrifice quality.
Ikea Kitchen Ideas & Inspiration (link)
Classic subway tile backsplash.
Clean, cool slate backsplash makes this cozy kitchen more polished.
Love the 1″ x 1″ grey tile used on the floor in this kitchen.
Can’t deny – that backsplash is such a great pop of pattern and color.
Kitchens are becoming the family room in most homes so it’s important to keep things neat yet fully functional – storage, surface space, appliances all need to be in harmony and I really like Ikea’s solutions for that. And there’s no reason why you can’t use your own specialty tile to really tie it all together! That’s the beauty of custom design and decor for the home!
(All images courtesy of Ikea.com)
Leave a commentBefore & After from Design*Sponge
Another fabulous Before/After kitchen makeover from Design*Sponge! What’s lovely is how tile and stone are used to update the look – testament that it’s an ideal way to give your room new life without breaking the bank. The original kitchen was … well like they said on Design*Sponge – too much wood. It looks like the 60′s vomited all over this kitchen.
I mean, seriously…
What a difference!!! According to D*S, the kitchen belongs to photographer Shanni Weilert. Together with her husband they replaced the flooring with gorgeous hardwood, the countertops are simple crema marfil (available on our site) and glass tile backsplash for pop which I think works wonders, complements the stainless steel appliances and just makes it all look shiny, new and clean.
Crema Marfil is a natural stone from Spain and is more popularly known as granite. We carry a ton of options for Crema Marfil from strips for backsplashes to mosaics for flooring and just simple square tile. It’s an economical and quality material. Check out our options by clicking here.
Leave a commentThursday Tile+Stone Inspiration: Kitchen Makeover
While browsing through The Kitchn, I found a kitchen makeover that proves that you don’t have to get fancy with tile to update and “class up” your space. By updating the countertop and adding subway tile to the walls for a backsplash, a Kitchn/Aparment Therapy reader made his kitchen a more functional space that suited the overall look of his apartment.
The finished kitchen.
The apartment dweller worked with designer Patrick James Hamilton for this transformation.
“Style-wise, the client liked classic “Butler’s Pantry” kitchens. While that suited the vintage style of the apartment, Hamilton feared a bright white would have been too stark a contrast to the settled appearance of the rest of the home. Taking cues from wallpaper in the adjoining living room, and a handmade American ceramic subway tile chosen for the backsplash, client and designer arrived at a mostly monochromatic “golden vanilla” scheme that gives the space warmth, minimizes visual clutter in the highly visible space, and maximizes light when the kitchen is (frequently!) pressed into active duty.”
Before - drab, dated.
Updated appliances, countertop, fixtures. Love the almost monochromatic feel.
Looks really spacious!
Click here for the full article at The Kitchen and see exactly how Hamilton and his client thought through the process for this remodeling.
Leave a commentGlossary of Terms: P – W
We’re continuing on our extensive Glossary of Tiling Terms today. Remember if you have any questions at all on tiling or installation, please don’t hesitate to email me. I’d love to help you with your tiling needs!
P
palletizing A system of stacking stone on wooden pallets. Stone delivered palletized is easily moved and transported by modern handling equipment. It generally arrives at the job site in better condition than unpalletized material.
panel A single unit of fabricated stone veneer.
parging Applying a coat of mortar to the back of stone units, or to the face of the backup material.
parapet 1. a low wall to protect the edge of a terrace, roof, or balcony. 2. The portion of wall above the roof of a building.
patina When the surface of a material has changed in color or texture due to age or exposure to various elements, it is referred to as patina.
paver A single unit of fabricated stone for use as an exterior paving material.
paving Stone used as a wearng surface, as in patios, walkways, driveways, etc.
pedestal In classical architecture, the support for a column or statue, consisting of a base, dado, and cap.
pediment The gable end of a roof in classical architecture. Located above a horizontal cornice member, it comprises the raking cornices and the tympanum. It is typically triangular, but can also be curved when applied as a decorative element over windows.
pergola Garden structure formed by two rows of posts or pillars with joists and open framing above, often covered by climbing plants and shading a walkway.
pilaster A shallow, engaged pier or column projecting from a wall, typically decorative.
pillowed A tile finish that features softly rounded edges, thus giving the tile a pillowed look.
pitched stone A rough stone face or edge, cut with a pitching chisel.
plinth 1. The base block at the junction of the stone base and trim around a door or other opening. 2. The bottom stone block of a column or pedestal.
plutonic Applies to igneous rocks formed beneath the surface of the earth, typically with large crystals owing to the slowness of cooling.
pointing The final filling and finishing of mortar joints that have been raked out. polished finish A glossy surface finish that brings out the full color and character of the stone.
porphyry An igneous rock characterized by distinct and contrasting sizes of coarse and fine-grained crystals. Used as a decorative building stone.
portico A porch formed by a roof supported with columns, similar to a temple front.
privacy partition A thin stone panel between urinals. See urinal screen.
producer Company or person that quarries and supplies dimension stone to the commercial market.
Leave a comment
