Types of install

For some reason, many salespeople suggest that installing tile on a diagonal makes a room look bigger. I disagree. It certainly makes it look BUSY. Sometimes very distractingly so!

My take is that tile should be functionally attractive. I believe the diagonal installation can even be disturbing, but the floor covering ought not draw the attention of the total room or area.

As for the illusion of increased size, I have come to think it is the long straight lines - the railroad track effect - that makes an area appear larger. The diagonal eliminates that option. And one can come to that judgement - or not - by viewing from a corner when there is tile already laid.

Sealers

Now this is MY opinion again. I have time and again told MY customers that I question the real benefit of applying sealer to ceramic tile grout. No doubt there is some benefit, but it is similar to applying clear nail polish to nails. How much it protects it is questionable. And I have always wondered, too, how often it has to be REDONE!

Usually I have seen customers who have always apologized for their sealer. "Must have put it on wrong", or "put it on too late, I guess"... whatever. The only time I have used it in my home (applied by a professional) it happens to be the dirtiest and/or darkest my grout has ever looked! I was/am very disappointed by the result.

This is different than applying it as a decorative finish to porous products like saltillo, or slate, or travertine inside a home. But I am left with wondering the real benefit of applying any to grout where the product is "tile".

Types of Tile

As mentioned, "tile" comes in many shapes, sizes, thicknesses, colors, and types. One of the best definitions of tiles in general can be found on this link:

http://johnbridge.com/types_of_tile.htm
Types of Tile - Porcelain and Ceramic

Enjoy

John Bridge

I recently was directed to a website by my daughter-in-law that impressed me greatly. Amazingly our backgrounds are remarkably similar and I intend to "borrow" his information for my new "advice page" quite often as he graciously makes it available to the world.

From what I have read I was duly impressed because what I intended to do - HE has done already!

So before beginning, I first want to give credit to HIS research as it will make my job considerably easier. And from what I noticed, most or all the information is quite on the money.

The only point in MY page, therefore, might be ANOTHER way to find this information, and in the very few areas I might disagree with him. (If any) So THANK YOU John Bridge!

Tile size

For some reason people often think that a small room demands small tiles. I have found it just as fitting to put a large tile in a small area. Larger tiles only mean less grout joints - and less grout joints to get dirty.

Cleaning grout

One tip I frequently offer to people regards the cleaning of grout. It's a "Dear Heloise" kind of thing. The best implement I have ever found to clean the grout that darkens after time is a 'Scotch Brite' pad and soapy water. The fuzzy on one side and sponge on the other.

Just a gentle rubbing over the grout joint with the fuzzy side and followed by the sponge side works much better than toothbrushes that housewives tend to immediately try at first. And the whole job needn't be done at one time. Occasional bits now and again will improve the small areas that frequently darken in the main walk areas until the whole is restored.

And probably the worse culprit for darkening grout is walking about in bare feet and the oils from the skin; coupled by cleaning with dirty water. Rather than changing the water, continuing with darkened water is probably moving the dirt rather than removing the dirt and oils.

Tile

Hereafter I will be using the term 'tile' to describe any of the hard services being installed. (As opposed to vinyl.) For instance - marble tiles, slate tiles, porcelain tiles, mosaic tiles, etc.

And almost all now come in varying sizes, colors, shapes and thicknesses. In time I will define their characteristics and MY opinion of each. I hope to show what each looks like, and describe why installers generally charge differently for different products.

My hope is that in time, it will help consumers make more intelligent decisions when they shop for floor and wall coverings after seeing these posts.

Hiring installers

Now that credentials are out of the way, a word about hiring installers. In Arizona the law demands that any tile job where the materials and labor exceed $1000 per project, a license is required. But it makes good sense to hire a licensed contractor as well.

Aside from an indication of experience, and credibility, licensed contractors are often less expensive, especially in the long run. Should a problem arise, there is a recourse before a lawsuit.

Too often unlicensed contractors can do inferior work or no work at all, and the consumer has no means to recover what has been paid out. Either for materials or poor workmanship. The Registrar of Contractors is an agency set up to protect the consumer from unscrupulous Contractors.

Applications

And then I would like to list some of the places that I have installed these various products:

All types of hard flooring - inside and outside, patios and roofs,

Tubslplashes, Counters,
Vanities, Backsplashes,
Fireplaces, Showers,
Spas, Wainscoats,
Walls, Ceilings,
Tables, Benches,

Repair and replacement of individual tiles - to name some.

Materials

To begin with, and suggest authority on the subject, I will list various products I have installed over the years:

Ceramic tile, Porcelain tile, Saltillo tile,
Travertine , Marble, Slate,
Flagstone, Glass tile, Quarry tile,
Pavers, Mosaics, Tumbled products,
Granite, Hand-painted Murals,
Cantera Stone , Concrete Tiles, Plastic tile

And others in variation.

Introduction

This will be an ONGOING feature. Upfront it is intended to share what I know about my field acquired over 35 years in the trade. Especially it is MY thoughts, in MY words. Hopefully no technical jargon but bits and pieces of what I tend to share and have shared with my customers about everything related to my business.

Advice from Ceramic Tile Expert John J. Sullivan

John J. Sullivan will be providing expert advice for homeowners and others interested in ceramic tile care, cleaning, installation, selection and more.

John Sullivan is an Arizona ceramic tile contractor who has been doing ceramic tile flooring installations for thirty+ years, he is licensed, bonded, and insured and does a fantastic job. He has installed tile in numerous restaurants, office complexes, and homes. His work now is limited to residential installations. Primarily remodel, but also new homes.