The Cure for Grout
Eight hours after work began, a fresh cross-hatch of silver-toned grout seals the joints between the tiles and gives the whole room a subtle facelift. In a few weeks, the fully cured grout will get a coat of silicone sealer that will make the ... [... more]
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Maintaining Ceramic Tile
USE A GROUT saw to scratch out any cracked, softened or badly stained grout from the joints between the wall tiles. CUT AWAY THE old caulk from around the top of the tub. Then thoroughly clean the joint of all grime, dust and soap buildup. FORCE ... [... more]
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How to Caulk Around a Tub: Overview
Just do the job neatly and carefully for long-lasting success You've seen the ominous signs of aging caulk. First it was the brown tinge along the edges. Now its smooth and supple skin has turned brittle and cracked, opening the way for stubborn ... [... more]
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How to Create a Vintage Tile Tabletop: Overview
Spreading tile adhesive and grout is as simple as icing a cake. For centuries, decorative tiles have transformed the mundane elements of a house—namely floors and walls—into works of functional art. This Old House reader Rosi Zingales is a master ... [... more]
This Old House |
Joy of Vintage Tile
Today, ceramic tiles are mostly unremarkable squares used to create tidy, washable surfaces in kitchens and baths. But a hundred years ago, tiles were covered with vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and bold figures to enliven the look of foyer ... [... more]
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Backsplash Bonanza
Ceramic-tile murals are custom-made or come in preassembled kits. They highlight specific areas of the room. Rotating tiles degrees produces a diamond pattern -- an easy way to add motion to a static area. Mixing tile shapes and sizes is another ... [... more]
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Fast Fix for Cracked Tile
BORE A SERIES of holes diagonally across the damaged tile with a 1/4-in.-dia. masonry drill bit. LIGHTLY TAP along the holes with a hammer and cold chisel until tile sections start popping loose. PRY UP LOOSE tile shards with a flat bar. Then use ... [... more]
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How to Build an Embossed Metal Planter: Overview
It's like wrapping a present only with sharp paper, and nails instead of tape. The patterns in most old metal ceilings were stamped in a tic-tac-toe formation, but instead of Xs and Os, the same floral or geometric design was repeated in each ... [... more]
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Design Your Own Art Tile
For truly one-of-a-kind tiles, many companies will create custom pieces on request. Here are tips for getting started: • Gather together references of the designs and colors you like. Companies will work from photographs, sketches, scraps of ... [... more]
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Clear Winners
Perhaps we wouldn't be so quick to chuck out all those empty wine bottles and water bottles and soda bottles and beer bottles if we knew what they were capable of. The people who make these tiles know. That's why they gather up your castoffs, ... [... more]
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How to Hire a Tiling Contractor
Even a small error in floor, wall, or bath tile can be an eyesore. One minutely mispositioned tile, for example, can throw off the pattern and grout line, making the goof glaring. Worse, fixing a botched tiling job is expensive, disruptive and ... [... more]
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How to Tile a Fireplace Surround: Overview
The time for those exposed bricks framing your fireplace, with their pocked faces and rustic finish, is long past. Nights by that fire practically screamed for a glass of Chablis and the soothing sounds of Lionel Ritchie. Now you're more about ... [... more]
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