Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Contractor Grade Tile Tools: All About Tile and Grout Cleaning

One thing to look for in an online supplier of contractor grade tile tools is whether or not they provide tile and grout cleaning supplies.
Not All Contractor Grade Tile Tools are
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Contractor Grade Tile Tools and Tile Cleaning

According to the site Houzz.com: "Tile — whether it's used as flooring, in the kitchen as a backsplash or for counters, or in the bathroom — has one great downfall: grout. Since grout is porous in nature, unsealed grout absorbs all kinds of stains, from mildew to coffee and everything in between. To say it's a headache to keep grout clean is an understatement. Note: Be wary of using too much lemon juice with marble, since it can etch or damage the stone if left on too long. Hydrogen peroxide can be a safe alternative. by Meg Padgett Meg Padgett We inherited marble tile counters when we purchased our home. It's pretty clear that the grout was never properly sealed, so it soaks up stains like crazy. It makes our kitchen feel gross and grimy, even if it was just cleaned. While I'd love to replace the counters with a solid surface like quartz, it's just not in our budget — plus, we just can't justify getting rid of something that's perfectly fine otherwise. by Meg Padgett Meg Padgett Luckily, I have a foolproof method that will lift most household stains from that pesky grout. What you'll need: • Oxygenated bleach (like OxiClean) • Warm water • Coarse scrubbing brush (like an old toothbrush) • Towel • Lemon • Grout sealer Tip: Cleaning colored grout should be done with special care. Bleaching agents (like chlorine bleach) can discolor and harm the colored grout. Fortunately, oxygenated bleach does not contain corrosive chemicals and is safe to use on all grout. by Meg Padgett Meg Padgett 1. Clean the surface thoroughly, removing any surface residue or debris. Let the grout dry fully. 2. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of oxygenated bleach in 2 cups of warm water. Wet the brush in the mixture and apply it to the grout. Let it soak in, then scrub the grout in a circular motion, which will loosen the stain more effectively than a front-and-back motion. If needed, dip the wet brush into the oxygenated bleach to make a paste. Wipe clean, then let dry. Tip: To lift extra-dark stains, squeeze lemon juice onto the stain, let it soak in, then scrub, wipe clean and let the grout dry. Use lemon juice sparingly, since it can damage some tile finishes." [READ SOURCE]

Professional Grade Tile Tools and More Thoughts About Them

If you want to buy contractor grade tile tools, make sure that you find a good source.

Look online if you can. Once you have a good supplier, that offers everything from tile cutters to grout cleaning supplies, then keep buying from them.

Another thing to look for is applicators. After all, you don't want to have your cleaner and no way to apply it.

Ultimately, you want a supplier you can trust for all of your contractor grade tile tools

For more information, click here


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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Tile Projects: Start with The Grout (Conclusion)

Contractor grade tile tools are important for the success of a tiling project. However, you mustn't neglect the basics, such as the grout you use. As we covered previously, in addition to tile tools, your grout is also of a great deal of importance.  
The difference between an amateur job and a
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Epoxy Grout and Tile Projects

Epoxy grout is a popular form of grout. According to the site The Floor Elf: "Epoxy Grout Epoxy grout is the top of the line and best choice for any tile application. It can be substituted for sanded or unsanded grout. It is more sturdy than both as well as being waterproof and stain resistant. Epoxy is a two or three part chemical consisting of the base and the activator. With some brands the color is an additional part that must be added. Once the parts are mixed a chemical reaction begins. From that point, depending on the brand of epoxy, you have only a limited amount of time to get everything grouted before the grout becomes stiff enough to be unworkable. When it reaches that point, if you do not have everything grouted you are SOL. To help slow the cure time you can mix your epoxy then put half of it in the freezer. The cold air will slow the chemical reaction and lengthen the working time. You can then work with the other half until it is all used. Clean it up, wipe everything down, then grab the second half out of the freezer and finish up. When you first pull it out of the freezer it will be, well, frozen. It thaws quickly, though, so should be workable within a few minutes. This essentially doubles the working time of your grout and ensures you don’t have to rush through it. Since most epoxy grouts do not contain sand (or at least not in the classic sense of sand) it will normally not scratch your tile. If you have highly polished granite or marble that’s important. Be sure to test first anyway! Different brands of epoxy have different working times as well as some being more difficult to work with than others. The brand with which I have had the most luck and the only brand I ever use is SpectraLOCK from Laticrete. It has a longer working time than any other epoxy grout (at least any I’ve ever used) and is virtually stain proof. Please don’t take that to mean the you can grout a jacuzzi with it, fill it with cherry kool-aid, and expect it not to be pink (Don’t do that). It just means that for all intents and purposes it will not stain without concerted effort. In my opinion it is the best on the market. The only drawback of epoxy grout would be the price. It is fairly expensive. When weighed against the upside, however, it is well worth it. Low maintenance demands and high durability of epoxy grout make it well worth the money. Picking the correct grout for your application is a key part of a proper tile installation. If you choose incorrectly you could end up with a multitude of problems and headaches. Grout, chosen and installed correctly, will complete your tile installation and push it from a good tile job to a great one. Do not underestimate the power of the grout." [READ SOURCE ARTICLE]

Where Do I Buy Epoxy Grout

There are several different places to buy epoxy grout including at a big box home improvement center, several hardware stores, and of course online. Before you buy anything however, make sure you know the scope of your tiling project and what sort of contractor grade tile tools you are going to need.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Tile Projects: Start with The Grout

Before selecting contractor grade tile tools, have you chosen the grout you're going to need first?

Buy Grout from an Online Tile Tool Supplier
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Tile Tools and Grout

In addition to contractor grade tile tools, you're going to need grout as well.

According to the site The Floor Elf: "There are three basic types of grout available for your tile installation. They are: Non-Sanded (also known as Unsanded) Sanded Epoxy Choosing the correct grout for your particular installation will not only complete the job correctly, it will also cut down on maintenance. Properly installed and sealed grout will last for the life of your tile. So which to use and when? Non-Sanded (or Unsanded) Grout Unsanded grout is made specifically for grout lines smaller than 1/8 inch wide. This is a general rule. I use unsanded grout only in tile with grout lines smaller than 1/16″. Unsanded grout (all grout to different degrees) will shrink as it cures. The reason for only using it in smaller grout lines is the wider the grout lines, the more grout must be used to fill them. The more grout you have, the more it will shrink. If you try to fill grout lines that are too large the grout will shrink enough to pull away from the sides of the tile. Unsanded grout is easier to work with, especially on vertical surfaces such as a shower wall, because it is “stickier” than the sanded variety. You can spread it onto the wall and it will stick there while you force it into the grout lines. It is also much easier on the hands than sanded. Although it is easier to work with, you need to make sure that the application for which you are using it is correct. Sanded Grout Sanded Grout is used for any size grout lines 1/8″ and wider. Although the specifications state unsanded grout be used in grout lines that are exactly 1/8″, you really should use sanded for them. It will ensure proper adhesion to your tile and guard against too much shrinkage. No, not Seinfeld shrinkage, grout shrinkage. Sanded grout has fine sand added to it. This prevents the grout from shrinking too much as it cures. That’s why it is used for larger grout lines and should be used for the majority of tile installations.

If you have a polished stone such as granite, marble, limestone, and some polished travertine, you should be careful about using sanded grout. While sanded may be the correct choice for the size of grout lines, it may not be the best choice. Depending upon the polish of the stone the sand in the grout may actually scratch it. If you decide to use sanded make sure you test it in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it will not scratch your finish. Or use epoxy which would be a better choice anyway. [READ SOURCE]

Tile Tools and Your Tiling Projects

Make sure you're using the right type and amount of grout for your tiling projects.

Above all else, get only the best tools.  Go for professional grade tile tools only.

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