Friday, September 30, 2011

Having a Flagstone Patio

Irrespective of the task you want to do, nothing can be achievable without the right materials and instructions. This is, therefore, also applicable to laying a patio. Patios are always a value addition to yards, as they add a finishing touch to your landscape. If you want to know as to how to have such a patio, many people like me would recommend reading the Flagstone Patio guide before starting.

What is in the Guide

This guide reveals what you need to know and how you need to go further for building a professional patio. You will really find that the step by step instructions have made your task easy. Overall, it has more than 60 pages and 50 real-life photos for making your each step perfect. However, you will not only come across the instructions on installing patios, but will also encounter patio blocks.

Patio blocks are available in a myriad of sizes and shapes so that it becomes possible for you to employ your imagined design. Nevertheless, patio pavering is not an easy job with the amount of time it requires, but is worth the attempts. Along with the efforts if you take the help of this guide, you can finish this task in a better manner for which you will be proud yourself.

How About an E-Book of the Guide?

Yes, that’s a better idea! With this e-book, you obtain many things. First, you get the instructions on estimating the total outlay before you start. Second, you come to know as to how to select the ideal pallet of paver, which can save your $100's on poor quality pieces. Third, you become aware of the easy ways for crafting the shape of your materials. Fourth, you obtain the details on digging and installing the base along with the instructions about verifying the grades.

The guide also reveals some quick and easier ways of trimming and cutting the paver as well as filling the joints. Further, it also exposes other products as well. Last but not the least, the guide also has ideas and tips for putting the left over pieces to use.

The E-book also contains some real photos showing each step that you will face while installing your own path. Therefore, you will be able to learn faster. In short, if you choose to follow this guide, you can expect saving both time and money, eradicating the side effects of guess work, and reducing the required amount of efforts.

How to Make Installation Easier

When it comes to tough or difficult installation, one always runs to a professional. However, she or he later recognizes that hiring a professional for doing one’s work is quite costly, especially for difficult tasks like patio paving. One of my friends had hired a professional for which she was charged $30 per square foot for such an installation.

However, if you ever come to know that you have an inexpensive way to do so, you will never go for hiring a professional. So, what is that inexpensive way? Well, have you ever thought of taking the advantage of YouTube? Well, my inexpensive way is to Do It Yourself by watching the experts doing it. Isn’t it cool? Mostly, people fear of doing such tasks on their own, as installing pavers on walkways and patios on your own can result in slant cuts, big left out spaces, and even some cracks all over the area due to which the installation looks quite poor.

Nevertheless, if you have an expert who literally shows you the installation via a video, you too can become like him or her. Remember, a human being learns faster with just watching rather than only reading or listening.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Enjoy Reformed Flooring with Durastone Tile

Tiles are imperative interior designer pieces whose absence can leave your home only half furnished. Irrespective of which one you choose, a tile is ever ready to protect the floors, roofs, walls, kitchen platforms, and table tops of your home. This is the reason why tiles cover over 50% of the house interiors as well as exteriors. They are undoubtedly vital decorating materials that you must carefully chose. Now, the problem arises when you have to choose from hundreds of tiles each having different designs, finishing, shapes, and colors. If you want to simplify the process of selection, look for the latest additions in the world of tiles, as they are certainly more attractive and powerful than the older ones.

Is There a Latest Addition?

Yes, there is! If you are looking for the latest flooring tiles, Durastone deserves to be your choice. It is the most recently added flooring category. A Durastone tile features a colossal size of 16" x 16" and thick base, which ensure rigidly attractive and safe floor that is now more durable and sturdy. This is the main reason why people are now looking for Durastone, a brand that is unique.

The tiles of Durastone bear an agreeable reflection of natural elements and different embellishing features for oozing out nothing else than beauty no matter when you install them. Further, the big size is sufficient enough to overcome the plain areas with simple pieces of elegance for offering rooms of rest and entertainment. This is irrespective of whether you choose a glazed or painted tile.

What are the Features of Durastone?

The stone tiles of Durastone embed the nano-composite technology via which the nano particles bind with composite materials for rendering a superior output. Such a technology ensures stronger and sturdier tile, which means a decorative element that is not breakable easily. Despite this technology mix and big size, such tiles are admiringly lighter than their ordinary counterparts so that the users can lift them easily.

Due to the nano-composite technology, the tiles of Durastone are more resistant to heat and chemicals. They are neither affected by the changing weather nor by the varying chemical compositions no matter how much time has passed. In short, it can easily withstand the normal wear and tear conditions of household furnishings and fittings. Regarded among the latest innovations for ultramodern roof and floor protection, these tiles are easy to clean and maintain. Again for this, you need to thank the nano-composite technology.

How Do I Fit the Durastone Pieces?

Depending on your taste or the interior set up of commercial or residential buildup, you can choose your tile from a variety of decorative hues, colors, as well as patterns. In fact, you can pick your choice without any tension for perfection.

The best part of these tiles is that they are Do-It Yourself pieces unlike the other home furnishing tiles. This means that you can install these pieces by yourself, which can save your installation cost. To do so, first, you must ensure that these tiles are compatible with your underlayment and subflooring for healthy fitting. Next, fit them together for good distribution and sustain the gap lines (you can utilize a marker as well). Then, apply the adhesive and let it dry naturally. However, do not hurry with the drying by using the fans. Once fitted, press the tile hardly but gradually onto the subfloor. In case of multi oriented tiles, you need to first imagine the appearance in a manner that you desire after the installation. Prefer one by one installation for these tiles and avoid hurrying.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

DuraQuartz Tile For Simple But Elegant Designs

If you are behind home renovation offers, you are reading the right article. This is because this article will reveal one of the best tiles that you should consider for your home. Probably, you must be thinking of adding new tiles or replacing the old floor and wall tiles. In this case, one of the most gorgeous options is the tiles of DuraQuartz, which are becoming quite famous all over the world. Perhaps, this popularity is attributed to the fascination they add to your house. At the end, this is what you want!

Why go for the tiles of DuraQuartz

A DuraQuartz tile offers a myriad of benefits over the standard equivalents. However, the most interesting fact is that these tiles are made up of quartz that does not develop in blocks. This means that when the producers obtain the quartz from mines, they have to put it into a process before making tiles from it. What I am trying to say is that when you buy these tiles, they are not fully made up of quartz. This means that some portion of its composition has a material other than quartz. Typically, the producers crush the quartz to mix a type of resin and color, which means that you get a product that will not crack or break over time apart from being more resistant.

What are the Benefits of DuraQuartz

As stated above, there are several advantages of bringing these tiles for your home. First, it is durability that will captivate you mind. Usually, when anybody shops for tiles, they expect them to last as long as possible. This expectation is truly met by the tiles of DuraQuartz, as they last longer than other tiles. No cracks or breaks at all!

Second, these tiles are easy to install, clean, and maintain. Most users of these tiles admire the fact that these tiles are easy to clean, as they don’t stain densely like the tiles of other materials. This means that even if they stain, you need not have to worry about removing the stain. What you need to do is to just rub them with a clean cloth. Apart from easy-to-clean benefit, these tiles are also quite easy to maintain.

DuraQuartz are not only easy to clean, but they are very easy to maintain. This is a useful feature for all those busy people who really do not have much time to clean and maintain the tiles. Thanks to the process due to which these tiles are solid enough to resist stains as well as sealers. As a result, you can surely save much time in cleaning that will take care of the glow as well for years to come.

If you love stylish designs, do expect them from these tiles. This is the third benefit of using the tiles of DuraQuartz. In very less time, DuraQuartz has become the emblem of chic designs. In fact, most consumers of tiles have realized that DuraQuartz tiles are better than the granite counterparts. Keeping this trend in mind, the manufacturers are already procuring a lot more tiles of DuraQuartz that differ in styles and designs but not in durability and resistance.

What Should I Know before Entering into the World of DuraQuartz

First, you should know that these tiles are bulkier in weight although they are tougher than the granite ones. This is something that you need to pay attention. The second fact is no less than good news for you. As compared to granite, DuraQuartz is much more resistant to cracking. Third, these tiles always have uniform colors as well as patterns.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Choosing the Most Suitable Cement Tiles

Do you face confusion when it comes to selecting the right tile of cement? Are you of the opinion that selecting tiles is a painful job? Well, if you think so, you will be happy to read this article, as you will come to know how to select tiles without any confusion or hassle. Therefore, continue reading…

Selecting tiles of cement can really be quite exciting if you do some homework in terms of research for making the right decision. When you go to shop, you come across many tile collections, which are so appealing that a first look on them makes you fall in love with them, as they all seem to be exceptional and mind captivating. Now, this is the point from where the confusion starts, which takes much time in selecting the right cement piece.

Factors to Consider while Buying

When it comes to cement tiles, their ability to offer wonderful patterns and extremely easy maintenance attract you for purchasing them again and again. However, while shopping for them, you cannot forget the most demanded feature of superb quality. For this, you must bear in mind that not all tiles of this material are manufactured in a single manner. By this, I mean that some of them are handmade, while many undergo a mechanical process.

Nevertheless, the handmade cement pieces are more in demand nowadays. Typically manufactured in small-scale factories owned by families, these tiles obtain closer attention including a constant focus on minute details. However, each factory employs unique production process and that they manage their materials uniquely to ensure quality.

In case of quality, not many people are aware of how to ensure that a tile of cement is of high quality. For this, you need to check out for few things to obtain the right tile. First, you need to test the thickness wherein you must ensure consistency. Then, you must pay attention to the design that must appear clear and must offer uniformity of colors. As a tip, remember that a tile with too much color variation can never be the right choice. Further, the top layer should possess enough color so that you can ensure consistent thickness. Second, check the edges to ensure clear cut and straightness. This is because in case the edges are not straight, it will be difficult for you to use the grout after installation.

Problems after Buying

One of the main problems after buying the cement pieces is easy disintegration. If they crumble so easily, know that the manufacturer has used more quantity of sand during the production process. Another problem is of the fading colors. If you face this one, comprehend that the tiles possess low quality pigments.

Some Tips for Worriless Buying

Looking at the above problems, you need to be very alert and discuss with the distributors about the terms and conditions if any problem creeps in after the purchase. This is a good way to handle after-sale problems. However, you need not doubt each tile while shopping, as many cement tile manufacturers offer good quality pieces. Can all five fingers be the same? So, do not shop with the fear of getting low-quality tiles. It’s just that you need to be alert.

In case you don’t know from where to start, begin by browsing the Internet where you can find several reviews of the different manufacturers. By knowing what the current customers feel for them, you will surely get a clear idea of whom to choose. If you prefer handmade tiles, then keep one thing in mind that such pieces are not meant for perfection, but are for offering high quality decorative elements. So, small variations should not be problem until the tile consistently thick.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Arto Brick: Elegance for Your Home

In the state of California, Arto Brick is among the most famous brands for handmade brick veneers featuring artistic qualities. Regarded among the top manufactures of handmade building materials, this company has now become a brand after a tough competition of 45 years with the brands famous for automated home furnishings. Today, its product line is full of beautiful tiles, roofing materials, pavers, liners, colored walls and pier caps, pool coping, and other adornments for both the interiors as well as exteriors of the house. No matter which product you choose, charm as the legacy and efficiency as the emblem are sure to allure you and your guests.

Exploring the Secret of Success

The production process of this brand deserves a special mention! Most of the products pass through a well-designed process of vigilant selection that takes care of the beauty of Histo-American architecture. This selection process ensures including materials of fine texture, vibrant colors, and offbeat design. After selection, the crafting process comes into action, which ensures value and exquisiteness as the never-fading outcome. Along with that, the firm also paid attention to the medley of efficiency and beauty, which is a rare feature that needs tremendous research of materials as well as feasible product mix. It is certainly this rare ability that makes Arto a great survivor in the world of home furnishing products that feature excellence.

However, it is not only the rare combination that brings these products into the list of most demanded furnishings. In fact, it is also the bucolic style that even today elates both old and new customers. The only difference today is that the chemical components have changed to promise fineness and beauty.

Exploring the Products

Today, Arto is a well-admired brand for home finishing products that mainly include kiln-fired ceramics and concrete. Initially, it had started with ceramics, but with the unbearable costly procurement in the mid of its journey, Arto started to use concrete for preserving both energy and money.

Today, it is the collection of the handcrafted tiles that is a live testimony of its ongoing brilliance. Among all the tiles in demand by the American society, Roman and Artillo tiles face tough competition. However, it is totally up to your discretion to choose between the two, as both ensures elegance, quality, and charm for your interiors. On the other hand, in case of exterior hard scraping products, English’s cobbles or Roman and Tuscan pavers go well.

If you are looking for interior as well as exterior adornment and scraping, you can explore the broad collection of thin bricks and veneers featuring rustic elegance. To this shopping cart, do not forget to add the fountain molds and baluster castings with European inspired style from the set of architectural accessories. Next, you can also think of converting your dim walls into a great inviting structure by installing the Roman pier and wall caps so that you can turn your typical California homes into a notable one from the outside. In addition, for swimming pools, do consider the collection of precast concrete acting as an enlarging and overwhelming cap for aesthetic show off or safety gripping.

In short, irrespective of the product you pick, Arto ensures the finest home decoration for enjoying both a deluxe interior and flamboyant exterior. In fact, it is not restricted to remodel the typical Californian structures only, but is also a good choice for the architecturally challenged edifices that you can now convert into a dream home. And yes, do not limit yourself to only home improvement, as you can also use these products for office renovation as well.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

DuraStone Tile: Your Installation Guide

If you are not yet familiar with Durastone then you have to know it by now that this is a brand for tiles that are usually manufactured to form a 16” by 16” and that they are specifically made to resemble the look of a marble or some types of natural stones. If you wish to sore it, you can possibly do this with the use of a utility knife. You can also snap it by simply following the tile’s cut line, or you may simply cut it with the use of a cutting saw that is specifically made for cutting tiles.

Now if you wish to use more than a box of tiles then there is a need for you to check the codes that are usually found outside the box as this will ensure you that you will be using the right color match all throughout the specific surface which you want to cover. It is also highly recommended that you need to do an intermixing procedure of all the contents of the box as this will identify the differences in colors which is a very important thing during your installation.

Another thing that you need to consider is the kind of surface (underlayment and subflooring). Take note if the surface can accept Durastone or not; this is a very important thing to consider as this will prevent you from buying Durastone tiles that will never be used because the surface where you need to lay them does not accept your Dusrastone tiles.

If you have subflooring that is wooden then you have to see to it first that they should be free from any kinds of movements or sorts of imperfections. You also need to ensure that there is an eighteen inches gap for air below or underneath the subfloor.

For floors that are single-layered, there is a need for you to incorporate an underlayment so that you will be able to achieve a thickness that is ideally one inch. If you are incorporating underlayment, you have to make sure that it is fastened with ring shank nails that measure about 1 ¼ inches long or you may want to fasten it with divergent staples. For joints that come with sand underlayment, there is a need for you to fill and level certain gaps that are wider than 1/32 inches.

Another thing that you also need to do first is to rehearse the tiles; this simply means that you have to lay some tiles for trial purposes to ensure that there will never be a row that comes with less than half of a tile. Take note that the seams should not go over any seams of the subflooring. Mark the center of one wall across the other; this will help you come up with an equally divided quadrants.

With the use of a notch trowel, you can apply the Durastone adhesive evenly on the other half of a room. Make sure not to overdo or underdo the application of adhesives to get rid of adhesion problems and the problem of adhesives squeezing in between tiles.

Ones the adhesives are applied allow it to dry for quite some time. Usually, tack dry adhesive is blue to clear in appearance and that it does not stick to your finger when tested. Never use electric fans to dry adhesives.

Start laying Durastone tiles in the middle and lay the row through the side of the walls; in doing the other rows, you have to follow the same procedure until you have covered all the areas with adhesives. Cut parts of the tiles should face the walls when you reached the ends of rows. Make use of a hundred pound roller to ensure even adhesion of the tiles on the floor. Allow the floor to dry up for a few days for any kind of cleaning procedure is done. Lastly, seams should be sealed with floor sealers.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

AlysEdwards Tile: A Unique Designer Art Piece

There are several attractive options to choose from when it comes to decorating your home, but you would prefer a familiar one that is comfortable, convivial, and relaxing. One would always prefer to make home a special place to live in due to which the best look as per the budget and time becomes inevitable. This certainly means applying the most suitable artistic dimension. If this is what you are looking for, why not choose the AlysEdwards tile, an elite floor and wall ware to convert your plain looking home into a piece of timeless art featuring stunning designs and shades? Let us now explore this option in detail.

Why AlysEdwards Tile?

When it comes to decorating one’s home, tiles or ceramic are some common options to complement your home without compromising on style and charm. However, in case of floor and wall coverings, you need to pick even more carefully, as the right combination of shade, size, design, and color is vital. If you so many factors to take care of, you seriously need an easy way out that can offer freedom of choice but without consuming much of your time in choosing. This is where AlysEdwards comes at rescue.

What AlysEdwards Offers?

This brand offers a varied collection of awesome designs and glittering shades that can cater to any feel of any room. You can easily get a suitable tile set for guest rooms, bed rooms, living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and even libraries. However, when you are choosing the tiles, make sure that you pick the right one as per the room. For instance, a grey colored tile is not suitable if you want to adorn your kid's room. In the same way, an aristocratic look is just perfect for making your guestroom a relaxed place. Now, we shall look at some of the designs by AlysEdwards.

What are the Different Designs/Collections?

One of the best designs for sitting rooms is bubblicious non iridescent ones that feature light-colored bubbles on a white background. What makes these tiles look gorgeous is the combination of bubbles in different sizes and contrasting color. This design deserves to be your choice if you love light colors and prefer making a living room an artistic piece of style.

Another collection that requires a special mention is the cosmopolitan set that contains one colored tiles with no shades. Although the tiles in this collection are sole colored, they are available in a myriad of colors such as maroon, grey, and light green. A few of them are mosaics, while some are glossy. However, all of them fall under the price range of $10 to $15 per piece. Unlike this one, the cosmopolitan random features a mix of 3-base colors with the patterns of deep light grey color and lining. It truly deserves to be your favorite because of its combination of elegance and art. You can definitely choose this one if you want to adorn your study or bed room.

Now, do you want to know which tile will suit your bath or kitchen? Well, in this case, it is vital to look for something that can retain the freshness. In case of bathrooms, Gigis groovy stiix is famous, as several house owners pick this tile. I agree that this tile is a bit costly, but go for it if you can afford it. At the end, you will find it truly worthy. On the other hand, for kitchen floors as well as walls, go for the haute glass opaque tile that features a mix of different green shades such as emerald and opaque green. Choosing this tile will surely retain the freshness of your kitchen and will also reset the dinner mood.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Tips for making a Flagstone Patio

Flagstone patio can add a new look to your outdoor. It is easy, does not need too much of skill and can be installed on the coming weekend. Here, are some tips to help you lay your flagstone. Laying a Flagstone is akin to solving jigsaw puzzles of child hood. There is remarkably little labor associated in getting them installed though they are heavy. Very little investment is also needed. Just get the flagstone patios and the necessary tools to begin. A spade, shovel, carpenters level, a flat plank, measuring tape, broom, sand is all that is necessary.

Measure the area that you have to get tiled and with the help of strings get it marked. It is essential that you get the measurements done accurately. One easy way to be certain of the measurements is to measure the diagonals, and they should be equal.

After this dig a four inch narrow lane all along the sides with a spade. With a shovel, remove all the soil and make it four inches deep. This is the minimum that is to be removed and digging in deeper can make it more durable. Also, it is more advisable to have tiles more than 2 inches thick though they might be heavier.

Next is to check the level that you have dug. Run a plank measuring one side of the area that has been excavated all along and with a carpenter’s level check for a reading. Wherever it is necessary, remove the soil with a shovel.

Your next step will be to moisten the area and tamp it. Any loose soil will thus be pressed. Tamp each stone down and check for levelness. Do remember to put the landscape fabric for otherwise weeds may grow in between the tiles.

Your next step is to fill the area with either mortar or sand. Filling with sand is called dry construction. It is easier for as compared to laying in mortar or cement here is no limitation of time. All you have to do is to put 2 inches of sand in the area. But it may need maintenance often, for they are only loosely fitted with one another. Using cement or mortar makes it more lasting. Only you will have to get the entire flagstone fitted before the mortar hardens.

Be particular about levelling the sand too. Slide a plank all along the sand. Next put the Flagstone as if fitting pieces in the puzzle. Keep the space in between two patios as little as possible so that they should fit in tightly. Begin from the corner and proceed to cover all over.

Also, check the level while laying the patios. If you find that one patio is not in level, remove some sand beneath it. Similarly, you can also add additional sand under. Tap all the patios with a rubber mallet to fix them firmly. Ill fitted patios can call accidents, for somebody may trip over it. Avoid using the area for the first twenty four hours.

After finishing laying them out, put some polymeric sand on the top and with a broom have all the gaps filled. Wait for some time so that the sand may set. You can also use decomposed granite for sealing the gaps. Keep in mind that while placing the patios close to the house you need to concentrate on the drainage. A little slant can help to drain excess water away. Putting some crushed stones under the sand or mortar layer can improve in drainage.Having an additionally helping hand can not only share the work load but also help in the levelling.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

AlysEdwards Mosaics: Ideal for Kitchens

If you are a working woman, you would seriously want to have a kitchen that you can maintain easily and quickly. Moreover, the kitchen is such a place in home, which always demands for color, cleanliness, and liveliness constantly. This is due to the fact that it is the most exposed area to all kinds of stains such as vapor and splatter. However, despite this, you need to ensure that your kitchen looks visually beautiful. This is obvious, as kitchen can be the place where the entire family eats together. Moreover, cooking is somewhat time-consuming job for which women spend a minimum of an hour daily in their kitchens. Therefore, it is clear that even they need a clean and cheerful place to cook delectable food.

To meet all the above needs, tiling is the best option. Although you have options of stone tiling, ceramic tiling, and glass tiling; it is always better to have stone mosaic tiling. This is because such tiles can maintain the kitchen’s freshness, artistic look, and cleanliness as well. So, when it comes to buying mosaics for kitchen, I would recommend the Alysedwards mosaics. Let us explore about them in detail.

Why Mosaic Tiles?

If there is any area in kitchen that is most difficult to keep tidy, it is none other than the backsplash. Food splashes always tend to spoil this area daily, which is why it is very vital to prefer a wall finish that can facilitate easy and instant cleaning with only a wipe. However, the good news is that the hard-to-maintain backsplash is an ideal area to apply some tiles for preventing stains. If you choose to add the vibrant glass mosaic tiles, you not only make your kitchen look lively but also ease out your task maintenance. By this, I mean it becomes easy for you to clean these tiles, as the stains on them are easy to remove. That makes these tiles an ideal pick for the backsplash.

Try the Alysedwards Mosaics

Alysedwards is famous for its Nico mosaics that are gaining the attention of more and more people. These mosaics examine the boundaries by blending the different patterns so that the customers can get the novel, but organic designs. This collection reveals the ardor of AlysEdwards for mixing the layering colors, horizontal lines, connected geometric prints, and squares for making an appealing concurrence between the Romanesque designs as well as the Bohemian theme. For the customers, it is the matter of going beyond conventions for following the instincts!

Some Famous Nico Mosaics

One of the most famous Nico mosaics is the Squared Pattern Fields available in Thela/Foussana grey. This is an 8" x 8" mosaic that you can obtain in three different colors. You can really choose this tile for sealing your backsplash in the kitchen. Do you like circles instead of squares? Well, then you can surely imagine a tile mosaic bearing the traditional-looking intersecting semicircle patterns. If this is what you want, try using the Kordoba Border tile that is available in three colors. It bears 2" x 8" border as well as 2" x 2" corner.

How about a zigzag pattern? Well, in this case, you need to pick the Nico mosaic with zigzag borders in 2" x 8". Available with 2" x 2" corner, this tile is available in three colors including green. If floral patterns capture your mind, try the Monnaie Liners in veined beige. Available in four colors, this mosaic features a 2" x 8" liner and 2" x 2" Caboshon.
If you like the Afghan style, Not Jo Mama's Afghan Pattern Fields can be your choice, which is available in six colors.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

The Artistic Arto Brick Tiles

Are you looking for traditional yet trendy look for your walls? Do you want an artistic backdrop for the classic furnishing that you have. Well there’s this brick tile to match your home decor. The concept of tiles to decorate walls and floors dates back to the eighteenth century, and was seen in Latin America. Since then tiles have evolved from the ordinary handmade cement or ceramic tiles to more creative pieces, drawing its inspiration from the elements of nature.

Arto brick has paved its own path from the humble shop on the 3rd story of a dingy building to one of the most renowned names in tiles. It all began in 1966, and since then there has been no looking back. The path has not been easy. To make an exquisite piece of art on a 20by20cms of ceramic is never easy. Yet the brick tile has satisfied its customers with best creations that you can imagine.

At a time when machine made tiles were flooding the market, this type of tile has presented the unique hand crafted tiles. No wonder it immediately shot into fame with the beauty and simplicity. Their first product was an instant hit among builders and architects. It was the thin clay tiles that were light weight and easy to install. At all times, this brick tile has evolved a step further to give its customers the ultimate in tiles.

You can adorn each corner of your house with your own ideas with brick Tiles for there is of course, one to suit you. Driveways are part of the house that has little scope for novelty, but with this brick tile, you can simply adorn your driveway. You have a variety of choices in durable artistic brick tiles from the hexagonal Californian Paver, in Normandy Cream or the roman paver with Luna. The driveway creates the first impression in the house and the brick tile simply makes it grand!

Arto has its own set of artisans working to give you the best. So, whether, you want a rugged, tough look or a soft, delicate homely look, you can have it. From the entrance to the walls in the living room, you can decorate it as you have imagined. You can have a stately entrance in roman tiles; you can adorn the fireplace wall with the rustic tiles; you can have the wine cellar wall in Antic bricks; you can give a new touch of elegance to the ceiling.

Kitchen is a women’s favorite place, and you can turn it into her paradise. The floor and the walls can be so illustrated that you will long to be in there. Dining rooms interiors can be done such that it will tempt you prolong your meal time!

From contemporary to classic or an intellectual blend of both with the tiles can turn you house into your haven. The bathroom can be made vibrant and throbbing with innovative tiles such as with smooth brick tiles. They need not be the same boring machine made tiles all over. The walls, the floors, the backsplashes, the showers all can be given a sense of serene beauty and what better way to relax than a shower in such an ambience!

Exteriors can also be given a new, catchy look with the Arto brick that are hand crafted with particular care. If it is a pool, choosing the proper tile can deepen the impact of the pool. If it is the backyard, it can be given a new dimension in living. You can create your own fountain and oasis in rugged looks with rustic tiles. These tiles are innovative and artistic- they enhance the beauty of the house.

Not just in houses, it can be used in commercial properties too. Hospitals and restaurants all can use them; after all apart from beauty, it is durable and easy to maintain.

Friday, September 16, 2011

A History of Voguebay Tiles


When you hear of Voguebay tiles, you have to know that these tiles are simply made not only to meet the tiling needs of American in the Voguebay area, but they are also kinds of tiles that are simply fashion-inspired, culture-inspired, and nature-inspired. With tiles from Voguebay, every buyer simply gets the amazement as he touches and picks up a piece of tile and discovers that it is exquisitely made and is distinct to the other displays in the showroom. In fact, a buyer can have lots of options whenever he gets into the act of buying; this simply means that he can have the privilege to choose from the tiles’ wide array of colors, hues, textures, accents, and sizes.

According to Voguebay, quality simply starts with authenticity and it is very essential that colors should keep up with the various forms of design trends. Say for example, Voguebay glass is a specific variety of tiles and glass mosaics that definitely set the design and style place for the current trends of today. In fact, there are so many things that a person should consider when buying tiles to help him enhance his home or property. Some things that that person may wish to put into his mind are the following:

• Sophisticated quality of the tile
• Contemporary and traditional styles and designs that are actually sui table for all types of occasions
• Vibrancy of the colors
• The finishing touches that can elucidate or bring out the feeling of elegance and luxury

Voguebay tiles are also available in vibrant and fun colors which may include the 24K flecks of gold that can help reflect the individuality and personality of a specific person. Say for example, a combination of stone and glass tiles is a perfect duo that can lend a lingering elegance and permanence to the different designs around.

Voguebay also comes with many different shapes like oval, circle, and other patterns that are specifically inspired by Mother Nature that can help a person feel peace, contentment, and tranquility. The spectra glass for example, is a kind of a unique style for glass tiles and is also known as the color and design vanguard. These types of tiles are known to have come from the lava emissions of volcanoes that have been formed millions and millions of years ago. As a matter of fact, the mosaic lava stone is boating with unique beauty that is inherent and irresistible. The craftsmanship of these tiles and stones basically creates a certain kind of impression that speaks of contemporary elegance and casualness.

Extending the products beyond the ordinary types of tiles, Voguebay also offers metal tiles which are known for their perspective of providing a good direction to the contemporary tile designs and also add a distinctive dimension to the tiles that are usually found these days. Another pride of Voguebay is the milk glass tile which has been introduced long time ago but it’s back once again, offering a contemporary, sophisticated, and clean style that provides a whole new spin on the old and classic looks.

And if you want to incorporate your creativity in making different creative patterns, you may also want to use different shapes and sizes for your porcelain tiles and mosaics; this will greatly provide you with tons of possibilities especially in creating your own unique patterns. With these tiles, you are actually given the big chance to enjoy and experience the exciting collections of unique tiles for your home, commercial, and other projects that require tiles. Finally, the prices are great so you can buy as many tiles as you want!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Pavers Tiles and Their Uses

The uniqueness and beauty of a house depends majorly on the floor tiling. Paver tiles, which find wide application in exterior enhancements and outdoor beautification, are ideal for the home garden. You can even transform a dull and less-appealing outdoor area into a stunning, innovative space with Pavers. Paver tiles, which fulfill a variety of your outdoor tiling requirements, can be used effectively on patios, walkways, driveways, garden surrounds, garden beds, pergolas, courtyards, vehicle areas, in the wall and pool areas and even in terraces and balconies. These brick tiles come in different colors and structures, and if creatively installed, they can be a real style statement for your home.

Make and characteristics of Paver tiles

Paver tiles, which resemble sideways-turned and sawed-in-half bricks, belong to the Ceramic tile family. However, Paver tiles are comparatively thinner and offer a better sense of beauty and integrity. Though there are many kinds of Paver tiles like cement, rubber, concrete, stone and brick, the most popular and mostly used variant is brick. Cement, sand and water are the main components used in the making of brick pavers. The ordinary brick paver tile has a rustic appearance in color, and there are numerous other colors like brown, orange, cream, yellow and beige. Umpteen choices of patterns like hexagonal, square, circular and cobblestone are also available. When it comes to stone paver tiles, the preferred types are granite, limestone, marble, bluestone and flagstone.

Installation and maintenance of Paver tiles

Paver tiles, being readymade, are relatively easy to install. The key steps involved in the installation of Paver tiles are:

• Planning: Involves drawing the rough sketches of the area to be tiled so as to know more about the slope and layout of the site. The rough amount of tiles is estimated in this stage.
• Excavation and compacting: The required height of the base, thickness and sand bedding are estimated.
• Laying the foundation: Crushed stones and other materials are laid on the ground, to form the base of the tiling.
• Setting: Installing the paver tiles and fixing them in place.
• Edging: Making the finishing touches and leveling the edges of the tiles using edge restraints.

The installation of paver tiles can be done either on one’s own or by a professional contractor. Proper planning is the key to perfection in installation of paver tiles.

Maintenance of Paver tiles is as powerful as the installation of these tiles. To make the stunning looks last long proper maintenance is essential. Immediately after the installation of the paver tiles, it is necessary to seal them with sealers, preferably Terracotta. Further, when the tiles become duller, you can reseal it to bring the glow back. It is also essential to keep the tiled areas clean by running soapy water over it from time to time.

Advantages of Paver tiles

Paver tiles are ideal pavement material for all your outdoor spaces. These tiles, which ensure your safe movement and comfort, also add a touch of elegance and style to your home. These tiles, which come in cheap costs and easy maintenance, are the perfect tiles for modern as well as traditional houses. Some of the major advantages of paver tiles can be seen as:

• Relatively easy to install since these tiles, while manufacturing, are placed in fiberglass meshes.
•Paver tiles are durable, dense, strong, long-lasting and frost-proof.
• Paver tiles have a creative advantage over typical tiles in term of flexibility. These tiles support high-traffic levels and harsh conditions as snow, heat and frost.
• Paver tiles, which are made, out of rubber is excellently eco-friendly since they can be made out of worn-out and recycled rubber.

Monday, September 12, 2011

All You Need to Know About Tiles

In this materialistic world, we want our dwelling in a modern and elegant style. Perhaps the most commonly used flooring material is tile and it comes in different types. These include ceramics, porcelain, natural stones and glass when used in the home; they offer a ravishing style which pleases the eyes. The characteristics of these materials vary from each other.

Ceramic Tiles:

Ceramic tiles are fired clay products. The raw material for making ceramic tiles differs in different countries. For example in UK, it is made from white clay while in Spain hard red clay is used.

As a first step, clays and feldspars are mixed next they are transformed into clay dusts and are pressed at a temperature of about 1200C to produce the final output.Main advantage is that these materials are easily washable, thereby saving a lot of hard work in cleaning of floor. The disadvantage is that they absorb a significant amount of water like a sponge.

Ceramic tiles are available in various shapes and designs. These categories of tiles also have a tendency to resist continuous use. Excellent thermal properties are one of the salient features of ceramic tiles. These tiles have the capacity to heat up faster and to make it in a fast manner in under flooring process. Due to activities in production batch, slight change in texture occurs.


Porcelain Tiles:

It is the hardest of all the varieties of the tiles available. These products are used in floors, walls etc. they are available in two forms, glazed and unglazed. Though hardest, they also contain some undesirable properties. When an unglazed variety is maintained properly, its life span can be as high as 1000 years.

Porcelain tiles have all the qualities of porcelain material differing only in the raw material used. For manufacturing porcelain china clay is used along with some impurities. Then these are pressed at higher pressure and are heated at about 1250 -1300C. Due to this unusually high temperature, porcelain is more impact, stain and frost resistant.

Of the several advantages of glazed model, one is that they have a significant effect and frost resistance. This feature makes Porcelain tiles a wise option for flooring material. The thermal characteristic of porcelain material is that they heat up in a slow, manner while the delivery of heat is at a constant rate. Also, the water absorbing rate is extremely small and makes it water repellent. Thus, this type of material is of immense use in a flooding area.

Glazed wall and floor tiles:

Glazed wall type is designed for walls alone. These tiles are suitable only for internal use. Glazed tiles can be installed and cleaned easily. Glazed floor types are used in walls and floors. These are available in different designs. Glazed tiles are impact and scratch resistant and are easily washable. External texture can also be added but, it makes cleaning harder. The glaze is subjected to weariness.

Quarry and stone:

Quarry is prepared from clay and is used in flooring and paving. These are robust and have a long life. Query and stone are little porous, limited in shapes and sizes and staining can occur if sealing is not done properly. Stone type requires proper maintenance and sealing. It can be fractured and is used in timber floors.

Glass tiles:

In this type, variety of designs can be made. Due to slippery nature they are used only in walls.
Before going for flooring complete analysis should be done, to select appropriate tile for home. Glass tiles will assist in giving our dream home a calm and elegant effect.