Sep
30
Filed Under (ceramics) by admin
Thanyarat Thongpae asked:


When it comes to decorating the home, all you really need is a bright idea - and the only limitation to the task ahead of you is your imagination, or more precisely, lack thereof. There are so many design styles to choose from that it could get quite confusing as to what concept to employ. You can find several websites that offer tips on the best design style to compliment your personality and your house’s needs. But no matter what design style you choose, there’s one material that you can count on to make your house look and feel like a real home: ceramic. This article provides you the basics you need to know about ceramic and ceramic tile murals, a great design idea.

Ceramic, a word which has a Greek origin and can work either as an adjective or a noun, pertains to materials which are inorganic and non-metallic and formed by a heating process. A more detailed definition comes from the American Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM, which describes an article made from ceramic as one that has either a glazed or unglazed body of purely or partly crystalline structure, or sometimes of glass, which is produced from non-metallic, inorganic substances and is formed either from the action of heat or a molten mass that solidifies upon cooling.

Ceramic materials are known to be hard but brittle and even porous, so continuous study is needed in order to develop ceramics and solve the above-mentioned problem traits. Decades ago, ceramic was primarily used to make traditional clays for pottery, as well as tiles and bricks. Today, ceramic materials are vital to the field of ceramic engineering and are favorites in the world of interior design, specifically in kitchen modeling or renovation.

Ceramic tile murals are works of art that can brighten up any room of the house. They are a great way to decorate blank, boring spaces in your home. To further increase the value of the murals, you can choose to have them hand-painted. Hand-painted ceramic tiles can be wonderful, not to mention unique, additions to your home (or office, if you wish); they are likely to become conversation pieces during parties or get-togethers.

There are so many scenes that can be hand-painted on a ceramic tile, from breathtaking landscapes to playful cartoons. You can even order matching ceramic tile murals to carry out your chosen theme or motif all throughout the house. A beautiful set of ceramic murals can transform a dull kitchen wall into a inspiring artwork; at the same time, it can put the spotlight on your bathroom, an area that’s usually ignored.

Some people think that ceramics only go well with a Tuscan-themed home. On the contrary, there are so many things that can be done with ceramics that they go well with any design, provided proper styling is employed.Naturally, too much ceramics in a futuristic design will be less than perfect.



Debra
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submit111@gmail.com asked:


Learn how to install ceramic floor tile by doing it yourself. It’s easy! Follow these basic and straightforward steps, and you’ll be able to create your desired floor design come to life.

Get the right tools for the job.

For starters, if you want to know how to install ceramic floor tile by yourself, you should have the right tools and materials for the job. You can easily buy, or rent, most of the tools and materials you’ll need at you neighborhood hardware store, or home center. For equipment that would be too expensive like a tile cutter, or hand held micro cutter, you may be able to rent these tools from your local home center or a tool rental yard. Here are most of the basic tools you will need for your tiling job:

a) Always wear safety clothing and gear. Use a pair of safety glasses, heavy leather gloves, and long-sleeved work clothes, especially if it involves taking out the existing ceramic tiles. Broken shards and other debris can cause nasty cuts, if you are not careful. b) A tape measure, tile spacers, carpenter’s square and a bubble level. c) A mallet and hammer, a putty knife and a trowel (preferably, the notched kind), and a rubber grout float and a putty knife. d) A tile cutter (which may be rented) and a pair of tile nippers. e) Mortar material like a thin set mortar, or any one of a wide selection of tile adhesives. f) Tiling grout and sealant. Tiling grout comes in many color tints that you can choose from to fit your desired look and floor design.

Prepare your subfloor before installing your tiles.

Most tiling jobs start at this stage. It would be a great experience for you to learn how to install ceramic floor tile by learning about the type of floors you will be putting your tiles on. Always check for cracks and debris when If you’re working on a concrete subfloor. Make it is smooth and clean. Repair as many of the cracks as you can. If you see cracks that are too large to repair, replace the floor section where they are found with new concrete. For plywood subfloors, be sure that the wood is at least 1 and 1/8 inches thick and is supported by an equally strong underlayment. Otherwise, your ceramic tiles will dislodge easily, or worse, break and need replacing.

An existing ceramic tile floor may add another stage to your tiling job, and present something of a challenge for you. You’ll need to tear out the existing tiles. For starters, all you need to do is use a large flat-bladed chisel and a mallet, and just hammer away. Then, you’ll need to clean out the debris. If you to smoothen your subfloor — you may want to rent a sander to do the job. Be sure to keep yourself protected. Use heavy-duty leather work gloves, safety glasses, and long-sleeved work clothes.

Lay out your floor.

Measuring the length and width of your floor will help you determine how to install ceramic floor tile and help you know estimate the number of ceramic floor tiles you will need to purchase. Start by finding the center point of your floor area. You can do this by measuring across the room and marking the center. Do this in opposite direction and mark the center, as well. The intersection of the two lines is the center of the floor you will be tiling over. Run chalk lines over the intersection lines. These chalk lines will help you with how to install ceramic floor tile and with your tile positioning.

Let the tiling begin!

Place the first tile at the intersection of the two lines you made. Then, bond it to your subfloor by using a thin set mortar, or a tile adhesive of your choice. Using a notched trowel for applying the mortar is best on how to install ceramic floor tile. But you may actually use the more common trowel variety is you don’t have one. To secure the ceramic tile in its place, press down while twisting it back and forth till the tile no longer is set. If some of the mortar or adhesive oozes out, use your trowel (or a damp sponge) to scrape off the excess. Do this process over with the next tile, and so on and so forth, until you’ve finished your ceramic floor tiling.

Time to grout and seal.

After your ceramic floor tiles have set, it’s time to put the tiling grout in. Tiling grout is a material that you should know more about when you want to know how to install ceramic floor tile flooring. Tiling grout is a material made cement, sand and water, and a little color. It is used to fill in gaps and seal in the spaces between tiles. Tiling grout comes in a wide variety of color tints that may be matched to your tile color. Use a rubber grout float and work the tiling grout into the gaps between the tiles. Use your grout float at an angle so that you can fill in the joint gap with as much tiling grout as possible.

After laying in the tiling grout in between the gaps of your floor ceramic tiles, use a damp sponge to wipe off the excess grout. Rinse the sponge frequently to get as much of the excess grout off, and keep each tile clean. You have the option of applying a sealant to the grout lines after they dry.

And there you have it! Learning about how to install ceramic floor tile is easy! By following these basic steps, you too can realize your ceramic floor design. Learning how to install ceramic floor tile properly will give you a sense of satisfaction at a job well done, and a beautiful ceramic tiled floor.



Alvin
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Sep
12
Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


A natural item made of clay, water, and several other natural materials, ceramic tiles have been used from decades to grace the floors and premises. Nowadays, ceramic tiles have become much more popular, since day by day manufacturers introduce highly sophisticated ceramic tiles that stand out in its design and durability.

A variety of ceramic tiles are now available in different size, shape, thickness, and design. Among which, the most popular category of ceramic tiles is glazed ceramic tiles. In contrast to unglazed ceramic tile, a glazed tile contains a special ceramic coating on its body, which in turn provides the tile color and a superb finish.

Since it offers endless decorating options, this type of ceramic tile has now become one of the sought after options to beauty your walls as well as floors. Discussed further in this article are the steps involved in the production of ceramic glazed tile as well as some of the benefits of this tile.

Production of ceramic glazed tile is same as the production of ordinary ceramic tile, except for it includes a step known as glazing. In other words, production of ceramic glazed tile primarily consists of five steps: Mining, Blending and Mixing, Pressing, Glazing, and Firing. In the mining process, the raw materials inclusive of clay and other natural ingredients are mixed together.

The next step is the blending of clay and mineral ingredients to form a semi fine powder, to which water is added to make a mud-like item. Later, this mud-like item is pumped into a large dryer whose result is fine clay powder that takes after fine sand. Pressing is the next step, and in this phase the tiles are known as green tiles.

The fourth step is perhaps the most important step in the production of ceramic glazed tile. In this phase, a glaze liquid made from colored dyes and a glass derivative, known as flirt, is applied on the tile, either using a high-pressure spray or by directly pouring on the tile. This in turn gives a glazing look to the ceramic tile.

Heating completes the manufacturing process of ceramic tile, and in this step, the tiles are fired in the kiln at a temperature of around 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. If tiles are fired after applying the glaze liquid, then it is called monocottura tile, and ceramic tiles in which glaze liquid is applied after having heated the green tile is known as bicottura tile, also known as double fired tile.

After firing, glazed ceramic tiles attain a hard as well as non-porous, water-resistant surface. Glazed ceramic tiles are available in a plethora of finishes: abrasive slip-resistant, high-gloss, and matte finishes. Glazed ceramic tiles are also manufactured either with a hand-painted design or a pattern.

When compared to other types of ceramic tiles, glazed ceramic tile provides a host of benefits. Foremost is that it offers durability, i.e. an appropriately installed ceramic tile can last for a longer period of time. Another great benefit of glazed ceramic tile is that it is easy to care, as it can cleaned with an ordinary sponge and mop or any other common cleaning materials such as Spic and Span and Mr. Clean.

Further, glazed tiles are scratch resistant, especially grade III and grade IV, as they are less prone to cut or wear. Since glazed ceramic tile is produced using natural materials and does not retain allergens, bacteria, or odors, they are considered environmentally friendly.

Despite a great option to beautify walls and floors, ceramic glazed tile has now been widely used to decorate kitchen floors and countertops, as they are fire resistant and are not affected by hot pans or skillets. Water resistant is also one of the prime features of ceramic glazed tiles. Above all, ceramic glazed tiles are beautiful and versatile, and are available in a range of colors, size, and shape to compliment any room decor.

From the aforesaid discussion, it is evident that no other tiles or flooring options can outshine ceramic tile for its matchless aesthetic beauty, flexibility, and unique designs. In other words, no wonder why majority of the people consider ceramic glazed tile as a functional as well as a practical option to decorate their home and office areas.



Kim
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Nikki asked:


I’m looking for a ceramics studio in the Milwaukee area where I can stop in to paint a pre-made vase, picture frame, or whatever. I’m just looking for a one-day activity, no classes involved. It would be great if it’s kid-friendly, but that’s not necessary.

I’ve checked Yahoo Local and other similar search engines, but didn’t find quite what I’m looking for.

Gail

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Sep
04
Peter Gitundu asked:


The best thing about modern times is that we can get to do many things for ourselves. Without any hassle, we can get information to empower ourselves making life easy and enjoyable. When you wish to decorate your house or space with ceramic tiles, you do not have to hire professionals.

This is because with or without experience, you can do it for yourself. Decorations with tiles mean you have to install them. You will get information on installing ceramic tiles from the following sources;

* Videos

* Sites

* Books

* Pictures

With all this possibilities, you only need to create time. You will find some sources more helpful than others. Judge this for yourself. When you follow every guide correctly and accurately, you will be in a good position of installing ceramic tiles.

According to the guides you find, preparation of the surface is paramount. You need to know what kind of surface you have. If you have major cracks and holes, your steps will definitely differ from a person with a smooth surface.

As you continue installing ceramic tiles, consider tiles that are going to match with your already existing decor. The only thing that will prevent you from achieving great results is your failure to follow vital tips from the guides that you have.

While installing ceramic tiles, use those tiles that are well cut by the manufacturer. You will find that those tiles that are cut with major anomalies will often come at very low prices. Make sure you do not compromise on the quality. Therefore, a few more bucks for the tiles will make a world of difference.

Make sure you visit an artisan who is endowed with skills. You will be seeking to know some of the common pitfalls that many newcomers encounter. Unlike manuals, they will be more specific and to the point, demystifying all major technical aspects that pertain to the process of installing tiles.

For the process to be successful, have in mind what you want to achieve. This means that the issue of pattern and design must be considered carefully. Also, you need to add the color that will bring harmony to your surface. This is usually achieved when you match the colors.

Therefore, have a picture in mind or have a preview of what to expect. A tip that is usually very helpful is that; you should use the adhesive or mortar that is going to match the type of surface in which you are going to be installing. Such tips will ensure that you get the results that you desire.

Another great tip is that; you should never prepare more adhesive mix than you can use within thirty minutes. You will get more information when you read the instructions on the mortar package. You will know the type of trowel to use. It will be helpful for you to remove adhesive in the ridges.

Do this immediately because when it dries, it becomes very difficult to clean. You will also find the use of spacers very helpful.



Jesse
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m.jeya asked:


Attractive and functional ceramic dog bowls in fashionable colors. Match your ceramic dog food bowl with a decorative ceramic treat canister. Ceramic dog bowls are heavy so they resist being pushed around the floor while your dog is feeding. Ceramic pet treat canisters bowls are sanitary, dishwasher safe and come in many styles. All ceramic treat container come with an air tight seal to keep treats fresh. Many Dog Treat Jars are available with personalization.

This unique Ceramic Treat Jar is a smart way to store your pup’s favorite treats. The playful treat jar gives this treat jar a very cool look and it works for any room in the house. We have one by our back door to reward our dogs when they come when called. This lead-free ceramic dog treat jar has an airtight seal that locks in freshness and flavor to keep treats tasting great. The ceramic Treat Jar can be used with people cookies or dog treats.

This high-quality dog Ceramic Treat Jar Blue is whimsical, fun, and a great decorative piece! Lead-free ceramic jars have an airtight seal that locks in freshness and flavor to keep treats tasting great. These ceramic dog food bowel and pet dishes are charmingly decorative as well as functional. Treat jars and pet dishes are completely food safe using only non-toxic glazes and can be safely put in the dishwasher. All pieces are glazed inside and out. The dog treat jar lid has a removable seal for easier cleaning. Treat jars are available in two colors, they have red and blue.

Turn a practical necessity into a kitchen decor! Fun dog design sculptures Heavyweight, high quality ceramic is lead free and airtight seal inside locks in freshness Use for dog treat or people cookies. The Doggy Details Ceramics are hand painted, glazed, & fired. Our paints & glazes are non-toxic. Items are food safe & dishwasher safe. Please purchase online www.katiewongnyc.com in Newyork.



Eric
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