The Best Ways Of Cleaning Granite Tiles

Granite is a natural stone that oozes luxury and sophistication. Granite tiles spell class and richness. They have a unique beauty because of their special colours and sparkle. Though the stones are highly durable, following some simple tips can keep the shine long-lasting. Cleaning granite tiles is a simple process and accomplished by the use of dust mops or brooms. Granite is hard wearing and used in high traffic areas. In such areas, there is a large accumulation of dust. Use a soft broom to clear the dust and wipe with a soft mop. While using a wet mop, wring it well and wipe the surface. Avoid using any kind of chemical cleaners, which might dull the surfaces. Use only recommended cleaners in the right quantity to clean the surfaces.

Basic soap along with water might not be enough to get rid of the dirt completely. Excessive use of soap might dull the surfaces. Most flooring outlets sell cleaners meant specifically for use on granite tiles. Use this along with a soft brush for removing the dirt and grime. Do not use harsh and abrasive scourers while scrubbing the stains. If the floor is frequented by kids and pets, look out for spills and stains. Clean the spills immediately before they dry out. By following this, the overall appearance is improved.

After installation of granite, a good quality sealant is necessary. Sealant protects the surface of granite and extends its durability. You will find a good sealant in any of the local flooring stores. This is worth investing in, as it reduces the chance of seepage when any liquid spills on them. Granite is an investment by itself, and you should take all the steps necessary to maintain it well. Do not consider the sealant application as an extra expense, but consider it as an additional investment for improving the life of the flooring.

Granite tiles are well known for its sturdiness. This material is used extensively for kitchen countertops. Kitchens are breeding areas for germs and bacteria. Because of the low absorption qualities of this stone, it is ideal for kitchen usage. The surface of this stone does not allow bacteria to thrive. Take the help design magazines and internet to find the right colour and pattern for your kitchen walls and floors. A few cautious steps in cleaning can extend their life. Your effort spent in the up keep of these stones will reflect in their stunning beauty and shine.


From: ezinearticles.com

Introduction of Quartz Stone

Quartz stone are in a vacuum under the conditions of natural quartz crystal mine manufactured large-sizes, is a new type of high-grade environment-friendly decorative surfaces to replace natural and traditional man-made stone, are widely used in various aspects of the decoration. Quartz-stone up to 93% of natural quartz crystals as the main raw material, quartz crystal itself is crystal clear, bright, beautiful colors, luxurious, high hardness, non-deformation, non-discoloration, toughness and strong, non-radioactive, acid and other natural features. Would you be interested in itsion flow, well, here we go!

1, Quartz Stone raw materials selection

The engineers looking for high-quality quartz minerals and other additives, in the procurement at the same time, spare no effort to assists to enhance the quality and craftsmanship, strict demands on the quality, and continue to study a variety of new quartz mineral, to ensure compatibility with the annual quartz stone the development of new designs.

2, purification and mixing of quartz-stone raw materials

Particle size of a variety of quartz mineral by the purification device to remove impurities and pure, then deliver it into a giant mixing tower, step by step to the mineral and other additives evenly mixed. Does not contain impurities in the quartz stone material and uniform mixing, quartzs are the fundamental guarantee for defect-free.

3, Quartz stone will be thick molding

Ratio of materials and mixed well into the large-scale molding machine, the computer induction from fixed equipment on thick quartz embryo formation materials and precise adjust thickness, molding placed directly on belt conveyors, each only forming a sheet.

4, vacuum die casting

Quartz stone forming embryo material at die-casting machine with precisely controlled by a computer throughout the process, equipment will be the air gap of mineral row to close to vacuum, the formation of ore, slag, and other additives accumulation among the most closely by the experienced quality track and monitor the entire process control engineer. Each specification will be very large quartz slab for the vacuum die-casting material used to protect the dense and non-porous, plate-size the greater the process more complex.

5, Quartz stone surface polishing

At automated roller conveyor line quartz stone slab was slow-moving, through 30 group from the coarse-to-fine polishing head. Under high-speed rotation, combined with cooling water and many different abrasive, quartz stone surface has been polished into a special deal with shiny mirror effect. Nande quartz stone texture depth and texture the surface treatment which fully demonstrated.

6, Total Quality Detect

Polishing the surface of each piece to complete the deal with quartz slab, through the transmission lines will be entering the final quality control inspection of the surface brightness, pores or other types of defects for the whole of each inspection. Comprehensive quality inspection to eliminate defects in the quartz stone has left the Factory.

Tile Size Tips for Small Bathrooms

Bathroom tile is available in a wide variety of colors, materials and sizes that can add updated style to your interior design. Your options include ceramic, porcelain, glass, stone and slate in warm, earthy tones, vibrant jewel tones, light pastels or classic neutral colors. Well, if you are still in the trouble of bathroom tile size, you could take the following tips into account.

Firstly, small tile without contrasting grout lines. Select small 1-by-1-inch tile for your small bathroom as long as you reduce the appearance of contrasting grout lines. Contrasting grout lines enhance the pattern in the tile and make it look like a checkerboard. A heavy pattern does not complement a small bathroom and often makes the room appear even smaller. Opt for light-colored small tile with matching grout if you want a room-expanding design. The Yorkshire Tile Company recommends that you consider the spacing between your sink, bathroom, windows, doorway and shower before you select a tile size. If the spacing between fixtures is compact, small tiles may be the better option because they flow better than larger tiles.

Secondly, for medium-sized tile, install medium-sized tile in a small bathroom if you want to encourage uniformity and simple design elements. Medium-sized tile measures approximately 4 inches by 4 inches and is installed with thin grout lines between each tile. The World Floor Covering Association reports that installation of small tiles requires more grout joints that can make a small bathroom floor appear too busy. Large bathroom tiles can make a small shower area and a bathroom floor appear disconnected. According to the site, "Scale plays an important role in giving a space an overall balance."

Then, for the large uncut tile, choose large 12-by-12-inch tiles if your bathtub and floor areas can accommodate uncut tiles that size. According to The Yorkshire Tile Company, a company with over 35 years of tile industry experience, if the majority of large tiles can be installed without having to cut them into smaller pieces to make them fit in your bathroom, the end result can be very impressive. Select large tile if your faucet, shower head and floor dimensions do not require you to cut the large tiles into smaller square, rectangular or triangular shapes to fit the space.

Recommendations for Quartz Tile Installation

Tile installation for quartzs can be a nightmare if you don't read the necessary recommendations. Why? Because quartzs have very low porosity, if you don't use the correct adhesive, one thing that can happen to your beautiful quartz tiles is several tiles popping up from the floor or wall. Engineered quartz tiles are made of 90-95% natural quartz and bonded together with polyester resin. As we all know, polyester contracts and dilates more than natural stone itself, therefore the whole tile installation for this type of material should have this in mind.

What most producers recommend, for tile installation is as follows:
1.    Clean the surface: where the tiles are going to be installed, make sure the area is free of cracks, stable, clean (without dust and other debris), smooth, guarantee the perfect setting for the tiles

2.    Preparing the Adhesive: make sure it's the proper adhesive, basically it should be a two component adhesive without water, or better uses latex liquid. The mix should follow this sequence: first the liquid latex component and second the powder component, don't switch this order.

3.    Spread an even flat layer of the adhesive on the tiling area, not thicker than 5 mm

4.    With the notched side of the trowel, comb the flat even layer of adhesive to help the tiles fit in perfectly and securely

5.    To get better results, you should also spread some adhesive on the back of the tile before laying it in place. Make sure you time these operations correctly, make sure the adhesive is not too dry ...

6.    Use rubber mallet to help adjust the tile when fitting it into place

7.    Use flexible cement based grout for the joint area

Stone Tile Application Ideas for Bathroom

Bathroom tile is both functional and aesthetic. Tile in inherently antibacterial, wet areas like the bathroom works best with or natural stone on the floor. Well, today we would like to share some tile application ideas for reference.

Marble is one of the popular materials in the ornament of home, thus, we would like to introduce it first. Wrapped in the beauty of white Carrara marble , the room boasts a sophisticated, traditional style. The subway-style tiles provide a timeless backdrop for the curvaceous tub and freestanding cabinet.


Another quite hot application of marble tile is for shower. The natural, soothing appeal of this bathroom comes from the blue-green tumbled-marble tiles in the shower stall.






Then, don’t miss out the stone mosaic tile. Wide bands of tile on the walls and floor provide textural interest in this sunny bath. Large beige-marble floor tiles balance the vibrant colors of the walls and cabinetry. Mixing colors and styles of tile creates a high-end look.

Cleaning Tips for Sandstone Fireplace

A sandstone fireplace adds beauty and style to any home. Sandstone is one of the most popular choices for indoor natural stone installations. It is lightweight, which contributes towards ease of installation. The neutral look of the fireplace enables it to blend with whatever style of furniture you have. When well cared for, sandstone installations can reflect their natural beauty for several years. Below are cleaning tips for your sandstone fireplace.


One is Day-to-Day Cleaning:
It is a good idea to clean your fireplace daily during your normal household chores. This helps to maintain its attractive appearance. A dry mop can help you clear away the usual dust and dirt. It helps if you brush the sandstone occasionally to freshen its appearance.


Another one is Thorough Cleaning:
Once a week, you may want to undertake a deeper clean. This helps to clear smudges and grime. A clean fireplace also contributes to higher performance and safety. Use a natural cleanser with water to clear dirt and grime from your fireplace. A soft bristled brush can help you clear the dirt effectively. Rinse carefully so that no traces of soap remain behind.


Soap residues give sandstone a dull appearance. Avoid acidic, alkaline or ammonia-based cleansers as these are likely to compromise the integrity of your sandstone. It isn’t a good idea to use ordinary household detergents on your sandstone. It leaves a residue which dulls the fireplace and encourages mildew to develop.

Create an Oriental Garden by Stone

Creating an Oriental stone garden is ideal for any space. Even a stretch of land along an alleyway can be transformed into a small courtyard garden showcasing Asian design principles. Naturally, a large space will allow you to incorporate various stone and rock features for great effects. Eastern gardens are supposed to be tranquil, natural, and simple. Stone provides the backbone of the entire design. Think of as reflective of mountains in the landscape. Usually, stone will be used in natural, uncut forms in these landscapes. For example, where a Western garden might feature a neat terrace garden on a slope, an Eastern garden will place large rocks haphazardly throughout the slope to reflect a more naturally occurring situation. 

 

Japanese gardens regularly feature groupings of natural stones of various sizes. This might be a focal point, but it also works as a great border between sections of the landscape. In a traditional Oriental garden, group uneven numbers of rocks together with uneven spacing between them to mimic a natural look. No straight lines in your Oriental garden. Traditionally, rocks should be placed in the same positions in which they were found in nature. Mix sizes, colors, and types of rocks to form beautiful groupings. Of course, Oriental gardens feature traditional borders like rock walls to great effect. Chinese gardens in particular make use of many walls to section off garden areas; in this way, each section is a separate outdoor room. Oriental rock walls often resemble rock piles and are seldom given a "finished" look the way rammed earth walls have in Western gardens. 

 

There are some tips with you: Rachel advises, "Cut rocks are sold especially for the purpose of being mortar-less. These stackable rocks make stable walls even without the use of mortar to glue them together. You can buy these rock kits at garden supply stores or order them online."

 

Eastern gardens generally feature small rock elements as well. A rock with a dip to collect water becomes a simple basin for a traditional Japanese tea garden. A miniature rock wall acts as a support for a small cascade in a Japanese courtyard garden. If the garden happens to be in a dry climate where water is not easily kept, pools or streams of gravel can be installed to reflect the element of water even though it is not present. Stones like white quartz can be sprinkled atop the dry streams to represent foam and moving water. Sand or gravel can be layered on top of the ground and raked into different patterns to represent wind and water. Stone can also be used to form Oriental bridges over true water features like creeks or ponds. Or, consider adding a few large rocks to your pond to just above the water's surface like islands for a quintessential Oriental look.