December 2017 - Page 7 of 7 - Natural Stone Tile Company & Shop

The vast majority of patios take a beating throughout the winter months, so it’s important to make sure your limestone or other mosaic stone patio is restored to its finest condition before the summer. It’s easy to neglect patios as they are often covered in various plants and other garden accessories.

It turns out that cleaning your garden patio isn’t as hard as you probably thought, with plenty of products available online to get the job done effectively. Alternatively, you can have a go at other straightforward cleaning techniques that will have your patio looking in great shape for the summer.

It’s good to start by getting rid of pointless clutter as this can affect the room you have to start cleaning. If you’ve had various plants on your patio throughout the year, you’ll probably need to do a thorough sweep of the patio.

Depending on the type of natural stone your patio is, you can mix a cleaning solution like bleach with water and scrub with a tough outdoor brush to get rid of other stains. It’s also a good idea to get rid of the weeds growing between the stone beforehand if there are any.

Finish the cleaning process with a garden hose, getting rid of the bleach solution that’s remaining and leave it to dry overnight.

If you’ve just acquired some natural stone tiles and you’re wondering where to go next, it might help if you know exactly what it is you need to get the tiling process underway. Tiling might seem reasonably straightforward but there are a number of tools that can make the time-consuming process a whole lot easier. Here are 5 essential tiling tools that you should invest in if they aren’t already part of your toolbox collection.

Start by getting hold of a grout float. These are essential if you want the job to be done neatly and efficiently. Use the grout float to press the mortar into the seams created between the tiles.
A trowel is another essential tool that lets you spread the mortar for the tiles to be placed on. They are designed in a pointed fashion to ensure you get the right amount each time.
You’ll need a mallet to tap the tiles into position. Just make sure you use a rubber mallet instead of a wooden one!
If you’ve noticed a build-up of excess mortar on the top of the tiling, you can use the tough, resilient grout sponge to get rid of it.
Finally, make sure you have a bucket to mix the mortar in. It needs to be new and ideally suited to making thinset mortar.

There you have it, 5 essential tiling tools. Make sure they’re available to you the next time you decide to purchase some tiles from us here at the Stone Tile Emporium!

Mosaics are a wonderful alternative to standard tiling, especially if you’re looking to enhance the character of your property. Mosaics are commonly found in bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and even some reception rooms, so you won’t struggle to find somewhere where you can have them.

You can purchase some of the wonderful glass mosaics we have to offer here at the Stone Tile Emporium but if you’re keen to make your own, here’s how to prepare.

If you’ve managed to keep some natural stone tiles such as limestone spare after a separate job, now’s the time to use them. You can sue all kinds of different materials when creating your own mosaics, from natural stone and glass to broken china and even seashells. Once you’ve collected your materials, you’re ready to begin!

Depending on the surface you have in mind for your mosaic, you need to choose a foundation. If you’re creating a mosaic for a tabletop, you need to ensure that the top is sturdy enough. It’s a good idea to give any foundation you choose a thorough clean beforehand as you’ll be using grout and mortar when piecing together your materials.

Try and draw your preferred pattern on the surface first so that you’ve got a plan beforehand. This will make your end product much neater and you can come up with some really detailed ideas using this method.

The final step of your preparation phase is to get hold of some mortar. Mortar is used throughout construction to hold concrete bricks together and it works just as well with mosaics. You can purchase mortar in many retail stores and mix it using manufacturer recommendations if you’re confused.

There are plenty of benefits that go with using natural stone cladding as a character feature in your home. You can get a wide range of visual benefits from having it in bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens and various other parts of a property.

Stone cladding is often used to surround fireplaces, making it a focal point of any living space that relies on this traditional form of heating. Here are a few reasons why natural stone cladding has become popular in both grade-listed and contemporary properties.

Stone cladding offers you a unique opportunity to bring character often associated with the outdoors into the property itself. This natural appearance is capable of changing the entire atmosphere of a room, from bedrooms and bathrooms to living rooms and dining areas.

What’s more, you can get a variety of new textures from your wall with all sorts of slate finishes available on the market.

Stone Cladding is also extremely durable, so you don’t have to concern yourself with worries about scratches, marks or chips in slate cladding.

Moreover, it would seem logical to take extra care of your stone cladding as it can play a vital role in improving the character of your property. Also remember that natural stone is often equipped to work alongside fireplaces where burn marks are possible.

Stone brings an appealing sense of tradition and character to our homes and its uses are many when it comes to interior design, tiling, outdoor decoration and so on. Stone has always been the stalwart of basic construction techniques which is why many people have embraced its unique design and structure to develop the character and overall attractiveness of their homes. Let’s have a look at a few examples of the use of stone in our homes today and how these ideas have been inspired by period tradition.

Tiling has become the norm for most bathrooms, whether it’s on the floor, on the walls or even to add a decorative spark to various bathroom appliances such as sinks and shower areas. Limestone tiles emit a natural atmosphere that helps us feel strangely comfortable when taking a shower for example. The stone decorated baths that look to imitate Mediterranean rock pools gives us an example of how stone has become the comfortable material to be around.

Sometimes stone can be boring, like with drive ways for example. Let’s face it, you hardly care to notice what platform the car is situated on and you’re probably far more interested in the car itself. However, many homeowners have looked to make the most of their driveways to create some pretty nifty design ideas. Beautifully rounded pebbles are commonplace on many designer drive ways these days, whilst flat concrete slabs are being swapped with shingle to provide a touch of uniqueness. You can potentially use a variety of stones that have come fresh from the ocean to further decorate your driveway and really impress the neighbours. Without doubt, there are options available to you.

Stone has become a much more popular choice of material in recent years thanks to the aspects of character it can potentially bring to a home. Stone Tiles Emporium have a wide range of stone tiles available that come in all different shapes and designs. If you’re interested in integrating some natural beauty into your home, contact Stone Tiles Emporium for further details.

Month: December 2017

Cleaning Your Patio in Time For The Summer

5 Essential Tools for Tiling Jobs

Preparations For Making Your Own Mosaics

Why Go For Stone Cladding?

The Use of Stone in the Modern Household

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