Cleaning tiles is simple. Wipe tiles with a damp sponge or mop, using a small amount of soap less detergent in warm water. Heavy duty cleaning can be accomplished with a bleach and water solution. Avoid abrasive household cleaners, which will scratch your tile. (see tile care for more thorough information)

Ceramic tile floors don't need any wax or floor finish, and all you have to do is sweep and mop them regularly to keep them clean and shiny. Mop with clear water (or add just a dab of liquid dish detergent), and change the water as soon as it gets cloudy. Too much soap or dirty water will leave a dulling or sticky film. Don't use brown or black nylon-backed scrub pads on ceramic tile, or you could scratch the surface.

Ceramic tile is a mixture of clays which have been shaped and fired at high temperatures, resulting in a hard body. Ceramic tile is made of two parts: the body, which is called the Bisque and the surface which is called the Glaze. Glaze colors are made from minerals such as gold, sliver, zinc copper, mercury cobalt and others.

Although glazed ceramic tile requires less floor care than most of the other flooring types, there are things you need to do to maintain the beauty of the ceramic tile floor. Wash regularly. Wash the floor regularly to remove any dirt or grit. Use a mild, diluted detergent solution, such as Mr. Clean or Spic & Span. If in doubt, call us to get the file manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations. Always rinse.

Yes! Use the bare floor tool or install one of our most popular options: the VacPan? automatic dustpan. It's ideal for removing debris from the kitchen, bath or mudroom. Simply sweep trash towards the automatic dustpan, touch the toeswitch and use the power of your Beam to instantly remove it. No more dustpans or stooping over to pick up swept debris.

Layout - My husband is having trouble with the layout/cuts in the ceramic tile for our tub/shower area. There is an uncentered window in the primary wall. He keeps saying "no matter how I figure it, I still end up with 1/2" gap at the top of wall". Is there any way you can tell him what he's doing wrong? Thanks SOOO MUCH! Exterior Chimney - Do you have any information on tiling the exterior of a stucco chimney? Below freezing in winter.

A Miracle Method refinished bathtub or tile wall can easily last 10 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. In fact, many of our customers have told us their bathtubs still look and feel great 15 years after being refinished.

a mixture of clays, molded into a shape and fired at high temperatures – resulting in a hard body. This hard body may be left untreated or it may receive a glazed wear layer. All the raw materials that go into making ceramic tile come from the earth, including the colours of the glaze.

To be used outdoors, the tile must be frost proof and unglazed for floor use. Make sure the absorption rate is 0.5% or less

Tile is actually the same temperature as the surrounding room temperature -- it holds warmth in a sunny room and would maintain a cooler temperature in an air-conditioned room. There are many installation products that will warm a tile.

ASTRA-GLAZE-SW® + units are made in Emigsville, Pennsylvania, South Beloit, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona. They are made using high purity, natural grain silica sands and a resinous binder cast onto a concrete block in a thermosetting, glazing process. The result is a hard glazed tile-like surface permanently molded onto one or more faces of the concrete blocks. ASTRA-GLAZE-SW® + blocks are fired at about 500 degrees Fahrenheit in a tunnel oven.

Use a carbide-tipped masonry bit or diamond drill bit; Fegular twist-drill bits can't cut through the fire-hardened glaze. Not necessarily. Porcelain tile is no different in temperature than anything else in the room except that it holds its temperature better because of its mass. Of course, cool is good in warm weather climates and it's easy to warm things up with an area rug or two.

There is no need to wax, polish or buff your tile installation. A damp sponge or mop is all that is necessary for daily maintenance. Special problems? Each of our locations carries a full line of Aqua Mix maintenance products developed specifically for ceramic

The initial cost of ceramic tile (when installed by a professional) is typically higher than many other floor coverings. However, because of its durability, it is also considered to be the least expensive in the long run. Occasionally, a tile may be cracked or broken, but the entire floor will never have to be replaced, except in extreme cases. Most other floors, such as carpet and vinyl flooring, will eventually need to be replaced. Tile runs the gauntlet.

There are two basic types of tile: glazed and unglazed. A glazed tile is a hardened piece of clay covered with a protective glass coating, creating a sheen. The coating is sprayed or poured on as a liquid and then hardened in the oven. An unglazed tile is simply a hardened piece of clay. There is no protective covering.

The composition is what makes the difference. Ceramic tile is made of clay either white or red, Porcelain tile is made of porcelain. Porcelain offers less absorption of water, it is virtually impervious and has more sheer strength to it.

Yes. However, we recommend unglazed, frost proof tiles for outdoor use. Look for tiles with absorption rates of 0.5% or less.

Encaustic tiles are ceramic tiles in which the pattern or figure on the surface is not a product of the glaze but of different colours of clay. They are often of two colours but a tile may be composed of as many as six. The pattern is inlaid into the body of the tile, so as the tile is worn down the design remains.

Monterey Ceramic Tile and Marble is a ceramic tile and natural stone showroom. We are a resource to homeowners and the trade (architects, general contractors, tile contractors, and interior designers). We are an ideal source for those searching for something different and unique. Although we are not contractors nor designers, we are happy to refer to you independent credible contractors or designers that service the Southern California area.