5 Granite Tile Products That Work Wonders in the Kitchen

The use of granite tile products has gained considerable popularity in home improvement, especially in the kitchen. Granite is a beautiful, natural occurring material that compliments any kitchen when used appropriately.

In the kitchen, granite tiles are mostly used on counter tops and as back splashes, but they can also be used as tile flooring. There are several types of granite tile products, however there are some notable tiles that are extremely popular and worth checking out

Absolute Black Tile

The absolute black granite tile stays true to its name. It comes in the form of a black surface with no patterns or extra colors. Black is a bold color and as such, it works perfectly well on its own. This tile is suitable for large kitchens where it can be used on the counter top, back splash, and even tile flooring. In can also be used in small kitchens but such kitchens should have walls with bright colors, such as white and cream.

Black granite tile for the counter tops and back splashes should preferably be polished in order to make the cleaning process easy. The non-polished version of this tile can be used on the kitchen floor for safety purposes.

Bianco Romana

Bianco romana is a granite tile that has white as the dominant color. This tile falls in the marbled category of granite. This is because it has an easy flow of variations between its colors. These tiles are perfect for white kitchens with warm colors such cream and beige. They can fit in both small and large kitchens since they create an illusion of space. These Peru tile products are fit for counter tops and backsplashes. Their simple pattern allows them to be used on both surfaces.

Seafoam Green Tile

The seafoam green tiles are an uplifting color that charms any kitchen. Theses tile products come in a polished look that is suitable for counter tops and back splashes since they are highly prone to dirt. These tiles have a busy design hence they should be used sparingly. When used in a large kitchen, these tiles can fit on both the counter tops and the back splashes. When used in small kitchens, they should be used minimally on one of the surfaces.

Costa Esmeralda Tile

The costa esmeralda falls in the speckled category of granite tiles. It has a somewhat busy design but its color its subtle enough to be used on counter tops and back splashes. In order for it to be used in a small kitchen, the small kitchen needs to have walls with bright, yet simple colors that won’t suffocate the tile. Only select tile dealers offer this granite tile product. Leeway Tile serving Bloomington, IL is one that we highly recommend.

Typhoon Bordeaux Tile

The typhoon bordeaux tile has one of the busiest designs. It has a busy speckled design with several variations of bold, brown colors. This tile is suitable for large kitchens since the busy design would suffocate a small kitchen. A small kitchen can use this tile sparingly, preferably as a center piece.

For a granite tile to be used on a kitchen floor, it needs to be unpolished. Polished tile fits counter tops and back splashes since they make cleaning easy. These five tiles are some of the best options in tiling kitchen spaces. Explore more fabulous tile products and stay tuned on the Granite n' Grout gurus blog!

Three of the Top Products for Tile Grout Cleaning

After the installation of floor tile, grouting the gaps between the tile is the essential next step to complete the tile project. Grout is a construction material that is applied between the tiles to fill in the spaces and to provide strength to the tile work. Grouting is done to fill the gaps between tile, which keeps out debris and makes your tile look even and nice.

High level of cleanliness should be observed to maintain the grout clean. However as it is porous in nature over time it may accumulate dirt and grime. Tile grout cleaning can be an intimidating and tedious chore. However by using any one of the products discussed below cleaning of grout can be a breeze.

A good grout cleaning liquid is absolutely essential to keep your floor tile looking great. Whether you're using ceramic tile or other exotic stone tile, below are some great grout cleaning products to consider.

Aqua Mix Grout Deep Clean

This is a powerful cleaner that is designed to removes stains, grease and dirt from grout joints in order to restore its color and appearance. It also works wonders in removal of food stains, soap scum and hard water deposits.

As it features an advanced stain pulling agent it is highly recommended for heavily soiled and neglected areas. This product complies with all Federal EPA and SCAQMD standards for VOC. The Aqua Mix Grout Deep Clean product is one of the best suited for cementitious sanded and unsanded group joints and for use in the surrounding stone and tile area.

The Tilex Tile & Grout Pen

This is yet another amazing product that tackles even the toughest stains and grime in your tile cracks and crevices. It incorporates dual tips – a fine tip and a broad brush. The Tilex Tile & Grout Pen is precision engineered with a pointed tip to target even the toughest stains that is embedded in the crevices and gaps.

The Tilex Tile & Group Pen also incorporates a built-in broad scrub brush to deal with bigger stains. As it contains Clorox bleach it not only eliminates dirt but also attacks mold and mildew stains. It is convenient and easy to hold and hence assures ease of use. Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient contained in Tilex tile and grout pen.

DuPont Tile & Grout Cleaner

This product is specially formulated for natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles. It is effective for routine cleaning and removal of dirt, stains and soap scum. All you have to do is spray on the soiled surface and wipe clean with a dry towel or sponge.

There is absolutely no need to rinse the surface. However you can repeat the procedure for heavily soiled surfaces. The DuPont Tile & Grout Cleaner is available for purchase online in their official website itself.

We have discussed three different brands that offer specialist grout cleaning solutions. Yes, they are perfectly designed to bring back the brightness of your grout. You can also consult with your local tile store in Bloomington IL to learn more about the best grout cleaning products for specific types of tile and grout. These tile experts can help you make a sound decision regarding the best products for the job. Whatever product you choose for grout cleaning make sure to read and follow the directions carefully to ensure safe and effective cleaning. Also make sure to include tile and grout cleaning as a part of your routine household maintenance schedule.

5 Ways to Use Tile & Natural Stone for Home Improvement

By picking out the right tile, pattern and design, and using your creativity you can find some new ideas for decorating your home. We will discuss in this article five creative do it yourself tile decorating projects.

Adding tile areas to a bathroom is one of the ways to make it appear more stylish and updated by adding visual interest. You can select from an almost endless array of sizes, colors, and styles and tile is beautiful to look at and easy to maintain.

Just the same way you can set the overall mood with paint color you can do it by using style and color of the tile. With boldly colored tile you can create some dramatic effects. Lighter tile colors, on the other side, can make the room seem more airy and larger. You might also combine both darker and lighter colors by mixing lighter tiles with accent color tiles or using an overall light neutral shade of tile with a colored tile border.

Bathroom Vanity Tile

Most of the people think of only installing tiles on the bathtub and shower area in a bathroom. But there are other creative ways to use tile in a bathroom, as well. One idea is to install tile behind the sink and vanity area. It will not only look great but it is also very easy to clean and it will protect your walls from splashes.

You can also use some special purpose tiles in the sink and vanity area, such as those designed to hold toothbrushes, cups, and soap. These can be found at most tile stores with a fairly good selection of products. You can even tile a whole wall behind in the vanity and sink area of your bathroom. While tiles are usually seen as a flooring option, they are looking great on walls too.

Subway Tiles in the Kitchen

In your kitchen there are also endless possibilities of design using tiles. The horizontal subway tile style is timeless and classic. These are 3" x 6" ceramic tiles with gloss finish that come in a multitude of colors. They are easy to clean and can brighten the whole kitchen. You can choose a monochromatic design or you can add depth by mixing in herringbone tiles as a backsplash behind the sink or behind the oven. You can also create a totally different look by running the tiles vertically.

Natural & Stone Mosaic Tiles

Stone mosaic tiles are trendy, especially for the kitchen areas. Their pattern draw attention and enhance the entire design. You can install them on the kitchen walls or in specific areas such as over the sink or over the stove. If you want to create more dimension and depth you can use glass mosaic tiles. Another popular option is the basket weave stone mosaic pattern tile.

Rectangular Floor Tiles

Another strong trend in floor tile design is the use of natural stone or porcelain rectangular tiles. Porcelain tiles range from 6" x 24" to 6" x 36" to 12" x 24" to 18" x 36". The style of the rectangular tiles varies from stark cement look to wood look made from porcelain. Stone rectangular tile styles that are trendy include Statuario, White Oak, and Calacatta Gold. You may use a monochromatic design or just adding color to a few key areas.

Tile Artwork

Another way to creatively decorate your home with tiles is to create a custom artwork from tiles. An original design may include a mix of ceramic, glass, and stone tiles. You can use handmade stone tile with art deco touches, as well. Some tile dealers, such as Leeway Ceramic Tile, offer professional help in such projects, so keep a look out for tile experts of the like.

DIY Tile Installation

No matter what tile design you choose you can install the tiles yourself. The installation steps are: measuring the area where you want to install tiles, laying out the pieces, securing the cement board, laying out the tiles, spreading the adhesive, and setting the sheet of tiles in place.

In case that you have to cut some tiles to fit the corners, the easiest way to do it is by using a wet saw. The wet saw uses water in order to keep the blade from getting too hot when you work to make the cuts. You may rent a wet saw your for tile project from any local rental center. While working on your tile project remember to follow the proper safety rules.