Ordering Custom-Made Tiles For unique or hard-to-find tiles, custom ordering might be necessary. Some companies specialize in creating matching tiles based on the samples you provide. While this option can be more expensive, it often yields the closest match to your original tiles.
make a border all the way around the room with a different light colored tile, cut small squares of the tile that has to be pulled up (to make the border all the way around) as an inset, and that will pull the two tile colors together.
To get a perfectly square corner, you want to aim for a measurement ratio of 3:4:5. In other words, you want a three-foot length on your straight line, a four-foot length on your perpendicular line, and a five-foot length across. If all three measurements are correct, you'll have a perfectly square corner.
Use trim to mask uneven edges. Trims cover gaps and create clean lines. Choose from metal, PVC, or wood trims, depending on your tile color and style. If one edge is higher, smooth it gently with a tile file.
1 depends on the type of tile, but ranges from approximately 1/32" to 3/32". So 1/32" warpage plus 1/32" equals 1/16" allowable warpage for most tiles with some exceptions.
While grout can help to minimise the appearance of unevenly installed tiles, it cannot completely hide them. If the tiles are significantly uneven or have large gaps between them, using the same colour grout may make the problem less noticeable, but it will not completely conceal it.
Tile. Tile floors have an incredibly long life expectancy – if they're taken care of. Ceramic tile can easily last 75 to 100 years, while natural stone (like marble or granite) can last well over 100.
Check references
A reputable tradespersons should always allow a client to make contact with two or three of their recent customers so that enquiries can be made about the quality of their work and their conduct on the job. Ask the tiler for their references, whether they are qualified and their trade experience.
The golden rule when installing tiles is install on a concrete floor where possible and always ensure it's level by applying a levelling compound beforehand – watch this video to find out exactly how.
When replacing any tile, it's always best to use one left over from the original installation. Then you can be sure that the replacement tile will perfectly match the existing ones. If you have extras stored away, this is your best bet for a perfect match.
If the grout has fully cured and you're looking for a complete color change, removing and replacing it is the most comprehensive solution. For minor corrections or when looking for a less labor-intensive option, using a grout colorant or pen might suffice.
Replacing a few damaged tiles isn't too difficult if you have the right tools. “It's a job most any homeowner can handle,” says Joe Ferrante, a tiling contractor who worked with the This Old House television show for nearly two decades.
Tile floor installation costs $1,900 on average, but it can cost between $800 and $3,000, depending mostly on material costs and project size.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
When it comes to flooring options, tile floors are popular for their durability, aesthetic appeal, and ease of maintenance. However, when tile floors are not properly installed, they can develop cracks over time. Understanding the potential causes of these cracks is essential for homeowners and contractors alike.
Now when you go with a black tile and a white grout you are going to see that visually (like with white tile and black grout) things start looking a bit busier and you do make out the shapes of the tiles more so than you would if it was all tonal. Still, a very pretty look which we love.
Option 1: Grind it. If the lippage isn't too terrible and only affects a small number of tiles, you might be able to grind the edge down to make it even—or at least appear even—using a hand sander or an angle grinder (or, in a pinch, low-grit sandpaper).
If you're trying to unify your tile, such as with a wood look tile floor, go for a close match that's a little bit lighter than your tile. If you want to highlight a color or accent in your tile, like the gray veins in a marble tile, go for a close match, or a bit darker than that shade in your tile.
The 33% offset reverse pattern creates a simple and consistent pattern that can minimize lippage. Rather than having the two low points adjacent to the high point as in a 50% offset, the tile in row one is moved to the one third point (33%) of the tile in row two.
When tiles are installed, the edge of one tile can sometimes be slightly higher or lower than the edge of the adjacent tile. This height difference is know as tile lippage and it's not particularly desirable, as you might expect. It doesn't look attractive and in the case of floor tiling, it can create a trip hazard.
Aim for Flat, Not Perfectly Level – Remember, you don't need to make your floor perfectly level. Often, that's just not realistic, especially in old homes.