A [...]]]> If you would love to install beautiful timber flooring throughout your home, it is important that you understand some of the basic care and maintenance tips and tricks required to keep your timber floors looking fabulous! The team at Johnson Tiles have put together a few simple tricks to help you clean your timber floors.

A hardwood timber floor will continue to look at its best for years to come  if it is kept as clean and fresh as possible. Surface grit and dirt will not only make your timber flooring appear dirty, it will also scratch and wear your timber floors over time. This can decrease the value and appearance of the timber floors, making them dull and marked.

To get rid of this awful surface dirt and grit, regularly vacuum, with a soft bristle head or an electrostatic attachment, or sweep with an electrostatic mop. These options are quick and easy, taking only a couple of minutes to sweep around your home. Even the kids can have a go while watching TV! Ensure to keep any door mats you may have clean and vacuumed, as these will bring dirt and grit through onto your floors.
 
For dirt and grit that is a little more stubborn, damp-mop the floor using a well rung mop, as you do not want your timber flooring to be saturated with water. The use of a pH neutral floor cleaner can help remove stubborn dirt, and it is best to seek advice when purchasing this item. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, to provide you with the best results.
 
Never clean your timber floors with common household detergents, polishes, steel wool pads, wax or similar products. These products can be far too abrasive or harsh and scratch the surface, or may make your floor slippery. Some products may leave a film of silicon or wax on the timber which may create problems when recoating your floors in the future.  
Make sure to use only good quality, lint free floor mops and thoroughly wash new mops to remove any lint after use.
 
If you encounter any spills, be sure to wipe them up immediately with a cry cloth or paper towel. If you find that the mess is not coming off, dampen the cloth or paper towel slightly. Following these basic rules will ensure that your timber floors will remain in the best condition for a long time.

Contact Johnson Tiles today to find out more about Timber Flooring.

Measure the floor and wall areas to be tiled. If the tiles are regular in size, then you should add no more than 10% to 15% [...]]]> When arriving at the tile store, you should have a clear idea of the area you wish to tile and the amount of foot traffic it will be exposed to.

Measure the floor and wall areas to be tiled. If the tiles are regular in size, then you should add no more than 10% to 15% for cuts, breakages and spares. Always order an extra 10% – 15%, even if you don’t use them, they will often be useful at a later date, if tiles are broken or damaged in the future. Ensure that you establish the tiling technique and pattern you will require, as this can make a difference to the amount of tiles you need.

Think about any accessories like soap dishes, step edges or brass strips to finish off your tiling and give you a professional looking project. If you have any queries, or are struggling to know how many tiles you will require, give the Johnson Tiles team a call today and we will help you out!

It is always best to avoid abrasive cleaners, or any type of polishes or additives. They will only build up and cause problems in the future. Wash your [...]]]> Are you curious as to how to look after your ceramic tiles? Johnson Tiles have some fantastic tips to help you make the most of your ceramic tiles.

It is always best to avoid abrasive cleaners, or any type of polishes or additives. They will only build up and cause problems in the future. Wash your tiles regularly using warm clean water with a little soapless, gentle household cleaner.

It may be possible that a very thin film of grout has been left on the surface of the tiles making them appear dull. In this case, we recommend the use of a heavy duty tile and grout cleaner, as this will get the best results. Make sure you rinse the floor throughly with clean water after this treatment, as reminants can damage the surface.

Tiles can become scratched by grit and dirt, especially highly glazed tiles. To minimise this, ensure a door mat is used just inside any exterior door. If you have very highly glazed floor tiles in you bathroom, avoid walking on them in footwear.

One or two tiles on your tiled floor may become chipped or cracked. It is best to ensure that you have kept some spares, as tile batches may vary in colour, so it’s very unlikely that you could ever match your tiles up a few years later.

These are some basic tile tips on how to look after your ceramic tile, and if you are requiring more specific answers, give Johnson Tiles a call today and we will help you out in any way we can!

Loose tiles can be caused by many factors such as improper installation and substrate problems. When loose tiles are found, it [...]]]> We all know how frustrating it can be having loose tiles beneath our feet! Loose tiles are often noticed by noise when walked on or a hollow sound when installed. It is best to fix right away!

Loose tiles can be caused by many factors such as improper installation and substrate problems. When loose tiles are found, it is generally best to replace them. However, this can often be undesirable due to the cost of the tile or for aesthetic reasons - but, fortunately, their are other methods. A simple method involves the injection of epoxy resin underneath the tile to re-bond the tile to the substrate.

The tools that you will require are a drill motor, carbide tipped blade equal to the grout joint size, a large construction syringe, a supply of quality two part epoxy and a supply of matching grout.

Holes are carefully drilled into the grout joints on either side of the loose tile. Epoxy is mixed and injected into one of the holes with a tight fitting fixture until epoxy comes out the other side. Tile mechanics that have used this method often use the likes of a golf tee in the opposing hole to ensure that the epoxy completely fills all voids prior to oozing out the other hole.

The epoxy is dug out slightly and allowed to cure. After this, the holes are grouted leaving the procedure complete – no more loose, wobbly tiles!