Monday, January 2, 2012

Ceramic Tiles - How to Cut Ceramic Tiles

!±8± Ceramic Tiles - How to Cut Ceramic Tiles

I do not think I can remember completing any tiling project where I have not had to cut at least one ceramic tile. Most people get slightly nervous just at thought of doing this so I thought I would write a quick guide to help.

Here is a list of the tools you will need; a chinagraph pencil (get these from your stationery store), steel rule, a platform tile cutter, tile saw, tile nibbler, pencil and finally a G-clamp.

How to Finish a Row - When you get to the end of a row, put the last tile on top of the previous tile and butt it up to the corner. Mark a line for cutting making sure to include an allowance for your grout.

Next take your platform tile cutter and make a straight cut. First of all you need to score the tile with the cutting wheel. Then apply the lever to snap the line along the score line. Now it is simply a case of affixing the tile to the wall.

Please note: It is important that you measure all your end of row tiles separately as the chances are that they are unlikely to be the same size.

How to Slice a Sliver off a Tile - Platform tile cutters whilst great tools are not able to make cuts much smaller than say 15mm wide we use another method to do this.

To take a small sliver off a tile you first score the tile with a hand held tile scorer, using your steel rule as a guide. For best results make sure your score mark is very deep and has penetrated through the glaze of the ceramic tile (this is essential for a clean break).

Using your tile nibbler you nibble away the sliver that needs removing before smoothing the edges with a file to finish.

Cutting a Curved Shape into a Ceramic Tile - You may have occasions where you need to cut a tile so it will fit around a curved object.

Here is who to do this.

First of all you need to cut a piece of paper the same size of the tiles you are using creating a paper template.

Place your paper template in position by butting it up to the curved object. Make a series of small cuts along the edge that rests against the curve to create the desired shape.

Next using your paper template as a guide and chinagraph pencil as a marker transfer the curved line onto the surface of the ceramic tile you are going to cut.

Then using your G-clamp, clamp the tile face upwards (being careful not to mark it). Using your tile saw carefully cut along your chinagraph pencil line. Take your time and do not apply excessive pressure. Once cut you can use a file to get rid of any rough edges then just fit your nicely shaped tile.

You can apply all of the above techniques with all of your tiling projects whether it be affixing bathroom ceramic tiles or tiling your kitchen.


Ceramic Tiles - How to Cut Ceramic Tiles

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Tips for Keeping Cool in a Hot Climate

!±8± Tips for Keeping Cool in a Hot Climate

When a heat wave arrives and the mercury rises, it can be tough to keep cool, especially if you don't have the luxury of air conditioning. There are plenty of things you can do though, to give yourself a little blessed relief. If you have a swimming pool in the backyard, make sure that it is well maintained and the pool cleaner has been doing its job. That way it will always be ready for you to take a refreshing dip. Even without a pool, there are plenty of ways you can use water to keep cool and there are other things you can do as well. Here are a few of our favourite tips for keeping cool in a hot climate.
 
Eliminate unnecessary electrical heat sources
Turn off all unnecessary sources of electrical heat in your house. Dishwashers, ovens and tumble driers are all major culprits. Incandescent light globes also emit large quantities of heat, so if you haven't already switched to fluorescent alternatives for environmental reasons, now is a good time to do so.
 
Close blinds
Closing blinds and shutters will help prevent a lot of heat getting into your home in the form of direct sunlight.
 
Insulate your house
Many people think of home insulation purely in terms of preventing heat escaping in the winter, but it works just as well in preventing heat getting in during the summer. This may not be an instant solution to an immediate heat wave problem, but as a long term answer it is really hard to beat.
 
Sleep downstairs
Hot air rises so it stands to reason that the ground floor will be the coolest part of your home. If your bedroom is upstairs it might be time to decamp to the lounge for a cooler and more comfortable night's sleep.
 
Hit the pool
There is nothing like plunging into cold water to cool yourself down in an instant, so if you have a swimming pool in you backyard, you should consider yourself very lucky. Make sure you keep it well maintained with a good pool pump and cleaner so that it is always ready when you need it most.
 
Take a cold shower or bath
If you don't have a pool, cold water is still your friend. Taking a cold shower will provide instant relief and will help keep you cool for a while. Even simply running cold water over your wrists can make a significant difference. Hold each wrist under running water for at least ten seconds and as the newly cooled blood pumps round your body your temperature will be lowered just enough to make you feel a little better.
 
Make the most of a fan
Fans are a great way of keeping cool. They work by aiding the evaporation of moisture on the skin, which draws energy from your body in the form of heat. You can increase their effect by increasing the moisture levels on your body. In other words, get wet. Soak a t-shirt in cold water, put it on, and sit in front of a fan. You may feel a little bit silly at first, but the cooling effect as you begin to dry off is more than worth a momentary loss of dignity!


Tips for Keeping Cool in a Hot Climate

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