Local Traders News » Tilers

Porcelain Drill Is Taking The Hard Work Out Of Drilling Tiles

Nick — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:00:43 +0000

Porcelain has presented many a tiler with drilling problems for years, due to its hard nature. Up until now the only feasible way to solve this problem was to use a TCT tipped cutter or elaborate water feed systems. However the expensive nature associated with these products has put many off tradesmen over the years. That is up until now however.

Toolpak have introduced their new force X diamond core drill. The drill is specifically designed to be used on porcelain and encompasses a mini diamond core tip and is electroplated. Demand for the new drill is high, with plumbers and tilers especially. The drills range between 6 to 40mm making them compatible with a variety of applications, and are ideal for cordless and corded drills alike.

These drills are available through most reputable tool high centres throughout the UK. They include a professional vacuum suction drill guide to help prevent skidding, and enable precision drilling. These drills are designed specifically to last which makes then excellent value for money when compared to substitute products that are less durable. It is worth noting however that the cutting edge should be kept wet at all times to optimise the durability of the diamond rim.

Last month a mini diamond porcelain tile drill set, which features a 115mm continuous rim turbo tile blade was introduced to the market place. The body of these drills has waste slots which enable efficient plumbing spoil and slug removal. It is recommended however that when drilling porcelain, you should always test on a spare tile first to save making a costly mistake on the job.

RAK Ceramics Voted Number 1 By Ceramic Tile Review Magazine

Danny — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:00:08 +0000

The world’s best known and most distributed international ceramic magazine has voted RAK Ceramics as the world’s largest ceramic tile manufacturer. The Ceramic Tile Review, which is dedicated to all things ceramic, ranked RAK Ceramics as No1 over 25 other of the world’s leading tile manufacturers in 2009, only 12 months after they were ranked 4^th. They produced a total of 115 million sq metres of tiles throughout six different countries from 15 different manufacturing facilities, compared to the 106 million sq metres that were produced in 2008.

RAK have also since revealed that they will boost their production to 117 million sq metres as they expand throughout different parts of the globe. Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Ceramics, said:

“Being recognised as the biggest tile manufacturer in the world underlines RAK Ceramics’ unmatched ability to consistently satisfy the demands of customers in terms of product quality and quantity.”

Dr Massaad went on to say that the distinctions made by the magazine are a representation of the successful strategy that RAK Ceramics has put into place in order to target and increase their market share and presence in high-growth global markets. He expressed pleasure that this cements the status of RAK Ceramics as one of the most important brands around the world and their position as first choice for all different sorts of tiling needs in the ceramic market. He continued by saying that,

“The Ceramic World Review has noted that the internationalisation of production has been a common trend among companies that have figured prominently on the list. In this regard, we remain strongly committed to pursue aggressive expansion programs in new international markets and maintain our status as the undisputed global leader in the ceramic tile industry.”

RAK Ceramics employ a massive 15,000 staff and claim that their success is largely down to the fact that they have production plants throughout different countries.

Wiltshire School Teaches Trade Skills To Combat Truancy

Liam — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:00:54 +0000

Pupils at a school in Marlborough are learning new skills that should help them secure work when they leave school. Equipment that has been donated by local businesses is being used to teach alternative courses that suit some students more. Students are learning skills such as plastering and should be able to plaster walls and ceilings when the course is completed. Other students are learning the basics of laying wall and floor tiles and students have expressed an interest in becoming a tiler when they leave school.

For the children that prefer the outdoors there has been a course in gardening where students have been learning on grow fruit and vegetables, cut grass and prevent weeds. An allotment was created by the students and other pupils on a photography course took photographs of the outdoor growing area.

Local tradesmen have been extremely supportive of the courses and many have donated tools and equipment to help the students complete the jobs they are working on. Items such as paint brushes for the painting course and trowels for the plasterers were warmly received by the students. The main donations from companies though were the hours of expertise and know how.

The courses should go a long way to helping the students find work within a trade when they leave school and are the building blocks for them to become the master crafts men of the future. As a result of the course the students attendance rates have increased.

Tile Giant Pilkington Calls In The Administrators

Danny — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:00:35 +0000

One of the leading tiling manufactures in the Manchester area has been forced to call in the administrators following appalling losses in the last financial year. Around 380 members of staff at Pilkington’s will find out soon if they will still be in a job after record losses totalling £2.9 million. Sales dropped by a massive 4% compared to the previous year and the down turn is being blamed on the general decline in the building and associated trades.

The company manufactures all types of tiles from marmoleum floors tiles to standard kitchen and bathroom tiles. Staffs at the main Manchester plant total 325 and a further 55 are spread over the country at sites in Dublin, Dorset and Tameside. Pilkington’s was bought out by a consortium in 2004 and the chief executive Ray Tarr has seen his staff sent home while the administrators KPMG Restructuring take control of the company.

Following the credit crunch the retail sector has been hit hard and recently released figures show that floor covering and furniture where among the worst performing sectors within retail. This highlights that people are holding fire before making big decisions on large purchases such as flooring, tiling, and general renovation work.

The government is working hard to try and increase national spending to kick start the economy but people are still fearful for the future. For the staff at Pilkington’s, the administrator’s decision will be crucial and many are expecting redundancies before the end of the week. Anybody interested in buying the business has been advised to contact the administrators.

Tavistock Welcomes New Tile Supplier

Sarah — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:05:18 +0000

Although the recession has seen difficult times hit a lot of retailers, independent and specialist stores, tradespeople and the general public, and many high streets have become ghost towns with empty shop floors and ‘to let’ or ‘for sale’ signs affixed to exterior walls, it’s not all doom and gloom in Tavistock.

A new tile shop is due to open its doors for the first time on May 1st when it starts trading. The tile supplies store will be located in Brook Street, and will sell directly to the public as well as providing services for trade customers. The new tile shop, called VersaTile, will be run by the owner, Jamie Cummins, who himself has 15 years of experience in the tiling industry.

Customers will be able to get knowledgable advice and information about the different tiling products on sale in the tile store, as well as quotes and a full bespoke design service if you’re unsure what will best suit your bathroom, kitchen, utility room or conservatory.

The family run tiling business will sell a wide range of products, including tiling accessories such as grout, adhesive, spacers and edging, as well as a comprehensive tile range. On sale in the store, customers will be able to find tiles from popular ranges such as tiles designed by Laura Ashley, mosaic and glass tiles, which are becoming increasingly popular for feature walls and adding colour and interest to bathrooms in particular, and a range of natural stone tiles such as marble, slate and travertine.

In addition to the tiles in stock at the store and on display for customers to view, VersaTile will also offer a tile ordering service enabling customers to access an even wider range of tile design collections from different tile manufacturers. These can usually be ordered in within 48 hours.

As part of celebrating the opening of the store, customers will be able to take advantage of a 10% discount on tiles purchased in May.

Tile and Carpet Chains See Profits Floored

Sarah — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:12:30 +0000

Whether it’s the after effects of the recession or the bad weather that kicked off the start of 2010, flooring companies Topps Tiles and Carpetright have both seen a fall in share prices that could impact on projections for anticipated revenue for the year as a whole.

Carpetright, despite previous announcements that they were confident that the firm had not been hit too badly by the recession, have now issued a profits warning, despite a statement from the chairman and chief executive of the carpetting firm, Lord Harris of Peckham last month stating that expectations for the year as a whole remained unchanged. Sales generated in the carpet shops in the seven weeks leading up to 20th March dropped compared to the previous period however from 3.9% to 1.7% which is not good news for the flooring chain.

Topps Tiles have also a reduction in a reduction in sales with projections to 2nd April looking likely to be around 2.1% compared to 5.5% for the first part of the year for like-for-like sales in the tile and flooring stores. Shares have also dropped by 8%, which the flooring seller attributes mainly to the bad weather resulting in people staying indoors rather than venturing out to shop and plan redecorating and renovation work.

It isn’t all bad news for Topps in particular however, as some competitors have fared worse having to close stores. Topps Tiles have therefore seen an increase in market share in areas where this is the case because their business is not suffering to the extent that they are having to make cuts to the number of stores across the country, currently numbered at 309, and which started off with a single store in Manchester. Chief executive Matt Williams advises that the chain is mindful of the need to remain “prudent” however when it comes to considering further expansion with new tile and flooring stores. He said,

“We have a resilient business model and we are satisfied with the performance of the group to date.”

Designing a New Bathroom – Boxing in Pipes

Sarah — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:52:54 +0000

Exposed pipework trailing across your bathroom wall, whether it’s waste pipes or water pipes, is not an attractive sight to behold, especially if you’re planning a new bathroom and want a new bathroom suite, tiles and flooring. The last thing you want is a blot on the bathroom design, and that’s exactly what exposed copper piping could look like.

One way to deal with the unattractive pipework is to box it in. There are a couple of options available to you when boxing in pipework, and the choice that is more practical for your needs will depend on whether you are installing a new bathroom or want to hide pipes to your existing suite without changing your bathroom design or decor.

If you are just boxing existing pipework in, you can take the DIY option and use wood, either tongue and groove or thin planks of wood, to create a box around your pipes at 90 degrees to the wall and floor. Depending on the type of wood you use, you could then paint this to match existing wood in your bathroom, such as skirting boards. If you haven’t got gloss painted skirting boards, but instead have stained wood, you could use wood stain to match the wooden boxing to your existing woodwork. If you’re not confident boxing the pipes in yourself, you could call a local carpenter or joiner who could assist with this task, guaranteeing a quality finish.

The other option if you are tiling your bathroom, which unless you have saved tiles that match your existing walls is only open to people who are redecorating the bathroom and retiling their walls, is to use plywood to box the pipes in in the same fashion as above, but to tile over the box afterwards to blend in with the rest of the wall. This can give a nice effect rather than having the stained wood or painted wood boxing, and has the benefit of not needing to be repainted or restained in future; just wiped down when cleaning the rest of the bathroom.

If you choose to tile the boxing surrounding your pipes, you may prefer to call a professional tiler. Another consideration is to ensure you still have access to the pipes in case of burst pipes or if you may want to remove parts of your bathroom suite in the future. A good tradesman will provide an access panel so you don’t have to worry about gaining access if problems do arise in the future.

Choosing The Best Type of Kitchen Tiles or Bathroom Tiling Finish

Sarah — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:17:45 +0000

Tiles are a popular choice for a number of rooms in the home whether you’re tiling a wall or retiling floors. Tiles are durable, easy to clean and can be used with underfloor heating which reduces the need for radiators or other heat sources. There are a number of different types of tiles that you can choose from with varying suitability for use in different rooms.

The different types of tiles you may consider for use in your home include:

porcelain tiles
ceramic tiles
filled travertine or porous travertine
terracotta tiles
marble tiles
metal, glass or travertine mosaic tiles
slate tiles

Natural stone tiles such as slate, travertine or marble can be effective for use on walls or floors as they are very durable. They can be expensive but if you want a quality tiling finish, natural stone can be the perfect product. One consideration when choosing natural stone tiles however is that there will be the extra expense of sealing the tiles. Sealant needs to be applied before and after grouting to protect the tiles if they are a porous finish which will add to the cost of the tiling job and may also incur additional labour costs as it will take your tiler longer to complete the job.

If you’re looking for impact with your tiles, using metal tiles, either in horizontal or vertical stripes or as part of a border, perhaps mixed with travertine or marble squares or glass, can be very eye catching and effective. Stripes of glass tiles can create a similar look in a feature wall and some tiles on the market are enhanced by including layered colours within the glass of the tile or glitter. You can get a creative bathroom or kitchen look with the use of effective lighting to enhance areas of your walls or floors or to pick out a design or pattern laid into your floor or wall tiles.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are hardwearing and can last for years, making them a good investment and a practical choice for a busy home or for those with a budget. Ceramic and porcelain tiles can often look as good as more expensive tiles on the market but porcelain tiles can be incredibly difficult to cut, which can mean more tile waste.

Overall most tiles can be used to create an effective new kitchen or bathroom effect. If you’re still unsure of the most suitable tiles for your requirements, the best option is to speak to a tiling professional such as those on localtraders.com and they will be able to advise you of the most practical solution for your home.

Tiling A Room – Tile Over Existing Tiles or Start Afresh?

Danny — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:59:58 +0000

Whether you’re having a new tiled floor in your kitchen or tiling your bathroom there will always be a common dilemma; whether to remove the old tiles and start afresh or just tile over them. Either option can be fine, and both are an accepted way of dealing with the problem, but both methods of tiling your wall or floor have their pros and cons.

Removing the Old Tiles and Starting Again:

This tends to be the traditionalists’ and perfectionists’ preferred option. Removing the tiles and replacing with fresh new tiles means you can replace like for like and not have to worry about the thickness of the tiles or if they will fit in any tight places. You could change the design of the room completely and possibly paper some of the wall if its a wall you are re-tiling. If you’re tiling a floor then this method may be better as you will have added height from the second layer of tiles which can cause problems with clearance for doors, skirting boards, or may even require installation of a step into another room depending on the thickness of your tiles. If you’re going to remove the tiles and start from scratch, then be cautious as removing the tiles and tile cement can pull the plaster off the wall causing damage that will have to be fixed before you can start tiling again. You would then need to contact a plasterer to ensure you have an even surface for applying your tiles to.

Tiling Over Old Tiles:

Tiling over old tiles is a method that is often chosen by both professionals and DIY tiling enthusiasts alike. This is the best option if you are short on time and need to get the room or floor tiled as quickly as possible. Another valid reason is expense; if you are renovating on a tight budget or can’t afford the possible repair work then this is a more cost effective way of revamping a room. Tiling over old tiles also has the added benefit of being a straight smooth surface to start tiling on but before you start you will need to make sure the old tiles are secure. Be sure to fill in any chipped tiles and remove any loose ones. The last thing to check is that the new tiles will fit over the old tiles and not protrude causing doors to fit too tightly which can lead to your doors needing to be rehung, or can look untidy, then the rest is up to yourself or your professional tiler who can be found at www.localtraders.com.

A Simple Guide To Applying Wall Tiles

Sarah — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:39:38 +0000

Starting on a new redecorating project can be a big undertaking, especially if you’re planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation rather than a fresh coat of paint for your living room. Once you’ve chosen your colour scheme and purchased your tiles, there are still a number of steps you need to take to ensure you’re fully prepared for your tiling project.

Before tiling a wall you will need to check that the wall is straight and flush. If you do not do this you may find the tiles don’t fit and are uneven, leaving your tiled wall not looking its best. Fill any holes with filler and smooth over the wall removing any lumps of old plaster or grout and check you have a level surface with a spirit level.

Once you have a smooth wall you will need to measure the area being tiled, making sure you take into account any border tiles being used. If you don’t do this when you come to the end of the wall you may find you have to cut small slivers of tiles which is tricky and can look untidy. It is better to start with half tiles if full tiles won’t fit across the wall rather than have an uneven tiling finish.

The next step is to fasten a wooden baton vertically and horizontally across the tiled area so you know you have a straight point to start to tiling from; a point that can often be missed if you’re not careful. The baton should be checked with a level to make sure you have a straight tiling line and it is a good idea to leave a 6mm gap at both ends to account for movement of the wall. Spread your adhesive with a tiling comb, only spreading an area of roughly 1 square metre at once to prevent the tile adhesive from drying out while you’re applying the tiles, and push the tiles on the adhesive spreading them up and across the wall making sure you use tile spacers to keep your tiles level and at an even distance. Continue this for the whole process and you should end up with a lovely new tiled wall to accompany any kitchen or bathroom.

Tiling can be quite tricky so always make sure you plan before you attempt this. If you’re not experienced at tiling or DIY, a quicker, easier and less stressful option is to contact a professional tiler. Finding an expert local tiler couldn’t be easier than at www.localtraders.com who can put you in touch with the best tiling specialists that can provide a competitive quote for you for your perfect tiled wall or floor.