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Tile Work
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Sometimes even the smallest upgrade can cause drastic changes to the esthetics of your home, as well, as increase its value. One way to to achieve this is through a beautiful tile work.
In the kitchen, we recommend upgrading to a ceramic tile floor and backsplash. Ceramic tile is great for high traffic areas and comes in a wide variety of colors and shapes to fit any kitchen style. Ceramic tile is also:
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Flame resistance
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Mold, mildew, and bacteria resistance
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Stain & scratch resistant
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Design versatile
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Waterproof
When properly installed, ceramic tile and backsplash forms a waterproof barrier that protects your investment from costly repairs that can occur from water leaking through joints or around edges. This makes ceramic tile a great option for behind sinks, around appliances, and on the floor.
In the bathroom, tile showers, flooring or tile backsplash upgrades are often what is noticed first. Here, we recommend a porcelain tile as it is more denser and less porous than ceramic tile which means that it is has superior stain and water resistant qualities. In addition, porcelain tile is suitable for radiant in-floor heating.
Our Tile Shower Application Process
Prep is what separates the men from the boys in the tile business. At Affinity, we spend a little extra time sweating out the small details during prep to ensure your shower does not leak, stays mold, mildew and efflorescence free and has the detailed aesthetics you desire.
Step 1:
Leveling Walls
Step 2:
Installing Schluter Board
Ensuring all framing inside a shower is plumb and square is the easiest way to get a quality tile job. We sister studs to existing framing getting every wall perfect.
Quality products make for quality work and that’s why we use Schluter products. All Kerdi boards are installed on the shower walls per ANSI standards and manufacturer (Schluter) recommendations.
Step 3:
Setting Shower Drain
Setting the drain may seem trivial but getting the drain perfectly square to the shower walls, centering the drain for the tile layout and leveling the drain are three of the most important factors for aesthetics in a shower.
Step 4:
Dry Pack Mortar Pan
Many contractors use premade shower pans, but we prefer custom dry pack mortar pans at Affinity Kitchen, Bath & Tile. They can be custom formed to any application and are much sturdier than foam pans. Slope is set for a minimum of ¼ inch per foot, sloped towards the drain to ensure all the water gets off the shower floor and doesn’t puddle further reducing cases of mold or mildew.
Step 5:
Kerdi Membrane
Schluter Kerdi membrane is installed over the shower pan as well as all the seams on the shower walls and any penetrations in the Kerdi board such as anchors. Polymer modified Schluter All-Set thin set is used to adhere the Kerdi as per Schluter’s recommendations. Kerdi membrane waterproofs the shower ensuring no leaks ever develop.
Step 6:
Hydroban
As an added waterproofing precaution two coats of Laticrete Hydroban liquid membrane are applied to the shower pan and all the shower seams. Redundant? Yes. But this one added step will give you peace of mind that your shower will be leak proof through the test of time.
Step 7:
Flood Test
Next, we plug the drain and fill your shower pan with water to test for leaks. The shower should hold water indefinitely, but we run the test for a minimum of 24 hours. On the chance that a leak presents itself we will fix the issue and rerun the test until it passes.
Step 8:
Tile
And that’s it. You’re ready for tile.
Trending Title Patterns
Floor and wall tiles are versatile and give you limitless choices when it comes to sizes, shapes, colors, finishes, and styles. However, the success of your next tiling project depends not only on choosing the right color and style but the best layout. There are tons of layout options for tiles, and by using an interesting tile pattern, you can elevate your design and enhance the look and feel of any space.
There are many exciting tile patterns each offering something truly different. So before you start planning your kitchen or bath renovation, you need to know the basics tile layout patterns that can transform your room from simple to stunning.
Square-set or Grid
Square or rectangular tiles are laid in straight lines, so the grout lines end up like a grid. Grid pattern makes a good choice for rooms where you don’t want the tiles to distract from other design features.
Brick
Square or rectangular tiles are laid in rows and each row is shifted to create an offset pattern. Using subway tiles in this patter creates a clean and classic layout. This pattern is popular for backsplashes and bathroom areas, and it’s also a simple and attractive option for floors.
Herringbone
This pattern is achieved by laying large or small rectangular tiles in a zigzag pattern. It is usually laid length-ways along the longest wall in the room to maximize the effect. The herringbone pattern works in both contemporary and traditional settings and offers an elegant way to expand a small room visually. This type of pattern is best with neutral colors in a small bathroom or narrow hallway or on backsplashes when a contrasting grout color is used to highlight the unique design.
Diagonal
This is not a specific tile pattern but a layout technique. It is similar to the grid pattern, except the tiles are laid on a 45-degree angle, turning square tiles into diamonds. You can use a diagonal pattern with a border as a feature in a kitchen backsplash. A diagonal pattern on the floor can make a small room look bigger.
Basket Weave
The basket weave pattern looks similar to the stitching on a woven basket and appears to weave the tiles over and under each other. To achieve this look, two brick-shaped tiles are set horizontally against two brick-shaped tiles set vertically. The pattern is used to create classic chic feel and works best in smaller spaces.