Trends in Tile

From bathrooms to kitchens, floors to accents, tile is one of the most popular options for remodeling your home. Due to its quick drying ability, it is a great choice for bathroom floors, counters, tubs, and showers.

It works well in kitchens as well for floors, countertops, and backsplashes. It is also perfect for entryways that receive heavy foot traffic, as it is durable and easy to clean.

It is becoming increasingly popular to use tiles for trim and accents. Tiles can frame windows or pictures or even be used to create a picture mosaic on a wall.

Tile Maintenance

Keeping your tiles looking good is relatively simple. The grout between tiles is often the most susceptible to staining. There are an abundance of cleaners that are specifically formulated to clean and protect tiles of all varieties with special penetrating action that removes dirt embedded in the grout.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles offer the easiest upkeep. Glass and natural stone varieties are also quite easy to maintain.

As you begin your remodeling project, consider enhancing your home with the natural look or trendy touch of tile.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

Most tile floors will stand up to years of abuse. In addition, tile is a favorite among those with basement laundry areas for its ease of maintenance.

Style

Another advantage tile has over its wood counterpart is it comes in a wide variety of styles, textures, and materials. The right tile for your basement is really up to you, but a good rule of thumb is the larger, the better. Larger tiles will be easier to install and keep consistently straight.

Installation

Installing tile floors is easier than most other options, making it a viable consideration for handy people who want to cut down on installation costs.

Before laying down any tile, make sure your basement floor is flat. Uneven sub flooring will make the final product uneven, and can damage your tiles. Next, draw out the pattern you want to lay the tile in. Use a piece of chalk and make each line straight. Following these lines during installation will help keep the tiles consistently straight and even.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

However, cleaning tiled floors is not as simple as you might expect. Here are some tips on cleaning the tiles themselves, as well as getting stains out of the grout.

Cleaning Tiles

The best way to clean tiles on a regular basis is simply with a wet sponge soaked in warm water and a mild soap. Avoid scrubbing with any kind of abrasive, which will leave scratches behind. If you have a deep, dark stain on light tiles, a solution of bleach and water can lighten it up, although it may not be removed entirely.

Cleaning Grout

The lines in between tiles are what is known as grout and can become stained faster than the tiles themselves. The best way to get rid of stains in grout is to bleach it as well, or for very bad stains just remove the grout and replace a small section.

Follow these simple tips for cleaning your tile in order to keep them looking great!  Save up to 50% off retail at DirectBuy where you will find a wide selection of top-quality tile to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. You can also purchase most everything you need for kitchen remodeling and home improvement at the same savings.

Fun with Color

Color should be the first choice. The classic color choices of stainless steel with white cabinets or black with maple has become much more complex. Appliance manufacturers are making products in as many as 24 colors and hues.

Americans have developed a cultivated and cosmopolitan thought process regarding color. Manufacturers in turn are using earth tones, copying Mother Nature, and brightening kitchens with metallic finishes. However, caution should be exercised in the selection process. Kitchen equipment is for the long term. Remember avocado?

Form and Function

The second choice to be made is features. A kitchen’s function should reflect the lifestyle of the user. Technological advancements have created products with double ovens, five burners and microwaves that will cook your turkey in 42 minutes. Refrigerators have ice cubes, crushed ice and sections that can perform as a refrigerator or freezer. There is an array of products from which to choose that can create a virtual culinary playground.

Meshing the colors of the appliances with the floor, cabinets, and countertops while selecting the available products that contain the desired features is unabashed enjoyment; thought provoking, but fun.

Save up to 50% off retail at DirectBuy where you will find a wide selection of name-brand appliances, flooring, countertops, kitchen cabinets and more to help you express your style. You can purchase most everything you need for kitchen remodeling and home improvement at the same savings.

Types of Floor Materials

The types of flooring are many. You may select carpet, marble, tile, wood, or any number of natural and fabricated floor materials. The prices of these materials and the size of the floor are factors that will help you make your choice. Matching decor style is another factor to consider.

Professional Installation of New Flooring

While you might save money by doing the floor laying yourself, if you aren’t experienced or want to avoid costly mistakes, you may want to hire professionals to lay the floor. In the long run, you may save yourself money and a lot of headaches.

Selecting and replacing flooring can make the entire room look new. A finished floor is fabulous and well worth the time and investment.

With wholesale pricing up to 50% off retail at DirectBuy , you can purchase flooring of all types from a wide selection of styles and materials. You will find a wide selection of natural stone and other materials to suit your style and functional needs.

Choosing The Correct Appliances

Undoubtedly, one entertaining aspect of remodeling a home is choosing new items for family use. Home appliances are a major purchase and should be considered carefully before a final decision is made.

Choosing kitchen items that fit your new decor as well as your family lifestyle needs is an important factor in your happiness with the result.

Creating A Look For Your New Home

Deciding on an overall look for your new home starts with deciding what design style suits you and your lifestyle best. Whether your choice is modern, rustic, traditional or somewhere in between, the style you choose will reflect your good taste and style.

Your home is an extension of yourself and creating a haven for yourself and your family to enjoy for years to come is easy when you purchase items that fit together in harmony.

DirectBuy offers a wide range of brand-name products to help you create a comfortable, enjoyable environment in your home. You can purchase appliances , furniture , flooring and more at wholesale prices that will save up to 50% off retail.

Beautiful and Easy-to-Maintain Tile Flooring

There are a lot of steps to keep in mind when taking on a tile flooring job, but at the end of the day each are pretty simple to accomplish. Tile not only adds value to kitchens and baths, but it also is super-easy to maintain and keep clean.  You will even find tile that resembles hardwood.  Tile is a cost-effective way to drastically improve the look of any floor in your home.

Investing in Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is another great investment one can make when looking to improve the value of their home, as well as being relatively easy to install. Most hardwoods are tongue and groove boards with fit together and then nailed to the floor. This flooring is also easy to maintain and keep clean.

Keeping these points in mind will help make completing these projects easier.  Whether one decides to go with tile or hardwoods for new flooring, you can rest assured knowing each will add value to your property and improve the overall look of your home.

Keeping It Light and Airy With Tile

Tile floors are cool and delicious against bare feet. When combined with an air conditioner, they create the most comfortable summer atmosphere. For those without central air, tiled floors provide an additional benefit. During the night, the porous squares soak up the coolness of the air and the ground beneath. They stay chilled and refreshing throughout the day.

Tiled floors not only help keep the house comfortable, but they also affect the mind. One may instantly feels cooler looking at a tiled room, filled with light, airy furniture. Carpet, on the other hand, creates thoughts of cozy winter warmth.

Easy to Maintain Flooring Option

Finally, this traditional flooring material is easy to keep clean. Far more sanitary than carpet, it can be vacuumed or swept quickly. This is perfect during the summer when children run in and out of the house a lot. It can be easily mopped with plain water, and needs no special polishes or waxes.

For instant coolness, why not consider installing tile this summer?

Save up to 50% off retail at DirectBuy where you will find a wide selection of top-quality tile to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. You can also purchase virtually everything you need for kitchen remodeling and home improvement at the same savings.

1. Is the tile right for that particular area in the home?
2. What is the slip-resistance rating for that area?
3. How much time can you devote to install tile?
4. What’s available in terms of accent and trim pieces?
5. What will you do if the tile does not have coordinating accent and trim pieces?

These may seem like relatively simple tile questions but asking them ahead of time can save you a lot of remodeling headaches in the end.

DirectBuy carries a wide range of tile as well as many other beautiful tile and natural stone options for your home – all at manufacturer-direct prices. You’ll find most everything you need to build or remodel your home at great savings.

Durable and Easy to Clean Flooring

Ceramic’s primary ingredient is clay.  It is mixed with other minerals and water and heated until solidified.  Due to the porosity of ceramic, the top surface of the tile is normally glazed with a color or texture.

This process makes ceramic resistant to staining, scratching, and absorbing odors or bacteria. It is durable and easy to clean.  It is an extremely popular flooring choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

Ceramic is one of the most affordable flooring surfaces available and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, designs, colors, and textures.  You will find it a beautiful choice of flooring in any room of your home.

DirectBuy offers  brand-name products for any room in your home –appliances, flooring, countertops, kitchen cabinets and more – all at savings of up to 50% off retail.

Ordering tile for a project is a bit different than ordering many other materials.  You will need to add some to the total amount actually needed for the job to cover waste and breakage.

Getting Tile from the Same Lot

Whether you get natural or manmade tile, all of it comes from different lots.  There are shade variations between lots because the tile is either processed at a different time or comes from a different part of the quarry.  Ordering the right amount of tile needed at the beginning of your project will help ensure your tile all comes from the same lot.

A good rule of thumb is to add 10-15% extra to your total square footage to account for waste or breakage.  If you are using a professional installer, be sure to talk to them about ordering a bit extra.  Having some tile left over is also a good idea should some of them need replacing down the road.  Make sure you have enough tile and then some for your home project.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

Determine Whether Your Tile is Glazed or Unglazed

Determine if your ceramic tile is glazed or unglazed.  Unglazed ceramic tile requires a bit more maintenance than glazed finishes.  The first step in keeping a floor clean is to have mats to catch dirt at entry points to the house.  Dirt and grime can scratch floor surfaces and wear down the finish.  Sweep or vacuum your floor and then mop with plain water.  This works well for wall tile too.  You can also mix 1 cup vinegar to one gallon of water and mop with this solution.  There are many commercial cleaners made specifically for ceramic tile.  Find the perfect cleaning solution for your individual tile to keep it looking shiny and new.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of top-quality tile to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for other things in your budget.

Stylish Tile Designs for Your Bathroom

The bathroom can be one of the busiest places in the house.  You should make it comfortable and attractive.  Don’t use the same drab tile on the walls and floors. Mosaics or patterned accent tiles can help transform your bathroom.

There are many stylish and trendy designs available in natural stone , glass , or ceramic .  If you are going to spend a good amount of time in the bathroom, make it a pleasing place to be with decorative tile.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile and natural stone to make your home and outdoor areas stylish and comfortable. Save up to 50% off retail prices on brand-name products.

Make Your Room Appear Larger with a Checkerboard Pattern

Tiles set in a checkerboard pattern can make a room appear larger.  The design gives one the perception it is actually wider than it is in reality.  You can select a white marble and a black marble to lend elegance to any room.  There are also many contrasting colors of limestone, porcelain, or carpet tiles which work well in a checkerboard pattern.  Lay floor tile in a checkerboard pattern to make your room classic and elegant.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile of all types for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

Real Terra Cotta Tile is Often Hand Molded

Much of terra cotta tile is molded by hand.  True artisanship is used to create this tile.  Two predominant locations producing terra cotta are Mexico and parts of Europe.  Reclaimed terra cotta is obtained from many famous areas of Europe.

Porcelain Tile with the Look of Terra Cotta

Terra cotta comes in various sizes or patterns.  Choose varying sizes or patterns such as a four piece repeating pattern to add to your kitchen, den, or entryway.  Today’s technology even allows for the production of terra cotta colored porcelain tile .  You can have the rustic beauty you want for your home with terra cotta tile.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

The Accent is on Accent Pieces of Stone

Stone accent pieces can be solid colors or they can be etched with unique and beautiful designs.  Place 4” x 4” stone strategically in shower wall amidst glass or larger pieces of stone.  Use mixed stone border pieces as edging around your kitchen backsplash.  Insert unique designs inlayed on stone where corners meet in your flooring pattern.  Smaller stone pieces can be the ideal accent piece you need to make any room in your home uniquely beautiful.

DirectBuy offers many different kinds of tile and natural stone for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

Lustrous Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is available in lustrous colors and can often resemble natural materials such as stone, slate, or wood.  You may prefer a more rustic look.  If so, select a Saltillo or tumbled ceramic tile.  Make a good first impression on your guests by installing magnificent foyer flooring in ceramic tile.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile for use within your home and outdoors to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. Great savings of up to 50% off retail helps you save money for your budget.

The great thing about subway tile is that it works so well in most any style home and in many different design styles. Another contributing factor to its popularity is the variety of different materials being used to create subway tile today. Ceramic is still a great choice, but you will also find subway tile being produced in glass and many other materials – even stainless steel.

Subway tile works in many applications in your home – great for bathroom remodeling and kitchen remodeling. It makes beautiful backsplashes and walls as well as various pool applications.

DirectBuy carries a wide range of different types of tiles for your home. You’ll find brand-name tile at manufacturer-direct wholesale prices that can save up to 50% off retail prices.

Since glass doesn’t absorb liquids it is a great choice for backsplashes and walls as a layer of protection.  Durable and easy to clean, you can usually clean up any spill or splatter with a mild soap and a dampened cloth.  Use a clean, dry cloth to dry the area thoroughly.

For a busy family, glass tile is a wonderful choice of materials to give your home a completely updated look while minimizing cleaning and maintenance time.

For all your home remodeling needs, whether kitchen, bath or any other area of your home, DirectBuy has top-quality products to help you create the perfect atmosphere for you and your family – all at wholesale prices to save you money.

With a cordless broom you can quickly clean up messes on the floor – left behind cracker crumbs, tracked in dirt and more. Keeping a cordless broom nearby will make tidying up any room a breeze.

Unfortunately, you can’t get away from the fact that any kind of floor needs a good mopping now and then, but if you incorporate the use of a steam mop, you will not only have shiny ceramic floors, you will have very clean and shiny ceramic floors. You’ll find many options in choosing the steam mop that will work best for you.

For a great selection in ceramic tile and other great products for your home, DirectBuy has a wide selection to help you create a beautiful home environment. From flooring to furnishings and everything in between, you’ll find brand-name products at savings up to 50% off retail.