Ceramic tile is available for as little as $3.50 a square foot, but professional installation can cost twice that, so many homeowners are becoming tile-it-yourselfers.
”Whenever the labor costs more than the products you`re installing, more and more people try to do the job themselves,” says Paul Bolt, president of Tilepak, which manufactures ceramic tiles and products for installing them.” Sharon Zuckley, marketing communications manager for TEC Inc., which manufactures materials to install ceramic tiles, also says that more and more people who want to decorate with tile are tackling the job themselves. ”When there are cost crunches and money is running out, people do projects that they normally would have turned to a professional to do,” she says. ”It may take them two or three times as long as a professional, but if they follow the instructions they can do it.”
Zuckley says installing ceramic tiles is no longer as intimidating as it once was. ”Products have improved and there is better information available, with better instructions on packages and how-to information in retail stores that have videotapes and workshops.”
Home improvement stores also carry a much larger selection, which now includes more than the traditional tile sizes and colors. ”The do-it-yourself market has traditionally been cheap white, bone and gray tiles,” says Bolt,
”but there are a lot of people who are shopping in home improvement centers for more than just price and they`re finding fashionable products that once had to be ordered in specialty stores.”
While many new products make it easier for ambitious do-it-yourselfers to tile their bathrooms, many others are being introduced to help fix up and refinish old tiles for a clean new look for very little money.
The prices for the products featured below are suggested retail prices. You can contact the listed manufacturers for help in finding a retailer in your area who carries a specific item.
Faux and natural
New ceramic tiles from Tilepak, which manufactures a pre-mixed ”Adhesive `n Grout,” feature the fashionable faux finishes, including the look of marble, stone, granite and slate in various textures and patterns. Tints include white, gray, beige and rose. In keeping with another fashion trend, these ceramic tiles are larger than traditional ones, with a format of 12 by 12 inches. Price: $3.50 per square foot. Tilepak Inc., 188-G Frank West Circle, Stockton, Calif. 95206. Phone: 800-879-8453.
Custom design
American Olean has introduced Mix and Matchables, a line of glazed ceramic tiles designed to make it easy for do-it-yourselfers to install a custom-designed bathroom by combining tiles of different shapes and colors. The line includes 6-inch matte glazed tiles available in an octagon or pentagon shape in white, almond and gray. The line also includes small accent tiles called dots, in high gloss, matte or textured glazes available in 12 shades including primary colors, pastels, jewel tones and neutrals. Liner tiles called Sizzle Strips come in two widths and are available in the same colors, which are designed to match those of the plumbing fixtures of major manufacturers. Price: $4.40 per square foot. American Olean Tile Co., 1000 Cannon Ave., Lansdale, Pa. 19446. Phone: 215-393-2230.
The leather look
KPT recently introduced a line of ceramic floor tiles called Leather. They have an undulated surface reminescent of leather and soft edges. The surface of the tiles is slightly textured for wearability but smooth enough for easy maintenance. The tiles are available in 8-by-8-inch and 12-by-12-inch sizes and nine colors, including neutrals and pastels. Impressions, a 3-by-3- inch mosaic tile, is available in many color tones developed to coordinate with those of the Leather series. Price: $2 to $2.50 per square foot. KPT USA, State Road 54 East, P.O. Box 468, Bloomfield, Ind. 47424. Phone: 812-384-3563. Tools for tiling
Red Devil offers a line of professional-quality tools called Mastercutter. The series includes a multipurpose, 6-in-1 tool that scores, snaps and cuts tile. It is also designed to remove grout and features a built- in level indicator and measuring rule. One of several grouting floats offered is a model with two squared corners and two round ones to facilitate grouting of both 90-degree inside and outside corners. Price: $16.09 for the multipurpose tile tool, $15.69 for the grout float. Red Devil Inc., 2400 Vauxhall Rd., P.O. Box 194, Union, N.J. 07083-1933. Phone: 800-423-3845.
New grout colors
TEC Inc., which manufactures Full Flex, a pre-mixed mortar that is ready to use with the addition of water, has introduced Trendsetters, a line of new grout colors developed to complement the latest color trends in ceramic and marble tile as well as bathroom plumbing fixtures. Ten shades are available and the line is to be updated every 18 months. Price: $6.99. TEC Inc., Building Products Group, 315 South Hicks Rd., Palatine, Ill. 60067-6972. Phone: 708-358-9500 for customer service and free brochures on tile installation.
Renewing grout
If old grout is becoming an eyesore, VersaTILE`s new Grout Renew may be the solution. It comes in a squeeze bottle with a brush applicator that makes it easy to color and seal ceramic tile grout joints so they will resist soil, wear, discoloration and mildew. After application, excess can be removed with a damp cloth when the product is dry. Grout ReNew comes in two formulas. One is for sanded grout joints 1/8 inch or larger and is available in Desert Sand, Light Pewter and Arizona (a brownish red). The other is for unsanded joints smaller than 1/8 inch and comes in white or ivory. Price: $7.99 for 6 ounces, $13.99 for 10 ounces. VersaTILE, P.O. Box 9240, Canton, Ohio 44711-9240. Phone: 216-484-4876.
No gun required
Elmer`s recently introduced ”Squeez-N-Caulk,” for sealing cracks around tiles and bathtubs without having to use a gun. It comes in a dispenser that allows the flow to be adjusted. The non-toxic product, available in opaque white, clear, dark brown and almond, dries to a water- and mildew-resistant, flexible seal. Price: $3.49. Borden Inc., Elmer`s Adhesives Home and Professional Products, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Phone:
212-887-8702.
Tile refinishing
Rhodes American has created Tough As Tile to inexpensively refinish enamel surfaces, such as tiles, tubs, sinks, toilets and counters. The product comes in two cans, which are mixed to create an epoxy enamel. It is designed to level an area when it is painted over a worn surface. Two coats are recommended. Price: $17.95. Rhodes American, 2825 W. 31st St., Chicago, Ill. 60623. Phone: 312-247-6000.
