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Found 24 results for the keyword ‘Ceramic’

  • Making decorative ceramic tiles.

    Elsa Mann shows how she makes tiled tables by hand. Of particular interest is her homemade extrusion molding process which allows her to create ceramic edge trim for her tables. She cuts the cross section of the trim into a piece of plywood. Then a clay press above the plywood forces the clay i...
  • Double glue for difficult tiles.

    When you want to attach tiles where you would have to support them while the adhesive dries, like on a sloped surface or a ceiling, Chester from Metochosin, BC has a solution. Put the ceramic adhesive around the outside edge and then apply some hot glue to the centre. Push it into place and hold...
  • Laying counter, floor, wall or shower tiles in a professional manner

    It may surprise you to hear that despite silicone sealants and the like, neither the grout between ceramic tiles nor the tiles themselves are actually moisture or vapour proof. Wherever water can sit on a tiled surface, or steam can soak into grout, the wood below can be destroyed by moisture see...
  • Fire Safety & Installing Wood Burning Appliances

    Wood heating appliances get hot -- that's why we use them -- but they also burn down houses.  They are only safe if you install them safely.   -- Let's start with the fascinating process of how wood burns; -- and now let's see how that process can happen inside your walls or floors near woo...
  • All kinds of water flow problems.

    Several viewers are complaining about low water pressure in old houses. Old steel pipe tends to collect corrosion and calcium on the walls, enough to slowly choke off the flow of water. A look at the graphic shows what happens to water flow compared to a clean new 1/2 inch pipe. When it becomes r...
  • Pro: Tiles -- More than you thought you wanted to know

    Probably one of the best ways to learn about good and bad building techniques is to work on the renovation or restoration side of the construction picture. Here is where you see the results of everything done before, especially when the results are a failed system. In the world of ceramic, stone ...
  • Drilling & Replacing ceramic tiles -- even with your own photo

            DRILLING A TILE When you want to hang something on ceramic tiles you will need to drill a hole. Regular metal cutting twist bits will not cut through the hard ceramic face, and in fact the ceramic material itself will destroy such a bit. You need to use a bit that has a carbide head....
  • Can I paint ceramic tiles?

      We caught a viewer in the hardware store who asked if they could paint ceramic tiles. Yes, now it is possible.       First take the gloss off of the tiles with sandpaper. This is not easy to do and is best done with a belt sander. The paint companies will tell you that it is not necessa...
  • Kitchen renovation tips and selecting counter tops

      There are a myriad of choices for a new kitchen, from style to counter top materials – and choosing what is right for you has always been a balance between your “desires” and your “budget”.  This kitchen renovation tips article was written in 2003 in Toronto, but the basic information is still...
  • Overview - Building the base to a tiled shower.

    Most people don't realize it but glazed tiles are not completely waterproof although they are highly water resistant. The reality is that the tile and the grout are not the final line of defence against water leaking through to the ceiling below. A proper built-in shower stall starts with a tape...