Tile Mob - Tile Talk

Levelling Floor Tiles Made Easy

2010-03-11T18:04:00.001-08:00

New to The Tile Mob is the RAIMONDI LEVELLING SYSTEM. It is the perfect way to level large format tiles in thin-set tile adhesive, avoiding unsightly ‘lipping’.

Consisting of support pieces, wedges & traction pliers, this Italian-designed system helps professionals & do-it-yourselfers achieve the ultimate flat surface.

Contact our Brisbane showroom on (07) 3355 5055 or visit us at 4-6 Blackwood St (cnr Samford Rd), Mitchelton. For more new additions to our range, visit the New in Store section of our website for the finest range of tiles, stone, mosaics, slate & terracotta in Brisbane and beyond.

Introducing the Cris-Cross Range of Glass Mosaics

2010-03-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

Introducing our new mix glass cris-cross range – summer, spring, autumn and winter – available on a meshed 300x300mm sheet. They are perfect to be used as features in bathrooms and laundry or as a whole splashback in kitchens. These tiles can be viewed at our Brisbane showroom at 4-6 Blackwood St (cnr Samford Rd), Mitchelton. For more new additions to our range, visit the New in Store section of our website.

Now Twittering ...

2010-02-17T17:43:00.001-08:00

The Tile Mob is now on Twitter. Catch us at http://twitter.com/TILEMOB

Arabesque Mixed Mosaics Arrive at The Tile Mob

2010-02-16T20:38:00.000-08:00

Introducing ‘Arabesque’ from The Tile Mob – a range of mixed glass & stone meshed mosaics ideal for any residential or commercial feature wall. Use full 300x300mm sheets or cut into strips or blocks. The choice is yours! Stone size: 23x23x8mm.

These tiles can be viewed at our Brisbane showroom at 4-6 Blackwood St (cnr Samford Rd), Mitchelton. For more new additions to our range, visit the New in Store section of our website.

Grout Sealing Made Easy

2010-02-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

Unlike the surface of a glazed tile, grout is porous and should be sealed to prevent infiltration of liquids and other contaminants. One of the best methods we've found to seal the grout between glazed wall & floor tiles is Sureseal Aerosol Spray.

This innovative sealer is fast-drying and can be applied to grout in areas such as shower recesses, kitchen splashbacks, and any floor areas where spills and high traffic are likely.

Overspray onto the surface of your tiles isn't a problem -- the sealer penetrates into the grout but evaporates straight off impervious tile surfaces.

Apply the sealer by holding the can 15-20cm away from the grout joint and spray in a sweeping motion. Allow 2.5 hours curing time before walking on treated floors and 24 hours before using a treated shower or wet area.

As with any sealer, do a test area first to determine the suitability for your application and read all safety instructions on the label before use.

Sure Seal Aerosol is available from our Mitchelton showroom.

For the finest range of tiles, stone, mosaics, slate & terracotta in Brisbane and beyond, visit The Tile Mob, 4-6 Blackwood St, MITCHELTON.

The Tile Mob upgrades Blackwood Street Showroom Facade

2010-02-05T19:37:00.000-08:00

The Tile Mob have started 2010 with new signage on our Blackwood Street showroom frontage!

This new Mark Skinner designed sign measures 11x2m and was digitally printed and installed by A.P. Signs Pty Ltd of Fortitude Valley. The left image image shows a bathtub setting with a mosaic of Emprador marble while the right image shows a shower recess tiled in a glass mosaic look in nero & lime green.

For further information about our range of tiles, stone, mosaics, slate & terracotta in Brisbane and beyond, visit our showroom at 4-6 Blackwood St, MITCHELTON or Ph (07) 3355 5055.

Our Top 17 Grouting Tips

2008-05-15T00:55:00.001-07:00

From The Tile Mob and Davco

1. Always mix grout powder into the liquid.

2. Measure the liquid into a clean container and then add the powder while stirring. A mixing paddle on a power drill is useful for larger batches.

3. Avoid using too much liquid. It can affect the curing process and will result in a weaker grout. In some cases, excessive liquid can lead to powdery grout when dry. Properly-mixed grout will have a toothpaste consistency.

4. Damp-down tile surfaces with a sponge before grouting. A weak product may result if the grout dries out too quickly. Natural Stone, terracotta and any other porous tiles should be pre-sealed before grouting.

5. Whenever possible, measure out the liquid to help ensure the correct powder-to-liquid ratio.

6. The grout mixture may seem too dry when first mixing. Ensure it is thoroughly mixed before considering changing the mixing ratios.

7. When using additives, take care to keep the liquid-to-powder ratio the same as when using just water.

8. Weigh-out the grout and measure the liquid when mixing part bags.

9. Use a rubber squeegee or grout float to apply the grout across (not down) the joints.

10. Never grout tiles which are hotter than room temperature and only work 1-2 sqm of area at a time before proceeding to the cleanup routine in step 11 below. Remember, grout will cure faster in warmer conditions and slower in cool conditions.

11. When grouting floors tiled over timber where a flexible adhesive has been used, rake-out joints to ensure they do not have an excess of tile adhesive squeezed up to the tile surface. A minimum of 4mm depth is required over the top of the flexible adhesive to avoid grout "veneering" which has a tendency to fall out with substrate movement. Use grout additive to mix the grout instead of plain water to improve grout strength over timber floors.

12. When cleaning excess grout from the tiles, use a damp sponge (preferably with rounded edges) diagonally across the joints taking care not to begin removing too much grout from the joints. Take care not to leave excess grout on the tiles as dry grout can be difficult to remove.

13. Clean all tools and surrounding areas with water while the grout is still wet.

14. Wait at least 24 hours before walking on a grout floor. Polish the dry grout haze if present off the face of the tiles using a dry cloth

15. Never use Hydrochloric acid to clean dried grout haze from tiles. If any remedial clean-up is necessary, use a mild Phosphoric acid solution.

16. Expansion joints in the tiling work (and any joint where the tiling work changes plane or meets an immovable fixture (eg skirting board, kickboard) should be filled with silicone and not grouted.

17. Grout sealer (eg Sureseal) can be sprayed over the finished grout lines to protect from spills and general contamination.

For further information on tile laying and associated materials, contact The Tile Mob at our Mitchelton showroom on (07) 3355 5055.

Drilling Through Porcelain Tiles? No Problem!

2008-04-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

We’ve had quite a few customers asking this question recently, so I thought I’d give some background info as well as the answer …

Ever-increasing quantities of porcelain tiles have been reaching the Australian market in recent years -- and while porcelain tiles themselves are not new -- some of the areas they are now being utilised in certainly are new for this type of material (Eg: bathroom walls).

Historically, bathroom/laundry/kitchen wall tiles have always been glazed ceramic materials with a non-densely compacted clay body fired at a sub 1000C degree temperature. This meant they were usually very easy to drill through to fit towel rails, shower screens and other screw-on fittings. A typical masonry or diamond drill bit was all it took to get the job done.

Porcelain tiles however, are made with a more densely-compacted type of clay and are fired at higher kiln temperatures (much more than 1000C degrees) for longer durations -- and this makes them harder to drill through using traditional drill bits.

Fortunately, diamond tool manufacturers such as DTA Australia have answered this challenge by developing specialised diamond-coated porcelain tile drill bits. Typical masonry drill bits try to grind the porcelain into powder, while a diamond-coated porcelain tile drill bit (see photo) removes a “core” from the tile in the required diameter. At the moment, these porcelain tile drill bits are available in 5, 6, 8 or 10mm diameters.

These drill bits should be used at slow speed (approx 1000RPM) with the hammer-drill setting on “off”. Before drilling, masking tape can be stuck over the surface of the tile to help “centre” the drill bit and stop it skidding on the surface before “digging in”. It is advisable to keep a cup of water nearby and periodically dip the drill bit to help cooling. It is also important to not push too hard as it might damage the cutting edge of the bit. Of course, all relevant safety precautions should be taken (eye & ear protection and an electrical safety cut-out switch on the power source).

We’re keeping these drill bits in stock now at our Mitchelton showroom, so feel free to get in touch with us to buy or for more info.

Sean Sinnamon

Welcome to the new Tile Mob - Tile Talk blog

2008-04-02T23:45:00.001-07:00

Looking for the latest in design trends? Not sure what you want? We have the product and design expertise to help you arrive at a decision that's right for you.

Our experienced team of tile stylists draw on years of industry experience as well as ongoing training to offer you the best advice on your next tiling project.

We assign a tile stylist to your project to help you with tile selection, colour coordination and layout, as well as design ideas to inspire any space. Our tile stylists not only take a personal stake in the success of your project, they accept responsibility for your order from start to finish, and long after the cash register has rung.

They establish a clear agreement on what is to be delivered, how delivery will take place, milestone dates and price. They’re accessible and each has their own computer to quickly retrieve your order information at anytime as required. They handle the finer details so your experience with us is an enriching one without any hassles.

Please check back on our new blog in the near future to read up on tips and advice on how to get the most out of your next tiling project, whether it's in Australia or around the world, there is sure to be something for everyone.

By for now. Sean Sinnamon