Kitchen & Bath
Contents:
High Standards for Ceramic Tile
Mosaics for Dummies
Laminates
Decorative Hardware
High Standards for Ceramic
Tile
What's so tough about sticking ceramic tile to a floor,
wall, or countertop? Well, hundreds of thousands of failed
installations speak volumes. And, contrary to the old adage,
what you don't know
can hurt you. The Tile Council of
America (TCA, Anderson, S.C.; 864/646-8453,
www.tileusa.com) speaks back with its own
volume, the 41st edition of the
2003-2004 Handbook for
Ceramic Tile Installation. The new edition of the guide
promises "14 new installation methods," and "almost 200
editorial changes," in its 47 pages. Clearly, ceramic tile
installation is a dynamic field. The question is, how often do
tile installers update their knowledge base and methods? Are
the tile subcontractors you hire, or you yourself, exercising
the necessary due diligence? Both tile consumption and tile
technology have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, but
some inside the industry note a deficit of trained ceramic tile
installers. Dave Gobis, of the Ceramic Tile Education
Foundation and a member of the TCA
Handbook
conference, cites current sales figures of 2.8 billion square
feet, a growth rate of 100% over the last 7 years and 200% over
the last 14. Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Census, the
number of people describing themselves as tile installers lags
seriously behind that product growth.
A reliable resource. The TCA
develops its details and outlines only by consensus among a
board of active national and regional cross-industry
representatives. This means that adhesive manufacturers,
flatwork masons, ceramic and glass tile manufacturers,
backerboard producers, tile installers, gypsum manufacturers,
and various association and council members sit down and come
to terms on each and every installation detail published.
On the other hand, it means that any method or item that could
not achieve consensus is left out. You can safely consider the
Handbook an authoritative, up-to-date, and
indispensable reference, but, because of the process, it may
not be exhaustive in its coverage of newer materials and
technologies. Note that the Handbook is designed to
function hand in glove with ANSI A108, the 1999 American
National Standard Specifications for the Installation of
Ceramic Tile (ANSI, New York, N.Y.; 212/642-4900,
www.ansi.org;
$15) for complete installation and material specifications.
ANSI, in turn, defers to ASTM, the American Society for Testing
Materials (ASTM, West Conshohocken, Pa.; 610/832-9585,
www.astm.org). It's also worth noting that
ANSI requires its standards to be revisited and approved every
five years, so, as of this writing, a new edition is
imminent.
• Cork underlayment on concrete
• Hydronic heating system over concrete
floors
• Electric heating system over concrete
floors
• Fiber-reinforced gypsum panel
backerboard
• Coated glass mat water-resistant gypsum
backerboard
• Wood subfloor, 24 inches O.C. joist
spacing, membrane system
• OSB subfloor, 24 inches O.C. joist
spacing
• Electric system over exterior-glue plywood
underlayment
• Electric system over cement backer unit
underlayment
• Cementitious-coated foam backerboard
• Backerboard ceiling
• Cementitious-coated foam backerboard tub
walls
• Cementitious-coated foam backerboard shower
receptor
• Thinset shower receptor renovation
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As technical manuals go, the Handbook is written in
a readable style, and where industry jargon is used, it's
usually carefully defined. Nonetheless, with all that's on your
plate already, it may be tempting to give it a weary glance and
decide, "I'm gonna let my sub handle this." Not so fast.
Prominent in many of the installation methods detailed is the
category "Preparation by Other Trades." For example, in
anticipation of floor tile, who makes sure the plywood
underlayment is installed with a minimum 1/8-inch gap between
sheets? Who ensures that adjacent sheet edges don't deviate in
plane by more than 1/32 inch? Or sees to it that underlayment
seams don't coincide with framing below? Or that the
underlayment fasteners don't penetrate joists below? If a
liability issue arises following an installation failure,
neglecting any one of those items (and there are more) could
leave you holding the bag.
Individual copies of the TCA Handbook cost $7, or
$3.50 in quantities over 100. A CD-Rom version ($12 individual,
$6 bulk order) includes hyperlinks to applicable ANSI standards
and system details in CAD "dwg" format for incorporation into
your own designs.
Better Bonding
The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA,
Jackson, Miss.; 601/939-2071,
www.tile-assn.com) offers a
71/4-minute video titled "Trowel and Error."
Get it? Well, maybe you should, even if it costs
$13, shipping and handling included. A better,
faster method for bonding tile in thinset mortar is
demonstrated, and it couldn't be simpler. Instead
of spreading thinset the old way, in random swirls,
the video recommends combing the mortar in one
direction, in parallel ridges, then pressing the
tile in place with a sliding motion, perpendicular
to the ridges. This method is better because it
ensures near-perfect embedment, providing full
bonding and support for the tile. It's faster
because it eliminates the need for supplemental
back-buttering and beating the tile in. Old way
bad. New way good. And we just saved you at least
$13.
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Mosaics for Dummies
Put a cartoon under a magnifying glass and it breaks into
thousands of colored dots. Import an image into TileCreator
(Tile Creator, Ramona, Calif.; 760/788-1288,
www.tilecreator.com) and it breaks into a
mosaic tile pattern. This clever software program is both fun
and simple to use, and the design applications are virtually
unlimited.
The program works with any image, art, or photo, saved in jpg,
tif, or bmp format. After choosing and opening an image in the
program, you select a material palette. More than 45
proprietary mosaic tile lines are provided for selection.
Alternatively, custom selection sets can be created in the
program using scanned images of actual tiles. An add-on
program, PaletteCreator, is available to facilitate palette
creation.
TileCreator converts a digital image
into a tile mosaic. The program allows you to vary the mosaic's
level of detail by altering the size of the tile and the size
of the overall installation. A material schedule gives the
number and color of tiles needed, from any of 45 preloaded
commercially available tile lines. You can add other tile
lines, or create your own custom palette.
The level of detail depends on two factors: the size of the
tile, and the size of the final mosaic. The smaller the tile,
or the larger the image, the better the resolution or level of
detail will be. You can play with both parameters to get the
desired result, from unmistakable likeness to abstract
image.
A setting of 1 gives a near 1:1 ratio match. The default
setting is 5. The higher the ratio setting, the more abstract
the image becomes. You can play with the ratios and review the
resulting changes as you go. Standard mosaic tile sizes include
3/8-, 3/4-, and 1-inch squares, but the software also performs
calculations for resized tile.
The program delivers a total count for each tile color
required by the design and a printable, "paint-by-number" grid
to guide assembly. A fully editable estimating screen provides
a cost per tile by color, along with fabricating and mounting
costs calculated per square foot. The program applies a
standard default assembly time based on the proprietary plastic
TileGrid system (available at the company's website and through
tile retailers). You can adjust the assembly time up or down
and determine the hourly rate.
You may not choose to run with this program's estimate, but it
certainly provides a realistic basis of cost for what would
otherwise be wild guesswork.
TileCreator Professional Version 2 costs $70 and offers
inexpensive entry to a world of customized creativity, bound to
capture your clients' imaginations. Not to mention your
own.
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Laminates
Imitating the Imitator.
Imitation is a high form of flattery, and engineered stone does
make a nice impression. But while it addresses the porosity and
color limitations of its natural source, engineered stone does
nothing to bring prices down to earth. The Topaz high-pressure
laminate line replicates the look of engineered stone and
features a "rich, saturated color range." The eight patterns
offered are stocked in sheet sizes from 4x8 feet to 5x12 feet
with a "#7 finish," said to imitate polished stone. The
material cost is about $1.80 per square foot, retail.
Wilsonart International, 800/433-3222,
www.wilsonart.com.
Taken for Granite.
There are
places and purposes, not to mention a budget, for solid stone.
But that popular countertop material is by no means the only,
or even the best, choice for every situation. The low-sheen
Honed Finish and high-gloss Etchings Finish Collections are
said to look and feel like real stone but are priced like the
high-pressure laminates they are. Both materials mimic the tiny
fissures and imperfections found in natural stone like slate,
travertine, and granite. The installed countertop cost is
estimated to run a budget-friendly $25 per linear foot.
Formica, 800/367-6422,
www.formica.com.
Laminate Illusions.
Holograms are
showing up on driver's licenses, credit cards, and even paper
money. But none of those make practical backsplash covers or
cabinet veneers. Well, the search is over. Paparazzi!
Holographic Surfacing's got it covered (pun intended), with
four high-tech laminate patterns designed for some of the most
optically oriented surfaces you're likely to offer. The
laminate is meant for vertical applications only and is
expected to apply predominantly to commercial spaces, but don't
let that stanch your creative juices. Paparazzi! is available
in 4x10-foot sheets, is made to order with a five-sheet
minimum, and requires a four-week lead time. The cost per
square foot is $6.
Nevamar, 800/638-4380,
www.nevamar.com.
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Decorative
Hardware
Knobs of Nippon.
Stuck on knob
selection? Look to the east. The Asian selection of 31 knobs
and pulls pays homage to shop signs of 11th-century Japan. The
various trades employed simple craft-related graphics to
advertise services such as that of sake purveyor or Samurai
sword maker. The knobs are made from lead-free jeweler's metal
with a bronze or pewter patina. The complete collection may be
viewed and priced online at the company's website.
North River Mint, 800/914-9087,
www.northrivermint.com.
Hand-Stitched Handles.
Allegedly,
this line was knocking 'em out at the Kitchen and Bath Show
last year, so don't be bashful about suggesting English
leather-clad fittings to your clients. The design line is
extensive, attractive, and tactile and complements both natural
wood and painted finishes. Leather colors are black, chestnut,
and chocolate. Bath fixture prices vary by item; door lever and
latch sets start at $300.
Turnstyle Designs, 877/288-4642,
www.turnstyledesigns.com.
Human Hardware.
Add a human touch
to your next kitchen or bath installation with a few characters
from the Manhandles Collection. Figures range between 7 1/2 and
11 1/2 inches high, depending on the pose. They're produced in
hand-cast stainless steel or bronze and a choice of seven
finishes. Individual handles cost between $175 and $195, but it
takes only a few, or even just one bold handle, to make a
statement.
Sóko, 888/828-7656,
www.sokostudio.com.
Megnaficence.
Glass artist Martin
Megna produces coordinated mouth-blown knobs for both cabinets
and passage doors, a unique and beautiful bathroom design
detail. Cabinet knobs cost $18 to $28 each; door knobs cost
$120 to $150 and are compatible with most older 3/8-inch-square
spindle mortise latches and Baldwin's "Estate" series door
hardware.
Megna Hot Glass Studio, 631/725-1131,
www.megnaglass.org.
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