When your home needs a touch-up, you often take it into your own hands to bring out what you feel it’s been missing. Do-it-yourself projects are a fun and invigorating way to get down and dirty with your house’s foundation, offering you versatility you might not find if you hired a professional to overlook your interior design for you. Ceramic tile flooring is a common place for many to start, as tiles grow cracked, worn and even fall out over time from repeated pressure. Not only can you easily replace them, you can go the extra mile and add a bunch of fun designs and colors to bring out the most in your kitchen or bathroom. Before you start looking up glass mosaic tile sheets, look below to learn how to put some extra punch in your backsplash designs and what you should avoid.
Spruce Up Your Bathroom
Ceramic tile flooring in your bathroom can become susceptible to wear and tear, scum and fading. Because of this the bathroom is one of the best places to start your do-it-yourself home project. Glass shower enclosures have been found to be the most popular choice in a recent survey, adding up to 80% of all homeowners who responded with their preferred home renovation choices.
Spice Up Your Kitchen
Perhaps your bathroom looks fine, but your kitchen feels a little lackluster. With such a frequently visited part of the house, ceramic tile flooring can see some significant cracking and even some pieces falling out. A National Association Of Home Builders survey saw kitchen remodeling following close behind bathroom remodeling as the most requested job for professional assistance. To create the ultimate do-it-yourself result just takes a little research and consideration, as you’re able to do everything from create your own kitchen backsplash glass tiles or floor tile yourself.
Bolster Your Return On Investment
Your home’s ROI has a lot to benefit from your weekend project. Studies have shown bathroom additions, including ceramic tile flooring additions or glass wall tile, can bolster your ROI by an average of 86%. A minor kitchen remodel, such as adding a cabinet or just replacing a few missing tiles, has an average ROI of 82%. A survey conducted by the National Association Of Home Builders saw bathroom remodeling the most requested job throughout the United States and accounting for 80% of renovations. Which project is best for you, however, is for you to decide.
Avoid Common Beginner Mistakes
The best do-it-yourself project is one that avoids common rookie mistakes and doesn’t waste your time or money. The PEI rating for tiles is a useful resource to help you narrow down the exact type of tiles you need for your kitchen, bathroom or dining room area. It details the durability and longevity of each tile, from a scale of one to five, and should be carefully considered before you invest in decorative subway tiles or floor ceramic tile. A rating of one is for walls, which can’t handle any foot traffic, while a rating of five can withstand even constant pressure.
Choose The Best Materials For Your Project
The right materials will yield the best result. Homeowners should use a PEI class of 2 for bathroom walls and floors alike, as they’re just strong enough to manage daily usage, while a PEI class 3 is best for countertops and other areas with mild foot traffic. Last, but not least, a PEI class 4 is ideal for heavier traffic such as the kitchen or dining room area. Porcelain tiles are fired at an incredibly hot temperature between 2200 or 2500 degrees, creating the dense and stain resistant tile you know and love. Keep in mind manufacturers often use the term ‘subway tiles’ to refer to any rectangular tile with a length twice as long as its height, though this is not true all across the board. A little knowledge goes a long way. See how that translates to your mosaic backsplash, and later, your ROI and personal satisfaction.