DirectBuy Home Improvement Blog

Travertine kitchen tile is the perfect choice for your outdoor kitchen. Durable enough for outdoor applications, tumbled tiles have the texture required to provide the floor with the traction you need. Smooth, polished tiles are an ideal choice for countertops and backsplashes, creating an amazing finished look.

Tumbled Tiles for Traction

Tumbled tiles will provide more traction, but the holes and crevices in the tile will also retain water. While this is not a problem in warm climates, it can cause the tiles to crack in cold climates. Prevent cracking and keep the tiles looking great by taking the time to seal the tiles.

Smooth Tiles for Beauty

Honed or polished tiles feature a smooth and even surface. The holes and crevices found in tumbled tiles are polished away, so you don’t have to worry as much about water getting into the tile. However, the tiles should still be sealed to prevent any problems. Tiles can be installed as the backsplash around your grill, the countertop for the work surface or even the dining table. The smooth surface and beautiful colors of travertine will add interest and beauty to the room.

Travertine kitchen tile is appropriate for indoor and outdoor applications, making it a great choice for stylish, outdoor kitchens. Look for tumbled tiles for walkways and floors while installing polished tiles on vertical surfaces and countertops. Seal the tiles to protect them, and then prepare to enjoy your fantastic outdoor living space.

Do you long for a warm inviting kitchen? Your kitchen can be the place where everyone loves to gather. It can also be a practical work area. If you love to check out decorating web sites or magazines you have probably noticed that granite kitchen tile is frequently featured.

Why Granite?

Granite is a beautiful natural substance that can add warmth and elegance to your kitchen. Granite is a practical choice for your kitchen because it is very hard and quite scratch and stain resistant. Granite is relatively water and heat resistant. Your granite kitchen tile counter top or flooring will last for decades.

Taking Care Of Granite

A good sealant will protect your granite from stains, however it is always a good idea to wipe up spills immediately. Warm water and a little dish washing soap can be used to clean up spills. Soap residue can dull the natural shine of granite so rinse the area with warm water. A granite floor should be dry mopped once a day to pick up dust and small rock particles. Use an approved granite cleaner for larger cleaning jobs. A sealant should be applied about once a year.

With proper care, you can enjoy the warmth and beauty of granite for many years. The durability of granite is perfect for the heavy use areas of your home like your kitchen. The scratch resistant properties of granite are great for busy and growing families.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile in many styles, types and sizes so you can create the look and efficiency you want in your home without spending a fortune. Save on top quality products for your home remodeling project.

Selecting kitchen tile that is both the right color and material is an essential part of a remodeling project. Different types of tile perform better when used in different applications. Once you establish your remodeling budget, you should select a tile that delivers form and function.

Selecting The Right Color

Darker colors are more resistant to staining than lighter colors. The colors that you choose for flooring or a backsplash should complement the overall décor. The color should coordinate with cabinets, countertops, appliances and kitchen furniture. The tile can be a solid color or, in the case of natural stone, have accent colors.

Selecting The Right Material

Kitchen tile can be purchased in a wide assortment of materials. Selecting the correct one increases the appearance and function of the room. Determine the level of use and location of the tile when deciding between stone, ceramic or a manmade tile. For decorative purposes, glass tiles are an excellent option. The right tile will last and enhance the look of your kitchen.

The kitchen is the central hub of a home. You want to select tile that will stand up to daily traffic, look great and coordinate with the kitchen’s overall style. DirectBuy  offers a great selection of brand-name tile for any room in your home. Enjoy the savings of prices with no retail markup on tile for kitchen remodeling and home improvement to add value to your home.

For homeowners who’d like to add a bit of distinction to their kitchen tile flooring, a plain square tile just won’t do. Here are three types of tile that set the bar for distinctive style.

Penny Rounds

Small hexagon tiles are a fairly popular choice for tile application, but the circular design of porcelain penny rounds give the look fresh style. Although penny rounds were first used a century ago, their installation could be labor-intensive. Today’s penny rounds come mounted on mesh for easy application.

Basketweave Floor Tile

The history of basketweave floor tile reaches even farther back than penny rounds, back to the Victorian era. Both the pattern of each tile and the manner in which they fit together give the tiles their name. The basketweave fit makes them a particularly durable choice for kitchen flooring. Basketweave tiles are available in either porcelain or marble.

Thoroughly Good-Looking Glass

For a kitchen floor with a distinctive sparkle, it’s hard to match glass tiles. Whether matte or iridescent, glass tiles have a reflective quality that makes kitchens feel brighter.

When it comes to choosing kitchen tile, shapes, patterns and sparkle can give your kitchen a unique look.

Save at DirectBuy where you will find a wide selection of top-quality tile to help you express your style and creativity throughout your home. You can also purchase most everything you need for kitchen remodeling and other areas of  home improvement.

Travertine tile is an excellent choice for adding color or patterns to an entryway, kitchen or bathroom floor. Travertine is a natural stone material with a myriad of available color options that can enhance the look of any décor. Following a few care and maintenance tips will preserve the beauty of this flooring material.

Sealing The Tile

Travertine should be sealed as soon as it is installed. The tile should also be resealed once a year or any time that it shows excessive wear. Ensure that the sealer is applied evenly. If the tile isn’t sealed, liquids can enter the material and cause damage or discoloration.

Cleaning The Tile

Sweep the tile with a soft broom, a dry mop or glider attachment affixed to a vacuum cleaner. For washing the floor, use soap formulated for stone tiles or one that is pH balanced. Do not use acidic products such as vinegar or abrasive scrub pads and cleaners. Use even strikes when wiping the floor with a microfiber flat mop. Rinse the floor with clean water and dry it completely after mopping.

Proper care will prevent damage, enhance the beauty of the stone and extend the life of your travertine tile.

For beautiful tile flooring of all types, including natural stone, see what DirectBuy has to offer at prices that have absolutely no retail markup.

With so many different tiling options available today, it can be struggle to decide which type is best in your own home. Although many homeowner enjoy a more traditional look provided by ceramic or porcelain tiles, it can also be wonderful to include some modernity with bright glass mosaic kitchen tiles. These smaller tiles come in a wide range of colors and can easily add interest to any space. Use these suggestions to include glass mosaic tiles in your own kitchen.

Add Interest to a Backsplash

As these smaller mosaic tiles are often too small to use as a flooring or wall option in the entire kitchen space, the backsplash is the perfect vehicle to showcase them. Consider using a bright color to draw attention to the area and let it serve as the focal point in the room.

Pantry Surprises

Although it may be best in some areas to leave the kitchen more traditionally decorated, it can be an exciting surprise to add in glass mosaic tiles in the pantry. Line the walls or even the shelves with this easy to clean material for an unexpected burst of color every time you open the door.

Are you ready to install new tile in your home? Let DirectBuy help you choose the right applications and products to create the look you want. With direct insider prices, you can afford to have the same kind of beautiful tiles you see in home design magazines.

Although there is certainly nothing wrong with embracing a more traditional style of kitchen, many people like the idea of using trendy new ideas in areas like flooring or kitchen tile. By investigating some of the more popular kitchen tile trends, you can decide if any of these creative and unique ideas might have a place within your own home.

Irregular Shapes

Perhaps one of the most interesting tile options is that of irregularly shaped tiles. Gone are the days when homeowners could only choose square tiles in one or two sizes. Today, people can even custom order shapes that fit together perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle. Consider rectangular tiles for a brick feel on the backsplash for something particularly eye-catching.

Three-Dimensional Tiles

Although exclusively a wall option rather than a flooring choice, 3-D tiles allow for added depth in any space. Used in the backsplash or even to frame a door or window, this unique style offers something truly one of a kind. Opt for hand carved pieces or even mass produced tiles available in a range of locations.

Along with these unique tiles, there are many more which can add something special to your kitchen. Embrace these kitchen tile trends for a contemporary home design.

DirectBuy has a wide selection of tile to help you create a beautiful home environment. From flooring to furnishings and everything in between, you’ll find brand-name products with no retail markup.

Although tiles are more commonly used in the kitchen than anywhere in the home barring the bathroom, most people still limit themselves to the ordinary choices of ceramic of porcelain tiles.

While these are certainly practical, affordable and appealing choices, they can also be considered rather plain and commonplace in residential kitchens. Consider spicing up your home with the use of glass kitchen tile, which can be used in a variety of different ways as described below.

Kitchen Backsplash

One of the best possible spaces to use glass tiles in the kitchen is in the backsplash area behind the kitchen sink and the range. Often, this area is covered with spills, splashes and stains from cooking and cleaning. Without tile, it can quickly get dirty and look unattractive. Glass tiles can add colors and are very easy to clean, needing only a wet rag.

Frame Windows

In order to add a burst of color to a kitchen, consider utilizing glass tiles around the edge of the window. The light will add warmth to the colored tiles, and it will serve as a focal point within the space.

These ideas are just two of the many ways that glass kitchen tile can bring light and interest into your home. DirectBuy carries a wide selection of tile for walls, floors and counter tops to make your home the showplace you want it to be. Direct insider prices help you choose high quality tile flooring and stay within your budget.

Although many people decide to use tile in their kitchens, they may not know what the best options for cleaning that tile are. With proper cleaning, care and maintenance, kitchen tile can last for many years without needing to be repaired or replaced.

Let this guide teach you what to do for the pristine kitchen tiles in your own home.

Regular Vacuuming

Many homeowners ignore this part, choosing instead to mop up the dirt and dust particles that collect. However, vacuuming is an important part of the cleaning process. Using a soft beater brush picks up all the small particles that collect and removing them from the floor. Without this, these particles can actually scratch and weaken the surface of your kitchen tile.

Removing Tough Stains

Although there are commercial products which can remove stains, they can also alter the colors of your tile. Instead, consider mixing up a solution of white wine vinegar and warm water, and scrubbing the tiles with a wet rag soaked in the mixture. Wipe the tiles down when finished, being careful not to let them absorb too much excess water.

Cleaning kitchen tile can be simple if you follow this guide for maintenance and to keep your tiles looking great for years to come.

Create a beautiful tile design within your price range with direct insider prices from DirectBuy. You’ll find natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, slate, marble, granite and more to add the perfect look to your home décor.

Homeowners are often amazed by how many slate tiles there are to choose from when planning a remodeling project. The tiles that you pick out are ones that should be a good accessory to the interior design of your house.

Choosing a Tile Size

Tiles come in a range of sizes. The prices for each can be different, and it may be a bit harder to install the smaller tiles. This could increase the labor cost if you are hiring a professional to help with installation.

Selecting a Texture

There are a few different tile textures to choose from. They can range from a coarse type of surface to a smooth one. You need to evaluate what look you want your kitchen to have before selecting the tiles that you want.

The slate kitchen tile that you pick out is something that you will be looking at for awhile. Therefore, it should be a tile that you are satisfied with. Don’t hesitate to ask for the opinions of your friends when trying to decide on a particular tile.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of tile in many styles, types and sizes so you can create the look and efficiency you want in your home without spending a fortune. Save on top quality products for your home remodeling project.