“The bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweet taste of low price is forgotten”

So goes the oft-quoted saying (or a version of it), but more often than not, they are wise words. Buying stone is no different; for many years having stone in your home was somewhat of a luxury. Granite work-surfaces and counter tops have not always been as widespread and affordable as they are now and it was not that long ago when a limestone floor was more likely to be seen in some old French castle than in a suburban kitchen.

Read the rest »

Following on from the question of sealing grout in a shower to prevent water ingress (see here), here are my top 10 tips for ensuring a leak free shower enclosure. Much of this also applies to showers installed over bath tubs too.
Read the rest »

A question I was asked frequently in 2009 relates to sealers in tiled showers. So it came as no surprise that the first question I get in 2010 (this morning in fact) was: “What sealer should I use my shower?”

On average I get asked this question at least once a week, so it would seem that lots of people have got issues with staining in their showers. However, usually just a few seconds into the conversation and I realize that they are actually asking the wrong question.

Read the rest »

Well 2009 was a busy but odd year to say the least, a lot of things happened in the world of tile and stone with many suppliers and retailers really feeling the pinch.

As we go into 2010 let’s hope it will be a better year for everyone. I am sure there will still be some belt tightening for some time to come so more of us may be thinking of how best to restore , clean-up or care for existing tile and stone installations rather than buying new.

For my part I am looking forward to spending more time on this blog than I managed last year, hopefully providing some little help and useful information.

I hope to make a start really soon, but for now, all the best for 2010

Ian