Black and Decker’s The Complete Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile is a must read for anyone that is considering renovating their home. This is a great guide that makes it very simple to understand how to do even complex tasks and the project section alone makes it worth the cover price. This book is aimed at beginners but professionals should be able to learn a thing or two along the way.
The book opens with basics of ceramic and stone tile that walks the reader through the process of picking the right tile for their home, the kinds of tools they will need to complete various projects and how to prepare for a new tile installation. We appreciated this section since it does go into more information on the many different types of tile as well as their suggested uses. If you’ve always wanted a certain kind of tile, you may find that it’s really not meant for that purpose, so this is a great place to start before you end up spending too much money on tile selection.
This section provides an absolutely exhaustive list of the tools you’ll need and what purpose they serve. This is perfect for beginners who may not know exactly what they will need to get each type of job done. It also serves as a handy shopping list. Even the most complex tools are completely explained so that anyone can pick one up and begin using it properly.
The section on removing old flooring or countertops is very useful and contains some tips that will make the job go a lot faster. This is perfect for those who are not used to ripping out old tile and contains some safety tips that will make it a lot less dangerous for those who are new. In keeping with the times, this last section also includes a how-to on installing a floor warming system. This is not only energy efficient, but can greatly add to the value of your home. While you’ve got your old floor ripped out, you may as well take advantage of this new method of heating.
Moving on to the projects section, there are plenty of tasks here that will probably have you itching to redo something, anything in your home. They are all broken down so that anyone can follow them and get great results. You’ll get how-to’s on proper planning, and a material’s list that makes it even easier to make sure you have everything you need before you get started.
While it includes plenty of flooring and countertop how-to’s, we appreciated the projects on backsplashes, shower bases and the more extensive forms of flooring that include intricate designs. Everything is laid out logically and it very easy to follow.
Overall, this is an incredibly helpful book that more than deserves a place in your bookshelf. If you’ve got a tile project coming up, it’s definitely a must-have. Even if you don’t, after you read the book, you’ll undoubtedly want to start one.
