Evening star., 1941-07-19

EnumeI-Couted
Steel TiIine Con Be
Applied EosiIy
BY HILSON MUNSEY.

The cost of tiling a bathroom Is
sometimes more than the average
man feels is justified and yet he
wants to get the effect OF tillng.
This can be done for less money
than most people think would be
required. Moreover, 1t Is not neces-
sary to employ expensive and spe-
cialized labor on the job. 1t can be
done by the householder himself If
he wishes and has the time and
energy.
The special tiling to be used on
the work is made of steel with an
enamel coating. This enamel is
baked on. These tiles can be ap-
piled over the existing walls by using
the special oil cement supplied, by
the company making the tiles. In
cases where the wall has received
q coat of water paint or calcimine
this will first have to be removed.
Where walls have not been painted,
a coat of cheap shellac Is necessary
to prevent the oil from the cement
from soaking into them and de-
stroying the adhesive quality of the
cement.
Ceiling Can Also Be Treated.
Not only can the walls be covered
with this tile but the ceiling also
and the complete installation Will,
in the long run, save money because
it will never have to be replaced. To
clean it a damp cloth wiped over
the surface will do the trick.
OF course any serious damage to
the plaster on the wall must be
repaired before applying but small
cracks and checks will not make
any difference to the laying of the
tile.
The tiles are flexible enough so
that they can be bent around cor
ners without damaging the enam-
eled surface and to cut them is an
easy matter A pair of scissors or
tinman's ships will do the work
very well. If a tile is damaged 1t can
easily be replaced without any ex-
pensive repair work.
The cement used for applying the
tile to the wall will set overnight
but the room can be used as soon
as the installation is complete.
These tiles are not usable on the
floor.
Installing the Tile
If the homeoWner wishes to do
his own installing he will need a
pair of scissors with 6-inch blades,
q 4-inch-Wide putty knife, a To-
cent saw blade to spread the cement
and fiattened lollypop stick to
clean the cement between the tiles
and make a smooth and professional |
finish.
In addition to these tools bend |
er is needed. This can be board |
upon which to attach the tile and |
a hinged board above it to hold the !
tile in place as the bending is done. |
However, this can be replaced by
two ordinary blocks of wood with
square edges-the one to hold the
tile and the other to support 1t
firmly as it is being bent.
The first thing to be done be-
fore the tiles are set is to prepare
the surface by removing any loose
paint and smoothing down any
roughness or bumpy places. Small
irregularities will not matter be-
cause the tiles will fit around them
and adapt themselves to the sur
face. Greasy walls must be treated
with something to correct that con-
dition and any wallpaper or OIL
cloth must be taken off the walls.
If the walls have not been painted
they must be shellacked.
Spreading the Cement.
The cement is spread on the saw
and then combed onto the wall.
This combing is smoothed out with
the broad putty knife and the sur
face is ready for the application of
the tile. This is done by placing one
edge into the correct position and
then pressing the tile against the
wall. One tile is applied at time,
as these tiles do not come in strips
or sheets. but singly, to give the cor
rect tiling effect
Corners can be taken care of by
first making the bend with the
boards, or if the sharp edge is not
desired by simply bending the tile
around the corner of the wall to be
covered. These tiles are made in
three sizes: 414X414, 3x6 and 6x6
inches. In addition to the tiles there
are border strips, border blocks and
chair rails. Corner beads and inside
corner strips are also sold.
There are eight colors from which |
to choose and, of course, innumer-
able combinations can be devised to |
suit the individual taste
The colors are ivory. green, peach. |
blue, pearl, orchid. black and white.
Y