How to Properly Foil Stained Glass

The process of foiling stained glass begins with washing the individual cut pieces for your design. Fill a small basin with water with a couple tablespoons of ammonia. Dip the pieces in the solution then dry thoroughly with a clean lint-free towel. Be sure to clean all edges and surfaces of each piece. Once the glass is completely dry, wrap the edges of each piece with copper foil and burnish the foil to the glass. This insures proper adhesion of the foil to the glass.

There are a variety of copper foils to choose from. The most common width of copper foil used is 7/32”. The types of backing on the copper foil you use depends on the glass in the design and if patina will be used. If your glass is opaque, the copper foil backing is not a factor. When using transparent glass and/or bevels, choose a copper foil backing that will match your solder lines. If you plan to leave your solder lines silver, choose silver backed foil. If you are using copper patina, use copper backed foil. If black patina is your choice, then use black backed foil.

Steps for Applying Copper Foil
• Either by hand or with a table foiler, center the foil on the edge of the glass. The amount of foil that hangs over the edge will dictate the width of your finished solder lines. For more delicate lines on small pieces, use 5/32” copper foil.
• Once all the edges of the glass are covered, then crimp or press the foil around the glass edges.
• Next, you will need to burnish the foil to the glass. This can be done using a burnisher or tongue depressor to press the foil down along the edges, top and bottom surfaces of the glass. Be sure the foil is firmly pressed to all edges and surfaces of each class piece. This is extremely important for the structural integrity of your stained glass piece.

Copper foiling can be done in conjunction with cutting. As each piece is cut and fitted to the pattern, it is wrapped in foil. This method eliminates gaps cause by misjudging the thickness of copper foil.

How to Avoid Common Copper Foiling Problems
• Copper foil splits when doing inside curves – start and end foiling at the deepest part of the curve
• Foil doesn’t stick – Be sure glass is clean and dry
• How to get decorative solder lines – use scalloped copper foil

Areas of Concern:

I like to allow the pre-foiled just dipped in water pieces of glass to really dry before attempting to apply foil. I accomplish by building up a small inventory of cut pieces, usually about 4 – 5 in number, which allows all of them to air-dry in addition to drying with the lent-free towel.

Sometimes, stained glass pieces include the use of mirror glass. The reflection seen in the mirror should be considered as you decide which color copper foil to use. I frequently use copper foil with black on the back. You may want to use silver backed copper foil.

When applying pressure to the edge or surface of a little glass piece with a burnisher, be careful to not push too hard. Small pieces, as well as some larger ones may break and you won’t be happy. Also make sure if you lay your foiled piece down on the table top in order that you may properly burnish it, that there is nothing under the piece that flat table top. Even a small fragment piece of scrap glass is enough to make your piece crack when pressure is applied.

If you would like more information regarding stained glass or the instruction thereof, to pick from a huge selection of free patterns
, all listed by category, or to sign up for my free newsletter, then please visit:
http://www.creativity-in-glass.com

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London Builders - How To Choose A Natural Stone - Part Two

Marble on the walls looks spectacular, but because of its porous structure the stone will need permanent protection with the help of water-repellent liquids. The situation with granite in this case is much simpler - this material is stronger and firmer. The only thing which remains is to regularly wipe the walls, removing water drops. Natural floor tiles, as it has already been said, should have non-slip surface, otherwise, you take a risk of slipping and falling down while leaving the bath. Covering the floor surface with a protective rug makes no sense taking into account an idea of having a smooth "mirror" floor in the bathroom.

Since humidity is the essential attribute of such places, you shouldn't forget about the choice of special glue for the bathroom tiles. Firstly, the glue must not be ruined by water and, secondly, it should provide additional waterproofing for a floor and walls.

Kitchen decoration.

Quite often natural stone is used in a kitchen decoration not only for floor, but for kitchen worktops, wall tiles, natural stone splashbacks, windowsills etc. All these could be made of one and the same or different materials - as you like it. However, in the kitchen, the same as in the bathroom, it is not recommended to have polished floor tiles without anti-slip protection: it is dangerous and not very convenient. Matte marble coating completely meets this demand, but it has its disadvantages: spilt vinegar or lemon juice will spoil the tile and it's not an easy task to remove red vine from the light rugged floor. Dark, red or grey granite is a more suitable option, but mud protection will not be needless for it as well.

Marble countertops will make your kitchen look luxurious, but regular home food preparation is connected with acidulous ingredients, which ruin marble in case of long-term exposure. However, there are protective sealants for kitchen stone, but they should be applied regularly.

So, the most suitable option for kitchen worktops turns out to be granite again: it is beautiful, safe, secure and needs minimal care.

Generally, windowsills have a decorative function that is why they are less exposed to chemical agents. Just don't forget to wipe spilled water at once after watering and fertilizing flowers. While everything is so simple with windowsills, you can choose any decorative stone you like and be guided only with your own taste and financial abilities.

Rooms decoration.

Natural stone in rooms is used for fireplaces, balusters and stairs, banisters, coffee tables and various decorations. Since they are exposed only to small mechanical effect, they are manufactured from almost all types of natural stone. Statuettes and vases made of marble and onyx will make your apartment look more sophisticated and bring your interior closer to the classic style. Their maintenance is very simple - such items should be periodically wiped with a dry and soft duster. Floors in the rooms can be smooth; they look especially good in spacious halls.

Knowing all these fine points now you can select natural stone for your home or flat design without any difficulties. If you have any doubts about the correctness of this or that idea for the interior design, refer to specialists of natural stone company supplier. They will give you more detailed information, recommend you optimal means for protection and maintenance and will correctly perform all the works for house decoration.

©Copyright 2007-2009 http://www.builderstown.co.uk/ Arthur Prudent is a developer of London Builders - Bathroom, Kitchen Installation - web site offering all aspects of builders services. London Builders - How To Choose A Natural Stone - Part One. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Prudent

London Builders - How To Choose A Natural Stone - Part One

Natural stone has been used as a material for premises interior furnishing for a long time now. It is used for walls tiling and floor tiling, wall columns, worktops, fireplaces, interior design elements. However, to provide a long term of service of all these items it is necessary to make a correct choice of stone and materials for finishing. This means to take into account service conditions of the materials used for the exterior and interior decoration.

It is rather easy to do it; you should just know inherent characteristics of the type of stone you like and the problems which you can face in the process of its usage. These problems have become fewer over the years as many centuries ago natural stone was exposed only to mechanical treatment and now there have been developed lots of means of its protection, adding to its prolonged and more comfortable maintenance.

However, house refurbishment or flat renovation demand to choose a proper natural stone for the decoration and knowledge of some useful tips would help to avoid even pinpricks in the future.

Hallways decoration.

Since it is the hall that we immediately see when we enter the house, we shall start from it. In this small but important chamber natural stone is generally used for finishing of walls and floor. As a rule, walls are not exposed to aggressive influence of moisture, mud, chemicals or chafing, therefore, any type of natural stone finishing will be appropriate here. On the vertical surfaces both picturesque elements with rough chips such as limestone, and smooth tiles will make a favorable impression. Polished marble and granite look especially effective.

There are fewer options for floor making: it is unreasonable to use stone with porous structure - it won't serve long and will need too much time for care. Granite is the undisputed leader among materials for floor tile. It is strong and wear-resistant enough; rich scale of colors of this natural stone allows not only combining it with any designer's decisions but making an accent exactly on the floor covering.

Stone texture.

Special consideration should be given to stone texture, since regularity of care and its complexity depend much on the surface: whether it is smooth and polished or rugged. Smooth surface is easier to clean, but with the lapse of time there appear worn-out zones in the areas of the highest usage. It is a little bit harder to clean rugged surface, because dust and street mud get into the smallest hollows.

Natural stone care and maintenance liquids allow you to simplify cleaning: mug protective liquids which are regularly applied on the tile will considerably reduce the time for cleaning and provide a perfect result. By the way, the same liquids could be applied to the wall tiles too.

If you are keen on smooth tile (well-polished dark granite reflects walls and ceiling of the lighted hall like a mirror, giving the apartment more grandeur), use the anti-slip tapes. They are easy to apply, absolutely invisible and provide a good result. Just remember to renovate protective film from time to time.

Bathrooms decoration.

Bathrooms decoration in general deserves special attention as the object of natural stone decoration. Bathroom tiles, being constantly exposed to the influence of water and steam, with the lapse of time amasses lime scale on its surface and with very high humidity mould can appear. Certainly, there is a way out: in the first case to put filters for water purification and softening, and in the second one - to provide good ventilation. However, to provide long service of natural stone you should correctly select its type.

Arthur Prudent is a developer of London Builders - Bathroom, Kitchen Installation - web site offering all aspects of builders services. London Builders - How To Choose A Natural Stone - Part One. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Prudent

External coloring

Now we shall go to consideration of the building materials and technology for external color registration of the building. The Facade, window and roof here is three main designs, defining look of any building. Exactly they require using a designer tools, including in the field of painting.

The Most-eligible material for decorative embellishment of the facade - is a coverage brick. For present-day day exists the ensemble of the color decisions - more than 50. The Material can have a different invoiced particularities (on degree of relief), geometric forms (square-wave, with roundered corners or cocked, with curvilinear verge and etc) and sizes (single, one-and-a-half or european format). Herewith coverage brick, as a finishing material, possesses high physico-mechanical factor (toughness, frost resistance, damp resistance, longevity).

However facing sewer this only part of deal. To avoid the discord in color designing vein, necessary harmonious combination all element facade. Much it is important in general coloring to perform and window. Visual stands out only his(its) base frame of the product. Most often she can be executed from tree, aluminum or polyvinylchloride (PVC). The First two material colour will add by means of already considered above product.

The Technological process декорирования PVH-profile is lamination. Its consists in fixing on surface of the plastic frame decorative film with the help of special glue and with using laminating equipment. The Color palette can count the enormous amount a tone. Today, according to specialist of the Group of the companies PROPLEKS - a most largest russian producer PVC-profile on austrian technology, the most popular product, imitating tree, as well as blue and sulphur colour.

Aside from high aesthetic quality, laminated frames possess the high working parameter. So, outer face of the film inherent light-resistance, resistance to climatic influence and longevity.

Exists and so-called brown en masse profile. In process his(its) экструзии, according to specialist PROPLEKS, in mixture are added color pigments. To account this and is reached utter painting profile.

Big importance for making the color decision of the building as a whole has a decorating of the roof. The Traditional material - slate. If were they earlier used basically gray sheets, that at present he can be a miscellaneous colour: blue, green, red, brown. But about ensemble tone to speak even so does not happen to.

What is a ceramic brick - general information.

The Ceramic brick is produced from red clay basically and is burned;burned at the temperature up to 1000 С. At production of the brick are used 2 methods. The First - a plastic way: clay by moisture 17 - 30% enters from band press, but then is subjected to burning. The Second way clay mold with moisture 8 - 10% pressing under high pressure.

The Ceramic brick can be: hollow,full and coating. The coating ceramic brick in its turn subdevides on: enameled, exterior and shaped.

On colour, the ceramic brick can be is dyed-brown white, apricot or wanted colour depending on applicable in process of the fabrication of the material.

On size ceramic brick can be double, single or one-and-a-half.

The Technical features of the ceramic brick are fixed in GOST AH, from which follows that weight of the brick can not rise above 4,3 kg. Besides, in feature of the brick must be is without fall specified importances морозостойкости and toughness. The Ceramic inferior brick not corresponding to GOST AM can contain the different stranger an admixture limestone or stone. That can bad tell on exteriors of the building, his(its) toughness, frost resistance and safety.

The Price of the ceramic brick depends on his(its) quality and company-producer of the brick. Besides, to the price of the brick affects his(its) exterior, amount and characteristic.

At present ceramic brick is used practically in all type construction: for laying of the foundation, building carrying sewer and interroom partiton, for fabrication of the stoves and heater (except contiguities with fire), for decoration of buildings and internal finishing the premiseses. Under all their own plus ceramic brick is resistant to negative external factor, this is the ceramic brick proved by perennial experience of the use.

Weathered Stone - What is it? (3 videos)

When you see Weathered Stone your first question will be "what is it!?" Is it a natural stone? Is it marble tile? This intro video shows every capability of the world's first bendable stone. From countertops to walls and archways, crown molding to columns, and floors to ceiling medallions, this amazing hand made, patent pending, stone replica will fill almost every design need



Weathered Stone Training - Flat Wall Pt1


Weathered Stone Training Flat Wall Pt2

Granite, Marble, and Limestone

A & M Marble Inc. - is an importer, supplier, and fabricator of Granite, Marble, and Limestone. Established in 1984, we have over 20 years of experience in the fabrication and installation of natural stone, including kitchen counter tops, vanity tops, island tops, fireplaces, floors, walls and furniture pieces. We offer a wide variety of granite and marble selections from China, Brazil, Spain, India, and Italy. For the convenience of our customers, hundreds of selections are on display in our warehouse. Fabrication of your kitchen is always conducted on site using a combination of highly skilled artisans and top of the line machinery. With our exceptional business reputation we became one of the first certified fabricators of engineered quartz stone, the highest quality engineered product used in kitchen counters and bath vanities. We continually strive to be innovative leaders in the industry and set the standard by providing our customers with superior products and services. Our friendly and professional sales team is dedicated to assisting every customer on a personal level. Our experience and expertise in granite, marble, and engineered stone is invaluable when it comes to choosing the perfect stone for your home or business. A & M Marble Inc. provides: •Quality, service, and customer satisfaction as our first priority •Experienced sales representatives •Commitment to meeting deadlines and your scheduling needs •Large selection of Granite slabs and engineered stone in stock •On-site fabrication ensuring a high quality product