Renovation Diaries: Learning, Upgrading and much more

I never understood the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles until today. The worker explained it to us in a mix of Urdu and Punjabi, pronouncing them as purr-sleen and ceraamic.

Yes, you guessed it right — another update on our ongoing renovations!

Even though this is our temporary home, we’re investing in it like it’s permanent. We had picked out tiles, and I chose these ones for the drawing room:

_{porcelain tiles that give a wooden look and texture}

Do you all have drawing rooms too, or is it just a cultural thing here? It might seem excessive, but we use it for guests — especially when we’re hosting someone of the opposite gender (to either me or my spouse) or for formal gatherings that require a more reserved setting.

Anyway, back to the point — Now, we’ve moved on to the drawing room, and these tiles are porcelain — or should I say purr-sleen, as the worker clarified ;))

_{a close-up of wood alike porcelain tiles. These are harder than ceramic and scratch resistant}

I’m learning new things every day during this renovation process. I find myself asking the workers questions almost all the time, staying inquisitive about every little detail. Who knew I had an interest for this kind of thing? I never imagined I’d enjoy be invested in the the entire process so much.

It might even come in handy one day when we’re building our own home. For now, though, it’s been a rewarding experience to see things come together bit by bit.

Back to the tiles — The sitting/TV lounge is nearly complete, just a few finishing touches like distemper over the skirting and a few other details remain. These are the ceramic ones:

_{The ceramic tiles. They are less harder}

Over the course of this renovation journey, I’ve become surprisingly familiar with most building material terms — things I never knew before.

For instance, I’ve learned that tiles can be cut in three ways: with a qalam, a manual cutter, or a machine.

I now understand how to level tiles, how they can be pasted over existing floors or after the overhaul, and the pros and cons of each method. Initially, we planned to overhaul the kitchen and dining room floors also, but after discovering that the veranda floor was made with less cement than expected, we’ve had to reconsider.

To lay marble tiles there, we’ll first need to add a proper base of concrete and cement to ensure durability and longevity. Interestingly, marble tiles are cheaper than ceramic and porcelain tiles, which makes them a more budget-friendly choice for areas like the veranda. We always thought that stone was pricier than the tiles. However, they require more maintenance and can be prone to staining if not sealed properly. Also, they will need a polish after installation.

Well, there was another reason for choosing marble tiles for the veranda. Earlier, we had used some scrap marble tiles as a DIY project to make a step there — long before this bigger renovation began. At that time, we were doing a lot of things on our own, trying to upgrade the place bit by bit. To match that small piece of tile, we decided to go with marble tiles for the rest of the veranda. Now we know it’s more work than we initially thought, but what’s done is done.

Hope I’m not boring you with all these details! I promise I’ll show you that step in the veranda with my next update. Right now, I’m tucked in bed, and it’s way too cold outside to do anything else. So, bye-bye for now — until the next update or maybe sooner. Come on, guys, say something...

Fingers crossed I’m not boring you to death!