Do you want to learn how to install ceramic tiles? Tile installation is a step-by-step process that any handy person can learn to do. It’s like many other home projects. The professionals are fast because time is money. Furthermore, a professional must handle a wide range of project situations.
But us fans can take it easy and maybe just do a room or two, so we don’t have to deal with a lot of different situations. You can learn to do a professional job and enjoy the satisfaction of installing ceramic tile while saving some money too!
Ceramic tiles are a beautiful and practical floor. A tile floor will literally last for generations with minimal maintenance. Ceramic tile is a perfect floor surface, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.
Ceramic Tile Floor… Base.
Ceramic tile can be installed over many different materials, including old tile, vinyl flooring, and concrete. Wood is often a poor base for ceramic tile. The shifting of the wood can cause cracks in the tile joints. The best underlayment for floors and walls is Hardi-Backer cement backer board. This material is not damaged by water. Also, it is stable and quite easy to work with as well.
Gather the tools.
Gather your tools first. You will need the following:
- 5 gallon plastic buckets
- tile saw
- Tweezers
- cutting board
- hammer
- screwdriver
- notched trowel
- margin trowel
- chalk line
- Pencil
- trisquare
- spacers
- measuring tape
- Level
- tile sponge
Design your floor.
Usually the first floor design step is to find the center of the room. Measure the width and length of the room and mark lines to determine the center. Use these lines as guides for laying the tile. Continue to trace chalk lines on the floor as a guide as you go across the floor.
The appearance of the floor must be attractive to the eye. You may need to start along one wall, so you have cut the tiles on one side only. This depends on the room and the situation. Starting in the center is the most common method.
Lay some tiles on the dry floor spaced as you plan. Dry-laying the tiles allows you to better visualize the look of the finished floor before applying the adhesive!
slim set.
Adhesive, or thin-set, is a mortar mix specially designed for ceramic tile installation. There are several brands and types of thin-set. Different additives are used for different applications. Your dealer will help you choose the best product for your job. Thin-set also comes in different colors.
You can get a pre-mixed thin layer. Professionals use a thin coat that comes in a powder form, like a mortar mix, and mixes with water. Mix using a stirrer with an electric drill.
Ceramic Tile Laying.
Spread the thin layer with a trowel. You will want a special tile trowel with serrated edges to create grooves in the thinset. The ridges will help you measure just the right amount of thin layer. Too much adhesive will ooze out the top of the joint and make a mess.
Leave the chalk line guide lines uncovered and lay the edge of the tile right on the line. For a floor, you’ll need about 3/16-inch gaps between tiles. For consistent gaps, use regular tile spacers made just for that purpose.
At the edges of the floor, you will cut pieces of ceramic tile to fit together. Usually many of the border pieces will be cut to the same size. But keep checking, as many rooms aren’t exactly square.
Keep going across the floor, marking lines every few rows to stay aligned in both directions.
Ceramic Tile Grouting.
Let the tiles sit for 24 to 48 hours, then they are ready to grout. Use grout to fill in the spaces between the tiles.
Grout comes in many colors and is easy to apply. Mix the grout with water, making sure to mix well, so there are no lumps. Apply the grout with a rubber trowel.
The grout comes sanded or unsanded. Sanded grout contains sand to make it stronger. Use sanded grout in joints greater than 1/8-inch wide.
Clean the grout off the tile after about 30 minutes. By this time, the grout is glazing onto the surface of the tile! Clean an hour later for the second time. Use clean water on a sponge to clean. Use a little vinegar in water on stubborn areas to get them perfectly clean!
After approximately 24 hours of drying time, the tiled area is ready to use…for generations!
Those are the basics of how to install ceramic tile.
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