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How To Install Tile In Your Kitchen or Bathroom

published Saturday, October 29th, 2011 at 1:52 pm by admin

Ready to tile your kitchen or bathroom floor but you don’t know how to install tile? Tiling your kitchen or bathroom floor is a great do-it-yourself project that is very do-able and extremely affordable. Learning how to install tile does not have to be difficult if you follow a few easy steps and you can literally save thousands of dollars by doing it yourself.

You can probably install kitchen or bathroom tile over the weekend, at cost of between $500 and $1000, depending on the size of your room. Adding new tile flooring is an upgrade that adds value to your home and a stylish decorator touch.

If you have already bought your kitchen or bathroom tile, hopefully, you bought enough tiles to complete your project and some extra tiles to replace any broken or chipped tiles that may occur now or some time in the future. If you try to buy the same tile later, it may not match exactly.

How to install tile in your kitchen or bathroom

MATERIALS:

Tile
Thinset
Backer board
Spacers and grout

Remember to wear protective eyewear and a face mask. Here are the basic steps:

1. Spread out the tile pattern on the floor and see if any tiles will need to be cut. If you are making a pattern design, this is your opportunity to make sure it’s perfect. Clear the floor of tiles to start applying the thinset.

2. Mix the thinset with water according to the directions, Make sure it is just the right thickness, which should be similar to peanut butter. Just mix enough thinset for an hour. Thinset dries out. Always keep a wet sponge, rag and towel handy to wipe up any excess mortar on the floor.

Use a notched trowel to apply a generous amount of thinset onto the bare floor. If you have linoleum, you can tile directly on top of it. Hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle and spread the thinset on the small area you are working on only. Smooth out any imperfections while it is still wet.

3. Place the backer board down on the section you are working on. You can make adjustments if you need to while the thinset is wet. Follow the grid on the backer board and screw it into the floor. Apply the thinset section by section until the entire floor is covered and secure the backer board.

4. Place one row of tiles completely across the floor using spacers to space each tile with the same gap. Make any corrections or cuts that need to be made. Lift each tile one by one and spread the thinset with the trowel. Replace the tile and spacer and make adjustments while the thinset is wet. Wipe up any mess. Finish the job with your choice of colorful grouts and you’re finished and now you know how to install tile. Well done!

For other do-it-yourself ideas, keep checking us out online and see what’s new and exciting for you to do in home upgrade projects. You’ll find lots of good concepts and ideas and we’re here to help guide you through each and every project.

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Here’s a fast motion video that takes you through the steps of how to tile a floor, so you can visualize the job ahead:

Ceramic Tile Installation

published Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 at 6:03 pm by admin

Your Step By Step Ceramic Tile Installation Guide

If you are planning to lay out ceramic tiles at your home then you must have a proper knowledge of actual ceramic tile installation process. To get the beautiful and reliable ceramic tile designs on your floor, you must know how to install ceramic tiles effectively and systematically. Read further to discover the most proven and easiest step by step process that can help you in your ceramic tile installation at your home.

1) Organization of your home floor

The first and the most important thing for proper ceramic tile installation is the right organization of your floor as well as subfloor. Depending upon the type of subfloor, you will have to choose the style of laying out ceramic tiles. All types of ceramic tiles that are being placed on the floors must have a very good bonding with subfloors.

Most plywood subfloors need to install minimum half inches of backerboard on the plywood surface for proper bonding with ceramic tiles. It is also essential to fasten this backerboard with appropriate screws in order to avoid corrosion. If you have concrete subfloor then it is essential to use cement based floor leveling compound to patch up any minor cracks and holes in the subfloor. All these precautions are necessary to have a clear bonding of ceramic tiles with subfloors.

2) Find the center of the room and start from that point

Most of the times, the central tile can be most eye pleasing factor during ceramic tile installation. To get that beautiful look, it is important to find out the central point of the room. You can find out the center with the help of measuring tape. Once you find the central point then you can start laying out tiles from that point.

3) Actual process of laying out tiles

You will need a mortar and notched trowel to start laying out tiles on the subfloors. Start spreading the mortar on the floors which should be approximately the size of 4 tiles. You can do it with the help of notched trowel. Once mortar is applied then you can start placing tiles on that mortar. Use rubber mallet to tap the tiles and fix the tiles firmly. Use tile spacers to line up the next series of tiles and space them equally. You should not miss to apply mortar wherever you want to lay out ceramic tiles. Once you finish laying out all the ceramic tiles then avoid walking on the floor for the next 24 hours.

4) Finally grout your tiles properly

Once you lay out the tiles, it is time for grouting the placed ceramic tiles. You can use a grout float for this process. To fill out the joints properly, one can start grouting diagonally to get the best results. Remove excessive grout with the grout float and do not remove the inner grout that has already been used in the joints.

You can use a simple sponge to remove the dirt from the ceramic tiles. But be aware about the joints and do not remove the grout from the joints. Allow at least 24 hours to dry the grout and then try other safe cleaning procedures to clean out the remaining dirt from the ceramic tiles.

Grouting Tile Floors – A Few Simple Tips

published Monday, August 29th, 2011 at 4:47 pm by admin

Anyone can learn easy techniques for grouting tile floors. A do-it-yourself type of project such as this can be done without spending a ton of money. For people interested in finding out more about the proper application of grout to tile floors, the following information may be helpful. Simple tips like the ones supplied here may especially help the first-timer do a good job grouting tile floors.

One of the best tips that a homeowner wishing to apply grout to tile floors can get is to use rubber or plastic gloves while doing the job. Grout on skin can cause irritations that are very painful. (Always wear proper safety equipment when working with anything containing chemicals and follow product instructions.)

Other items that one should have on hand before starting a grouting task are a contaminant-free bucket, a tool such as a squeegee, and a flat trowel. Quick Tip: Using a sponge to clean up the extra grout from the tile is a great way to keep the area free of grout. However, be sure to wring out the sponge to remove excess water so it does not drip into the grout– this would just about ruin all your hard work!

When grouting tile floors one should always select the best grout product available. A good quality product will be smooth and without lumps, an indicator that the product may be inferior and have water in the mix making it impossible to use correctly. After the container is opened, if the grout appears lumpy, it should be returned to the store and another product purchased.

Knowing the proper amount of water to use in a grouting project is a vital skill that any new grouter will need to learn. The correct level of water will make the grout go on properly and look nice. If there is too much water the grout may crumble, too little water and the grout does not fill in the gaps right. Again, always read the instructions included with the product so the end results are optimal.

Once the grout is mixed to the right consistency the time comes to apply it to the tile on the floor. Using the squeegee tool, press the grout into the gaps in the tile. One should begin at the far end of the room and move outward. Read the grout instructions to be sure how long to wait before wiping off the tile. Wiping too soon can cause grout to come out of the joint or cause bubbles or holes wait too long and the clean up is terrible.

A final tip that helps make the job of grouting tile floors easier is to practice first before actually putting grout on the expensive tile. Smart do-it-yourself homeowners will start small and practice the procedure until they feel ready to tackle the actual grouting job.

Tiling A Floor

Tags: grouting tile floors, tile flooring ideas
Posted in Tile Flooring | No Comments »

Bathroom Tile Flooring Tips

published Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 9:36 am by admin

Whether you are upgrading your bathroom or it is a new one, tile flooring works well to improve its design. Bathrooms are believed to be the most expensive rooms both in structure and design in a house since they are important for relaxation. When designing or renovating this all important room, remember that you cannot afford replacements regularly and so you need some practical advice so that you can do a good job that will last for a prolonged period of time. It is also important to keep in mind that bathrooms have to endure heat, steam and moisture always.

Tips on bathroom tile flooring

Consider the durability of the product under wet, damp and hot conditions.
Go for long tiles since these create a greater sense of space in your bathroom.
Also use different colors and patterns to give a spacious look.
Choose neutral color for the tiles.
Design the bathroom yourself by injecting your creativity into it. This gives your style statement to the users of this bathroom.
Ensure your bathroom gives a spa effect as this is soothing.

Attributes of bathroom tile floors

Color – warm colors like beige reflect a huge amount of light and cleanliness in your bathroom.
Slip resistant – since the bathroom will be wet most of the time, the tiles used should be slip resistant to reduce cases of accidents at home.
Easy to maintain – they should be easy to repair and also dry fast when cleaned.
Inviting – you should be able to feel comfortable and relaxed immediately you get into the bathroom.
Grout – should be clear and it is advisable that you choose the right shade.

Bathroom tile flooring products

There are many available durable and distinctive tile flooring materials and design ideas that you can bring to your bathroom. These include porcelain, marble and ceramic tile flooring. There are also new designs like mosaic, pebbles, liquid lava, and glass accent and travertine bathroom floor tiles. Do your homework to learn the pros and cons of each of these tiles so that you can make an informed decision and the right choice.

You can also consider using heated bathroom tile floor. Some tiles or stone flooring can be heated to give you a warm feeling when you step in the bathroom. These provide a great start in the morning and it is more welcome after a busy day at night. You can use electrical floor heating to warm the floor and the room and is also a cost effective.

If you intend to decorate your bathroom with potted plants and chrome fixtures, choose a tile floor that will substitute your style and blend in well with your additions.

However, ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most popular because they are both

Fire resistant
Slip resistant
Durable and have high resistance to wear and tear and chipping
Do not provide a breeding for bacteria and microbes

Tiles make a statement about you and you therefore need to spice up your bathroom with fancy tiles. Decide the best theme for your bathroom and choose tiles appropriately so that they can match with it. Let the bathroom tile floor inspire you and help enjoy a bath. In any case, tiles add sophistication and a luxurious taste to this great room.

Tags: bathroom tile flooring
Posted in Tile Flooring Ideas | No Comments »

Discount Tile Flooring – Ideas On How to Find Good Deals

published Monday, August 8th, 2011 at 9:09 pm by admin

When you plan to renovate your home or after the construction of your new home, one of the first things you may need to buy is suitable and attractive tile flooring. It can be very expensive to change your existing floor coverings. You also need a heavy investment at the time of new floor coverings installation. So looking for discount tile flooring is financially a very wise decision.

If you go for branded names in tile flooring then you have to spend literally thousands of dollars just to buy the floor coverings. There are other methods which can help you getting good discounts on tiles and you can save good amount of money if you search them at right places at right time.

The following are few effective ways which you can try to get discount tile flooring for your home.

1. Look for cheap sales: Every year in the month of January and February, there are discount sales of tile floorings advertised by local hardware stores. You can take advantage of these sales to get more than 50 percent of discounts on the floor coverings sold by local hardware owners. Whenever you buy these floor coverings, always ask about the owners about the current status of the tiles. Some of them can be seconds or can have little negligible defects. You can install these tiles in your bathroom or bedroom where people can not notice it easily.

2. Search on the internet: Internet is another viable option where a simple search by the term “discount tile flooring” can yield several good quality hardware shops where you can ask for affordable tile flooring. Look for established companies that can offer cheap prices and can ship the product with minimum shipping charges. This is where you can save money on shipping and handling of the tiles.

3. Look for clearance sales or overstock items: Many companies producing tile flooring can have overstock every year. Most of these products usually come under clearance sales as they get outdated and out of demand. You can search for such overstock tile flooring items and bargain with the companies to get higher discounts on these tiles. There are also closeout times which you can search on the internet. Sometimes, you can find great deals with these closeout sales.

4. Ask for free installation or free shipping: We all know that money saved is money earned. If you are not able to get discounted deals on tile flooring by any of the above methods then you can save money on your installation cost or on your shipping cost. You can do this by learning yourself how to install tiles yourself. There are several types of do-it-yourself books and guides available on the internet that can help you in learning the ins and outs of tile flooring installations. Learning yourself how to install tile flooring is also a great way to save your money on the installation cost.

Use any of the above four methods to find discount tile flooring. You will certainly be able to get a great deal to save a good amount of money on your tile installation.

Tile Flooring Ideas