Bathroom tile installation DIY
Installing new tiles in your bathroom is not as difficult as it may seem. Changing the look of your bathroom will give your home a new feel and more value.
For the bathroom tile installation, use similar tools and procedure. However, there are things to factor in during the process.
The circular saw and jigsaw will help you make definitive cuts and holes respectively on the panel according to the tub and toilet fixtures.
It is different for tile installation in the bathroom as compared to other rooms which will require that you start laying out the tiles from the center of the room. The bathroom floor has fixtures that you will have to work around them. The edge tile will be laid first working towards the center of the room or the accessories. Use the whole tiles first placing them in a way that will minimize the number of tiles being cut. The best fit should be achieved before deciding on which tile to cut. You can be certain of this by simply having an overview of the floor with the different styles of dry running. Before you cut the tiles using the tile saw, take the measurement of the specific ones to be cut and by how much.
After all the necessary tiles have been cut, reinstall them in their positions. During the placement, ensure that you have spacers to ensure they fit evenly and with ample space between each other. You can have a wide overview to confirm that the layout is as formidable as it can be.
Using the notched trowel, apply thin-set mortar or adhesive carefully on the floor after that place the tile in place. Similarly to installing tiles on any floor, use spacers for even and firm tile installation. Allow 24 hours to pass for the mortar to dry.
Cutting and fitting
Areas around the cabinet, door passages, walls, and fixtures, you will need a trim file for installing the pieces. There are different tools for such areas: tile saw is mainly used when the tile in question is thick and cases whereby there are many tiles. The tile cutter is used when minimal and exact cuts are needed for the tiles. In cases whereby you are installing the tile floor in the bathroom, you will need the tile nippers to make the round or curved cuts on the tiles.
Other times the tile is too thick for the tile nippers to make any cutting. Thus one can use a different but conventional method; simply make the markings along the tile which is to be cut, after that make cuts with the tile saw to relieve the unwanted parts. Then take your tile nippers and snap off the remaining surplus pieces. Do not leave the tile with rough edges, take a file and smoothen the cut area giving it a nice finish. When cutting the tiles, always leave a quarter inch of space between the flooring edges and tiles due to expansion and also for mortar space.
Keep in mind that some ceramic tiles come with an inbuilt spacer and therefore minimizes the workload. Some manufacturers produce large tiles that go up to 12 by 12 inches for larger spaces. During installation of these specified tiles, you will need to add more adhesive to the backside in addition to the adhesive on the underlayment floor. This precaution is for ensuring that the tile is completely fixed to the spaces and is more durable.