Installing Ceramic Floor Tile
(HIT) - Installing ceramic floor tile is a popular way to upgrade the style and value of a home. Ceramic floor tile installation is a project well within the capabilities of most do-it-yourself homeowners, and a small floor tile installation project doesn’t necessarily require the purchase of expensive tools or equipment.
The basic materials needed to complete a ceramic floor tile installation project include ceramic floor tiles, tile spacers, thin-set adhesive, grout, and tile sealer. The tools you’ll need for installing ceramic floor tile include:
- A notched trowel – read the instructions printed on thin-set adhesive packaging to see what notch size is recommended for that particular adhesive. A notched trowel allows you to apply adhesive consistently across the subfloor surface, and the size of the notches in a trowel determine how thick the adhesive film will be.
- A tile cutter – A tile cutter is often needed to trim floor tiles along the edges of a room. Manual models are relatively inexpensive and are usually adequate for a small ceramic floor tile installation project.
- A pair of tile nippers – Tile nippers are used to trim tile to fit around an irregular obstacle, like a tub base.
- A small squeegee – Squeegees are used to force grout between floor tiles.
- A level – A level may come in handy if you’re planning to use a self-leveling concrete topper on an uneven floor surface.
- A tape measure – You’ll need a tape measure long enough to accurately measure floor dimensions.
- A chalk line – A chalk line is used to "snap" guidelines onto the floor before installing tile.
- A straight edge or square – A straight edge is needed prior to tile installation to help determine the condition of an existing subfloor and to check your work when installing backer board. A carpenter’s square is needed to lay accurate chalk lines before laying tile, and for checking accuracy as tile is layed.
- A putty knife – A putty knife is useful for extracting adhesives and grouts from containers and a myriad of other tasks.
- A sponge and a few rags – for cleanup.
Getting Started
Before you go shopping for tools and supplies, examine the existing floor surface to determine whether or not it’s suitable for tile installation. In general, you need a clean, solid, sound and level surface for proper ceramic tile installation. Most projects will benefit from installation of a cement-based "backer" board.
Tile Installation Over Concrete
In general, concrete meets all of the criteria for ceramic tile installation. However, if you’re planning to install tile directly over concrete, look for cracks and other deformities in the surface that may affect your tile installation. Small "projections" in a concrete surface can be ground or chiseled away, but a rough surface is not suitable for direct application of tile. Cracks in a concrete surface will likely "project" through the tile surface over time, resulting in cracked tiles or grout separation between tiles. Raw (unsealed) concrete is also highly absorbent. Oils and other contaminants in concrete floors can adversely affect the adhesion of ceramic tile.
If any of the deficiencies described above are present, you’ll probably need to resurface the concrete or install a backing board product. Which method is best for your project? Take a straight edge (at least 3 feet long) and sweep it across the entire floor at different angles. If you find the floor to be generally level—but with very small craters or high spots—either product will work fine. The thin-set mortar used to install backer board will fill in the low spots and even out the high ones. If you see longer gaps appearing under the straight edge, you’re probably better off using a liquid, self-leveling cement-based concrete topper to correct the problem.
Installing Tile Over A Wood Subfloor
A well-supported, exterior grade plywood subfloor is generally suitable for ceramic tile installation. In wet environments like bathrooms, however, a cement based backer board is still recommended. Particle boards, interior grade plywoods and cushioned vinyl flooring products are not acceptable for ceramic tile installation.
If you’re subfloor has any "give" when you walk on it, ceramic tile is probably not your best flooring option. However, if your heart is set on tile, various options are available for reinforcing the subfloor and supporting structures beneath. Call a contractor or visit your local home improvement center for guidance.
Installing Tile Over Other Flooring Products
As mentioned earlier, cushioned vinyl flooring products are not suitable as a surface for installation of ceramic tile. However, hard surfaced flooring products made of vinyl and other materials should not pose a problem. Describe your situation to the flooring experts at local home improvement centers for advice on which adhesives are recommended. Never attempt to remove an existing floor product without expert assistance. Asbestos and other potentially hazardous materials may have been used to manufacture the old flooring material, and removing it may expose you and your family to those hazardous materials.
Measure Twice
Carefully measure the area where you’ll be installing ceramic tile. If you’re installing ceramic tile in an unfinished room addition, take your measurements right at each wall. If you’re installing ceramic tile as part of a remodeling or redecorating project, you’ll need to decide whether you’re going to keep existing baseboards—or replace them with new ones after you’ve installed the new tile. If you’re going to install new baseboards—or remove and reinstall the existing ones, take your measurement from the wall. You’ll install the baseboards over the tile. If you decide to keep existing baseboards in place, remove the shoe molding and measure against the baseboard surface.
Take your measurements to a floor products distributor or home center and choose a tile design. Bring along a calculator, pen and paper so you can calculate how much material you’ll need for your tile installation project. Allow for some breakage, and follow recommended tile spacing guidelines when determining how many tiles you’ll need to complete the job.
Prepare The Subfloor
Begin by thoroughly cleaning and drying the area to be tiled. If you’re installing a backer board or self-leveling cement topper, read and follow the installation instructions that came with each product. Allow the recommended curing time before proceeding with tile installation.
Once your subfloor is ready, divide the area into quadrants (mark the center of the room in several locations along each axis) with a chalk line, then test your tile design. Lay ceramic floor tiles on the floor, beginning in the center of the room, and cover one quadrant at a time. Use the spacers you purchased and carefully press each tile against the spacers to ensure that your "dry" run accurately reflects final tile positions.
When you reach the wall edge of each quadrant, you’ll likely find that some of the tiles need trimmed for a proper fit. Carefully measure the available space for each edge tile by marking a piece of stiff paper or chipboard. Transfer the marks on your template to the appropriate edges of a floor tile. Subtract 1/4" from your marks to allow for expansion, and draw a cut line. Then hold each edge tile near it’s position in your floor layout to make sure you’re cutting off the right edge! Once you’re satisfied with the cut line, draw an "X" on the scrap side of the tile, and number the "good" portion so you’ll know where it goes when you begin installing floor tiles.
Trimming Floor Tiles To Fit
Inexpensive tile cutters are available at most home improvement centers, and most are perfectly suited for a small do-it-yourself tile project. Some home improvement centers will even cut the tile for you … provided that you buy your tile from them. Ask about this service while shopping for tile.
If you decide to cut the tile yourself, wear safety glasses and follow all recommended safety precautions. Practice on an extra tile or two before attempting a "live" cut one of your measured and marked tile pieces. To cut irregular pieces, use tile nippers. This tool takes a little practice for best results, so once again it’s best to practice with on spare tile pieces before attempting to trim a carefully marked and measure "live" piece of tile.
Laying Ceramic Floor Tiles
Remove floor tiles from each quadrant of your dry run and stack them carefully in groups with the edge tiles that have been trimmed. Sweep the subfloor again to remove loose dirt from the floor surface, then spread tile adhesive with your notched trowel over a portion of the quadrant furthest from the entryway to the room. Cover only the recommended area at one time so the tile adhesive doesn't dry before tiles are set.
Use a gentle "twisting" motion to position each tile, then press it firmly into place. Place spacers at the edge of each tile as you go, standing them on end for easy removal. Once you’ve layed a few tiles, double check your accuracy with a straight edge and square. The first few tiles you lay are critical.
When you finish installing tile in the first quadrant of your room, move to the next furthest quadrant from the room’s entry, and continue until all floor tiles have been installed. When you’re done, let the tile stand for 24 hours to allow the adhesive to set. Then remove spacers and clean away any debris.
Installing Grout Between Floor Tiles
Using a small squeegee, apply grout diagonally across the tiles. Press firmly and repeat the diagonal sweeps two or three times in different directions. When the grout becomes firm, carefully wipe away the excess grout from the surface of each tile with a wet sponge. Repeat if necessary until all that remains is a slight "haze" of grout on each tile surface.
Wait until the grout begins to set, then polish each tile with a dry cloth to remove the grout haze. Allow grout to "cure" up to seven days. Then wash the surface, polish again, and add sealer if one is recommended for the tile you’ve selected.
There are many "how-to" references available for the do-it-yourself floor tile installer. Along with several books, The Home Depot, for example, offers a do-it-yourself tiling video, and free in-store classes are available at many locations. Tile dealers are often a good source for technical advice.
Create Your Own Style With Ceramic Tile
Ceramic floor tile is available in styles to fit any home decor—whether contemporary or traditional, sophisticated or formal, classical or country. When choosing ceramic floor tile, ask yourself if you’ll be happy with your choice in ten years time. Trendy colors and patterns may loose appeal over time, while earthy tones and neutrals tend to weather the test of time.
Colors, textures and patterns all play an important role when selecting floor tile. Your home should reflect your personal sense of fashion and decorating style and ceramic tile can help you express your style every step of the way!
To create a classic look that you'll likely be happy with many years from now, start with the basics—consider a 4-1/4" x 4-1/4", 6" x 6" or 6" x 8" solid field tile. Choose a texture and pattern that fits your home and suits your personal taste.
Accent strips or decorated accent tiles can be used for added flare, but contrasting accent tiles or colorful border tiles may add complexity to your floor tile installation project, and it’s not as easy as it looks to choose them wisely. If you decide to go this route, pick up a few home decorating magazines for design ideas, or take advantage of the professional displays available at local home improvement centers and floor products stores.
Most of the designs you see at these stores are assembled from the products of a single manufacturer. That’s usually a good idea, because your accent tiles need to match your field tiles in thickness, and should have a similar or complementary texture.
Tile manufacturer’s websites are another great resource for floor tile design ideas. American Olean Tile, for example, shows a wide range of beautifully decorated accent strips and decorated accent tiles on the company’s website. They also offer a wide range of product information and design idea literature that may help you make a confident purchase decision.
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center
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