Ceramic Tile
How to Install Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tiles are greatly loved by homeowners for their aesthetics and also their durability. Installing ceramic tiles on any surface not only transforms what was previously a nondescript wall or floor but is also guaranteed to last as long as the rest of the building. Getting the ceramic tile wall or floor of your dreams is also easy as there is huge array of colors to choose from. While getting tile installation done by professionals is expensive, this is a job that most DIY homeowners can carry out on their own.
1. Prepare the surface
Perhaps the most critical step to the successful installation of ceramic tiles is the preparation of the surface to be worked on. If you plan to install ceramic tile on a floor, you have to make sure that the floor is completely solid. You should start by removing your previous floor and then scrubbing the floor thoroughly. Where the floor has potholes and cracks, these should be filled out to make your surface level.
2. Decide on the layout
To effectively lay out ceramic tiles, you need to confirm the measurements of the floor you are working on. Confirm this by measuring the opposite walls of the room as well as the diagonals – if the two are equal, it means that you have a square floor. To lay the tile, mix mortar in a bucket and then spread it on the area where you intend to lay your first tile. Proceed then to place the tile and then press it into place.
3. Repeat step 2 for subsequent tiles all the time staying alert to confirm that the tiles you are placing are properly aligned. As a precaution to help you successfully install ceramic tile, you must never step on the tile you have just placed until 24 hours have elapsed. You should therefore not lay the first tiles on the doorway as you’ll inevitably have to step on them after the job
4. Cut border tiles
With the tiles in place, use a scoring cutter to cut the border tiles along the walls. Cutting border tiles might present a bit of a challenge as you might need to cut tiles into different shapes and one piece of equipment you’ll find useful is a handheld grinder. Once cut, attach the border tiles to the floor using a recommended adhesive.
5. Apply and seal grout
To complete the installation of your ceramic tiles, clean the joints of the tiles and then fill them up with grout. The act of grout filling will leave plenty of grout on the tiles and you should have some water and sponge ready to wipe the overflowing grout off. Allow time for the grout to harden enough and then seal it using a foam brush.
Source: http://cleanproguttercleaning.com/gutter-cleaning-st-louis/
