All About Tile Repair and Tile Installation

Choosing The Right Floor Tile

Choosing the right floor tile will make a big difference when you are repairing floor tile or installing floor tile. My favorite is porcelain floor tiles because it has durability, different sizes, different colors, and different texture. Some porcelain tiles have a marble look to it, some have a smooth surface and other tiles have a rough, non-slip finish. Porcelain tiles can be difficult to cut, I would recommend using a wet saw.

Ceramic floor tiles are good tiles for installing on the floor. Ceramic tiles also some in different sizes, colors and texture. Ceramic tiles can have a high glazed finish which will make it easy to clean but can be slippery when wet. Ceramic tiles are easier to install because they are lighter and cut easier on a wet saw or manual tile cutter.

Granite floor tiles are the most durable of all floor tiles. Granite tiles are usually 1/4 inch thick and heavier than most floor tiles. Granite is installed by butting each tile together leaving as little space (no space) as possible. Granite tile can be difficult to install. The surface must be level and you should use thin-set mortar made especially for install granite tiles. If you install granite tiles in the bathroom, I would recommend that you use a sealer on the granite tiles before you grout your granite tiles, always using a non-sanded grout for granite tiles. Granite tiles can be very pricey.

Marble tiles are less durable than granite tiles but the finish product after installation will be a beautiful glass-like finish that you can’t help but notice. Yes marble tile is perhaps the most beautiful of all tiles when installed properly. Like granite, marble tiles should have a sealer applied before you grout the tiles using a non-sanded grout. Marble tiles should be butted together leaving as little space (no space) as possible. Also you should use the thin-set mortar made especially for marble tiles. Like granite tiles, marble can be very pricey.

Preparing The Floor For Tile Installation

First step is to staple tar paper to cover the wooden floor.	Second step is to install the metal mesh with roofing nails to secure it to the floor.	Third step is to dump the cement, spread and level the cement to a smooth finish.

I am not a fan for installing tiles onto plywood floor or any wooden floors. It just doesn’t work and in time you always have a problem. Your floor tiles can crack or break as well as your grout cracking and removing from between the tiles. So preparing your floor is the key for successful tile installation.  If the floor is not level and has a difference of 2 or more inches, it may be necessary for a mud job.

I like to use a cement board when installing floor tiles. But the foundation that is on the floor should be level. If it isn’t level, you should remove the plywood laying on the house beams and level the beams and re-installing the plywood. You want your foundation as level as possible!

Now you can install the cement boards and secure the boards using the special screws that are made especially for floor installation. Never use sheet rock screws, the heads will break in time which will cause your tiles to crack or break and the same goes with the grout. When done, you will have a good surface that is level for installing any floor tiles.

Installing Floor Tiles

After your sub floor is prepared, you are ready to install floor tiles.  For a 12″ x 12″ porcelain tiles, I used a 1/4 inch spreader for spreading thin-set mortar onto the floor.  Now spread some thin-set mortar onto the back of the floor tile so it will grip and hold better on the floor.  Install the tile onto the thin-set mortar and work the floor tile into the thin-set mortar.  For a 12″ x 12″ floor tile, I used a 3/8 inch spacer to separate one floor tile from the other.

Thin-set mortar is spread onto the floor using a 1/4 inch spreader.	Thin-set mortar is spread on the back of the porcelain floor tile before installation.	Floor tiles are installed and are ready to be grouted, cleaned and polished.

You continue installing the floor tiles until the job is completed.  Of course some of the floor tiles will have to be cut with a wet saw cutter or a manual tile cutter.  After the floor tiles are installed over night, you can grout the floor tiles the very next day.  Remove the plastic spacer between the floor tiles before you grout.  Sponge off the excess grout from the floor tile and dry with a towel.  Wipe off the haze from the floor tiles by using clean water and sponge and drying the floor tiles with a towel or paper towel.

Repair Broken or Cracked Bathroom Tiles

Broken or cracked bathroom tiles that are set over drywall are difficult to replace because the drywall is usually damaged and is in need of repair. You will have to remove the damage drywall from one stud to another (between studs) so you can install new backer board from one stud to the other stud. I like to use cement board because it protect much better against water leakage and highly resistant in mold build up.

TIP: For cracked or broken tiles set into cement (before 1960) it would be better to have a professional tile man repair the area. You may call me at 917 865-8693, if you run into trouble or need addition help with tile repair.

Before you replace anything, check to see if mold exist. Mold can bleed through you newly installed backer board and grout. Use some bleach to kill the mold that can be located on the wooden studs and surrounding area.

If a single tile has been cracked or chipped, you can usually repair it. To replace the damaged tile, dig out the grout around the tile with a special tool called a grout saw or a utility knife. Shatter the broken tile into small pieces by hitting it with a hammer and a masonry chisel. Wear safety glasses, pieces may go flying. Pry out the pieces and scrape off the grout and adhesive with a scraper or putty knife. If drywall is under the tile, be careful not to dig into it. Clean out all the debris and get the surface as clean as possible.

Dry fit the new tile to be installed. What it doesn’t fit? Very often the new tile will not fit easily even if it is the same tile that was originally installed. If you file down all four sides of the tile, it will fit. You can use a tile setter’s stone or even the cement on your side walk to file-down each side. Install the new tile by applying tile glue. You could buy a small bucket of glue for repair jobs. Place glue in back of tile and install into the area. If tile stick out too much, remove tile and take some glue off and try again. If tile is sunk in too much, remove it and add glue and try again.

When you’re finished, add grout and wait about 4 hours to dry. If the replaced tile is located in the shower or tub area, wait 24 hours before you shower or bathe.

You Can Learn TO Become A Tile Setter If You Are Handy And Have The Ambition

If you have the ambition, the drive and ability to become a Tile Man, we can provide the knowledge to learn at your own pace. Like anything else, if you have the knowledge, you can do-it-yourself. You will learn how to tile floor and walls and which tile to use. You will learn the proper procedures how to install tiles in this video titled, Tiles Made Easy . Just click on this “Tiles Made Easy” for a step by step procedure of what is involved to repair tiles, install tiles, which tools that are needed and the materials needed on hand for each type of job you are performing.  Once you have the knowledge, the rest is easy and good old fashion work!

You Can Install Marble Tiles on Walls And Floor If You Have The Knowledge And The Drive To Do It

I know it sound difficult but you can convert any area that you want to install tiles into a work of art and beauty. Imagine you looking at your wall or floor and its look like a sheet of glass. Marble is so in right now but expensive to install because of the cost of the marble and labor. But if you eliminate one of these cost (Labor being more expensive than materials) you will save money and earn a sense of accomplishment, pride and satisfaction. But you can screw it up unless you know what your doing. So if your ready and willing to try, all you need now is the knowledge of installing Beautiful Marble Tiles.

Are You Looking To Change Your Bathtub Color Or Make It Look New Again?

Tired of looking at that old discolored bathtub? Are you in a business where you can profit if you knew how to make old bathtubs look new? Well this is for you. if you are a customer looking to resurface your bathtub or your in a business that you can provide this service, this video is for you. You can spend a lot of money having someone Refinish Your Bathtub . Now you can do it yourself and save yourself some mega bucks! If you are a contractor, you can now offer your customer this new service. This is a big money making profit for your business.

Do you wish you were handy to make repairs in your home?

Yes you can learn how to make those repairs in your home that will save you thousands of dollars in labor cost.  All you need is the guidance to learn the know-how of doing things.  Lets face it, if you try to learn by trial and error, it will cost you big time in the end anyway to re-do everything.  What this e-book offers you is the knowledge of how to start a Do-It-Yourself HANDYMAN project which is going to save you big money each and every time you work on a project.  With the knowledge you will learn, you can go into business and perform side jobs that will pay you money.  So you see, this is an investment that will pay for itself in time while expanding your knowledge of repairing and fixing your home problems.  I hope you will take advantage of this exciting and knowledgeable e-book so you can stop second guessing yourself once and for all.