Any suggestions/tips on installing ceramic tiling??
Answers:
My first experience with installing tile taught me three things.
Be patient.
More is not better.
Clean up the excess thin set as you lay the tile.
Patience is necessary to insure that you get equal spacing between each tile. You can purchase spacers that will fit between the tiles as you lay them, I had mixed success with them. You might consider a piece of fiberglass or oak board board that is the correct thickness to set your spacing.
Do not lay too much thin set concrete on the floor. More is not better, and it's important that you clean up any excess as you lay the tile. This is particularly important in between the tiles. Once the thinset gets hard, you will not be able to get it off. It is much hard than the grout you will use later.
Generally tile is layed down, starting in the middle of the room, and moving outward. This means that you will likely have to cut tiles at the walls to get the correct width for the last row of tiles at each wall. If possible however, you may consider starting with a whole tile at one side and moving toward the opposite wall. This will work well if you have something at the finishing end that will hide or diminish the last row of tiles. Then you don't have to hassle with scoring and breaking each individual tile.
The size of each tile can make a difference in how much difficulty you have in cutting tile. A typical 4 to 6 inch tile is generally easier to cut. Large tiles 12 inch and larger are much more difficult to cut.
And don't even think about trying to make a curved cut. It takes a pro to do that.
Once your tile is cemented and set to the floor you will then have to add the grout between the tile. At this point it is too late to clean cement from in between the tile. Remember rule number three.
Depending upon the spacing between tiles, the addition of grout can be more or less tedious. Generally do small sections at a time, because you will have to clean the excess off the face of the tile. Be sure to have lots and lots of cotton rags and paper towels available. You will need a large bucket with clean water for rinsing the rags.
Since this is your first attempt I would suggest you practice in an area not readily visible, maybe under the stove or refrigerator, or pantry. Do everything, including the grout and cleanup. Practice scoring and cutting tiles. You don't want to spend time learning while the cement is drying.
And finally, remember that people who do this for a living charge a lot for a reason. You won't finish yours in a day or even a weekend. But practice and patience will pay off.
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