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Welcome to DIY Tiling - tips to help you tile better
DIY Tiling Tips
Floor tiling can be done easily on your own instead of relying on a contractor. Here are some handy tips to get your started:
Preparation:
You need to plan up the area that you want to tile. This includes setting it, calculating the surface area as well as indicating where the cutting of the perimeter is located. Normally, the center line of the room is used as the setting out point to ensure that the tiles are laid evenly and squarely in the most conspicuous part of the room where the cutting along edges is. No matter how small the area you want to tile, always start at the center. You would also need to make sure the area that you want to tile on is treated with waterproofing compound. Make sure that there are no bumps as it will cause tiles to crack and powdery surfaces need to be coated using latex-based sealers before being tiled.
Laying the tiles:
Tiles are laid out from the center of the room moving outwards using an industrial strength adhesive. One crucial rule of tiling is to cover only small sections of the floor at a time starting with the four center tiles. When using adhesive, do not push the tiles together as this can cause the excess adhesive to come up-if this happens, wipe the excess immediately before it sets using a damp cloth. Soap and brush can also be used to remove light smears. Always finish one area first before moving on to the next.
Cutting Tiles to Fit:
Tiles that are fitter at the edges of a room are where it normally needs to be cut. To do this, place a tile on top of the last tile before the border and another on top of it, firmly butted against the wall. The inner edge is where you should make the cut. When laying tiles, it needs to be cut both width ways and lengthways.
Tiles should be cut individually so that you take care of any irregularities. Always create a guideline for the pieces that you want to cut especially for odd shapes such as beams or any other fixtures.
Grouting:
The adhesive for the tiling needs at least 24 hours to set before the spaces in between the tiles can be filled with grout. You can get grout in powder form or a ready mixed paste. Using a grout spreader spread the grout evenly. To clean, use a clean flat sponge to wipe away excess and one the grout has set; polish the tiles with a soft cloth. Grout in its readily mixed version is available in several different colors.
If you know the basics of tiling, then probably you can try your first tiling experiment in places where not many people will see. Places such as your store room floor or the garage and even making a DIY walkway with different shapes of tiles will be a perfect way to start tiling and learn from the different processes involved.
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Mapei MapeGrip D2
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BAL Blue Star tile adhesive
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