SUPPLIES
- Sandpaper
- Spackling paste
- X-acto knife
- Ruler
- T-square
- Pencil
- Paper
- Scissors
- Cement tile adhesive
- Stirring dowel
- Putty knife
- Trowel
- Tile grout
- Water
- Rag
- Masking tape
Overview
Most bathrooms have tiles on the floor, and often on the walls and countertops too, for one main reason: tile is fairly waterproof. Your most important tasks when installing tile in your bathroom is keeping it that way. That means making sure there is no chance for water to seep either behind or under the tile and keeping the grout neat and tight so water can't get between individual tiles. Accomplish this and the rest of the task is simple.
Instructions
Step 1
Level the surface you're going to tile before you get started. If there are holes or areas where the surface dips, fill them with spackling paste, let it dry and sand them so they're flat. If there are bumps, sand them down. If they won't come off with just sandpaper, trim them with the X-acto knife and then sand.
Step 2
Measure the exact height and width of one tile and use that measurement to draw a grid on the area where you are going to lay the tile. Use a t-square to help you keep your lines straight and at 90 degree angles at the corners. When you run into areas where a whole tile won't fit, such as up against the base of the toilet, create a paper template that you can use to cut a tile to the proper size.
Step 3
Mix your cement tile adhesive in its container by following the instructions on the label. (Every adhesive is different, requiring varied amounts of water.) Stir the adhesive until it has the consistency of pudding. Then dip your trowel in the bowl and pull out approximately two tsp. of adhesive to start.
Step 4
Spread the adhesive on 12-inch square piece of the area you are tiling, beginning in a back corner. You want a layer of adhesive that is between 1 and 2 cm. Keep it as uniform as you can. Press the tiles into the adhesive according to the lines you drew in Step 2. Try to keep them spaced evenly, but don't worry about slight variations.
Step 5
Repeat Step 4 as many times as necessary to finish laying all of the tile. When you need to cut a tile, tape the template you made in step two to the top of it and cut it with the X-acto knife. Don't try to break it; slice it all the way through.
Step 6
Mix water into your tile grout until it resembles pudding. Fill the cracks between the tile using your putty knife. Wipe any grout off the tiles with a wet rag before it dries.
Step 7
Check to make sure all the cracks between tiles are entirely filled with grout. As mentioned before, this is the only way to keep water away from the wall. Add more grout as needed. Then wait one hour. Sand any grout that juts out from between the tiles, creating an uneven surface. Wipe the dust off the tile with a damp rag.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : If you're installing vinyl tile, all you have to do is peel and stick. You don't need any grout and the tile already has adhesive on it.
Resources
