However, the reality is that it is not that complicated if you can follow the directions properly. Whether it is your kitchen, bathroom, shower or backsplash that needs to be retiled, you can do it easily by following the given instructions.
(prHWY.com) January 18, 2012 - Alaska, AK -- Ceramic tiles are a beautiful addition to any house; not only they are beautiful, but are very durable too. If you have never tried it earlier then installing
ceramic tiles yourself may sound like an impossible job. However, the reality is that it is not that complicated if you can follow the directions properly. Whether it is your kitchen, bathroom, shower or backsplash that needs to be retiled, you can do it easily by following the given instructions. Dedication and determination are the only two pre-requisites to get this job done successfully.
Things you will need: pencil, ceramic tiles & spacers, level, tile adhesive, tile cutter, caulk, grout, notched trowel, sponge, rubber float.
Instructions
* Removing Obstacles
Remove all obstacles including light fixtures, switch plates etc, from the wall(s) you would be tiling. Unplug all the electrical items and also turnoff all electrical outlets.
* A smooth wall
Check for any holes that the wall might have; if they do exist, you should patch them all. Sand the area in order to make it smooth and don't forget to clean up everything after sanding.
* Mark lines on the wall
Before you start to install the tiles, you would need to locate the wall's center and dry fit the tiles to check if the pattern is ending in the same way on all edges. You may want to use a hard pencil or an appropriate marker to mark horizontal and vertical lines where necessary. You should ensure that the size of the tile is regular as they come near each end point.
* Apply the adhesive
Using a notched trowel, the tile adhesive should be applied to the wall; you should start from the wall's middle point. Start setting the tiles one by one into the adhesive; do not forget to place the spacers between two tiles as you go. Twist each tile a little when you place it on adhesive in order to ensure a fine bond of the tile with adhesive. You may have to cut the tiles to make them fit on the ends. If the ends are too sharp after cutting them, you will have to use sandpaper for smoothing out those edges.
* Let it dry.
Leave the tiles overnight so that they can set themselves in the adhesive nicely.
* Mix the grout.
Once the tiles have set, you may take away the tile spacers and then mix the grout as per the directions given by the manufacturer.
* Apply the grout.
After that you have mixed the grout, you can use the rubber float for applying it at an angle of 45 degrees. Use a wet sponge to wipe off any excess grout.
* Wipe clean as required.
After an hour or two, check for the grout haze and wipe the tiles clean as required.
* Seal edges using caulk.
Use caulk to seal the edges as the last step of installing the
ceramic tiles. Make sure that you are using a mold resistant caulk, in case you have installed tiles in a place where they would get wet frequently.
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