Tile Installation
After choosing from the wide variety of floor tiles available, your next mission is doing the tile installation. While this process does not necessarily require experience, it is important to follow some general guidelines to achieve the results that you want. You have to be familiar with the basics of installing tiles over various types of surfaces, in order to produce the best results possible. You must be aware that you have to follow special guidelines in varying types of surfaces. Therefore the first thing you should do is to become familiar with the different surface types and then learn how to effectively install the tiles.
Wood Surfaces
Although you can install tiles over certain wood surfaces, this is not always the case with all kinds of wood surfaces. For example, in tile laying, it is highly recommended that you avoid installing it over plywood. The reason is that plywood tends to experience several unwanted results after it has been exposed to moisture.
On the other hand, when conducting tile installation you could install two layers of thick, exterior-quality plywood. Make sure to install it over floor joists with a maximum spacing of 16" on the center. You should also consider including a waterproofing membrane over the surface of plywood.
Concrete Slabs
When tile installing directly onto concrete slabs, it is vital that you must first clean the concrete substrates. Use clean water to mop the cement slab, and then wait for it to dry thoroughly. Before engaging in tile installation you could use an acid-based solution to make smooth concrete rougher.
Linoleum or Vinyl
You should avoid installing tiles over these types of surfaces whenever you can. However, if you must deal with these particular types of materials, then use care. For instance, if you believe that your linoleum or vinyl flooring contains asbestos, then you ought to have experts test it before removing them.
Could you still conduct tile installation over vinyl and linoleum? It is possible, but you should proceed with caution. Assuming that the flooring contains no asbestos, you should sand or scarify the surface, allowing materials such as thin set mortar to bond to it.
Tile Backer Boards
When engaging in tile installation, such as placing ceramic tiles over bathroom tiles, make sure to follow certain procedures. Be certain to secure the backer boards using 1-1/4" roofing nails that are resistant to corrosion. Keep in mind that backer boards for ceramic tiles could increase your new floor's height. Thus, you may require transition strips or height-lowering thresholds where the tiles meet the surface. Additionally, you may also need to trim the doors. Finally, you ought to apply a waterproofing membrane when installing ceramic tiles over backer board surfaces located in damp areas. This includes bathtub and shower wall facings.
Installing tiles do not seem to be an arduous task but you also have to consider the type of surface you will be working in order to successfully accomplish your tile installation task.