An effective way of bathroom remodeling is by installation of bathroom tiles. There are a variety of tiles that can be used in the bathroom, including ceramic, porcelain, marble and granite tiles. Amongst these, ceramic tile flooring is preferred for bathroom flooring, as it is easy to clean and thus helps maintain hygiene. Marble tiles are the most expensive ones. Let's find how to install bathroom tiles so that you can remodel your bathroom.
Selecting the Bathroom Tiles
A good choice of color and designs of tiles can help set up the right bathroom design layout. Choosing the appropriate tiles for bathroom flooring is very important. You need to be very careful on all the aspects, like the material of the tiles, the color and size of the tiles. Do not opt for vibrant colored tiles; rather neutral colors for the bathroom flooring should be preferred. The more the thickness of the tile, the better suited are the tiles for bathroom flooring. There are several options available from which you can choose the tiles for your bathroom.
Preparation of the Floor
Make the bathroom walls and floor free from wallpaper, old bathroom flooring, adhesives and nails to make the surface flat. If any repair work is needed, finish it before installing the tiles. Clean the wall and floor thoroughly and let them dry completely. If required, the floor should also be leveled by spreading latex floor leveler all over the floor. Measure the area of your bathroom. This will help you to buy the correct number of tiles and other necessary materials. You should always buy more number of tiles than required, to avoid shortage. In case of shortage, you have to make do with tiles of varying designs, which may not complement well with the bathroom design you have decided. The extra tiles can be utilized for repairing any damaged tile in future.
Laying the Tiles
Once the surface is ready, start placing the tiles on the surface. Start the work from the center of the floor or wall and move towards the outward direction. If you place the tiles in diamond pattern on the floor, it can make your bathroom look bigger. Once the tiles have been placed, check out each and every tile carefully to find any damage to any of the laid tiles. Keep some gap in between two tiles for the spacers. For obtaining a better look, use the bathroom tile designs rotationally or put two different bathroom tile designs or colors alternatively.
Application of Adhesives
Pick up each tile slightly off the floor and add some adhesive on that area. Also apply adhesive on the lower surface of the tiles using a trowel and set them on the floor. Then press them on the ground Wipe off the extra adhesive that may come out of the edges of the tile. Put tile spacers on both the edges of the tile before you move on to the next one. While the laying work is going on, make sure that the height of each tile remains the same. Complete the entire floor first before you move on to the edges of the floor or walls, as the edges may take quite a number of days. After installation, you should not walk on the tiles, at least for one day.
Setting Tiles on the Borders
Next thing you need to do, is to cut the tiles to fill up the gaps at the edges. Tiles should be cut after taking accurate measurements, so that they fit into the gap properly. If required, take the measure of the gap and mark each of the tiles, with pencil before cutting them. Tiles can be cut with the help of a wet saw. Make sure that you even out the sharp edges after cutting each tile. Arrange the pieces of the tiles into the gap in a manner such that the cut edge is placed towards the wall. Then, apply adhesive on these pieces by lifting each section one by one.
Application of Grout
Once the laying task is complete, and the tiles are set with the adhesives, remove the tile spacers. Then mix up the grout as per instructions and apply it with the help of a flexible spreader. Cover one section at a time as you did for the application of the adhesive. Remove any extra grout from the surface of the tiles by wiping them off with a thick cloth. Allow the grout to cure completely and then seal them with silicone grout sealers. Keep the area untouched for at least 48 hours, so that the new tiles firm up well and you can start using it.
We have seen how to install bathroom tiles and it is clear that no special technique or professional help is required for the installation these tiles. Even if you do not have any prior experience, you can undertake this task over any weekend and obtain a perfect layout of your personal choice for your bathroom.
