How To
Lay Bathroom Tile
Putting a new finish on an old bathroom is not as hard as it
may seem. Putting in ceramic or porcelain tile is a great
facelift for a tired and heavily used bathroom. When
considering this as a personal home improvement project
remember a few tips to help the job go smoothly.
Prepare all surfaces well: Remove all old material whether
it is from floors or walls and make sure the underlying wood is
smooth, clean and dry. If any areas need repairs or will not
smooth out replace the wood or backer board before beginning
your tile project.
Choose Wisely: Choose colors that complement existing color
patterns in the room. If you are completely tearing down and
can choose colors completely based on your desire and
personality keep the size of the room in mind. Small rooms do
better with small tiles that are light colored where large
rooms can handle the bigger twelve inch tiles and darker colors
better.
Start in the center: Face the fact that you will have to cut
tiles at the edges where walls meet each other or the floor.
Starting your tiling in the center of the floor or wall will
give the room a more pleasing appearance when it is
finished.
Don't Skimp: Remove all baseboards, fixtures including the
toilet and cabinets, and mirrors and tile the walls or floors
completely. Going 'around' these items will give your finished
product a cheap, hastily done look.
Avoid Small Cuts: Even though you will have to cut edge
tiles try to make them half tile size or greater cuts. Smaller
tiles look skimpy and sloppy. You can do this by laying out
your tile prior to setting to get an idea of how close you will
be to the wall or joint with your last full tile. If the space
is smaller than a half tile space your tiles just a little
wider to compensate and get a better fit at the edges.
With just these few simple tips you will be on your way to a
beautifully finished new bathroom that sparkles and a great
deal of pride from doing it yourself.
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