Tile

How to Install Ceramic or Porcelain Tile Flooring

Learning how to install ceramic or porcelain tile flooring can save you a lot of money if you decide to remodel your home yourself, and the results can be as good as if a professional installed it. However, it’s a project that requires a certain amount of preparation, some tools and time to get everything perfect. The complexity of the project will depend on how you want to lay the tiles (traditionally or diagonally across the room) and whether you need to cut out holes to accommodate radiator pipes, or other integrated furniture.

Things You’ll Need

Besides a generous assortment of tiles (always buy some spare in case some get broken or damaged while cutting them) you will also need:

Tile adhesive
A notched trowel
A tile scored and a diamond hole saw
Grout (and optionally, grout sealer)
A rubber float
A tape measure
A level
Chalk and pencil, or other washable media to mark the floor and tiles
In order to clean the tiles afterwards you will need a bucket of warm water and a sponge.

Preparing the Floor To Lay Ceramic Tiles

You can lay ceramic tiles on concrete or over timber deck. In order to lay ceramic tiles on concrete, you will need to make sure the floor is perfectly even, clean and dry. If the floor is uneven, you will need to apply a self-levelling compound to fill in gaps and holes, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you leave it to dry for as long as required, which is usually overnight. Use a coarse sandpaper block to smooth any remaining ridges.

If you are laying porcelain tiles over timber floorboards you will need to first fix a layer of plywood to the floor of at least 12mm thickness. You can just screw it down to the timber before you lay your tiles.

If any doors to the room open inwards you will need to remove them and may need to adjust their height as tiling will change the height of the floor, and the door may not fit anymore.

Do A Practice Tiling Run

If you want your new floor to look as professional as possible, you will need to carefully plan the layout so the rows are straight and evening spaced. Start at the room’s door, as that first row of tiles is the most visible. To get your new ceramic tiles to align perfectly, draw a perpendicular line to the doorstep using chalk, and starting laying your tiles (without adhesive!) following that line to the other side of the room. A spacer can be used to ensure the tiles are evenly spaced.

When you reach the other side of the room, you will find yourself with space for less than a whole tile. Draw a chalk line perpendicular to the tiles and check that the space between the chalk line and the wall is the same at both ends of the room. If that’s not the case, your room is not perfectly square, and you should adjust the line so the ending tiles on both ends of the room are of the same size.

Place all the tiles without gluing them, and check that you are happy with the pattern.

Laying Ceramic Tiles

You can start laying the ceramic tiles on the floor at the point where the two chalk lines intercept. Using a notched spreader apply adhesive to a square area of the floor of about 3×3 tiles wide (though as you get quicker at laying tiles you may want to increase this to 4×4 tiles). Fix the tiles to the adhesive, using spacers to make sure the space between tiles is the same.

With a spirit level check that the tiles are level (check each row across and diagonally). You can lower tiles that are too high placing a bit of wood and hammering softly on it, but tiles than are lower than the others will need to be removed, and reinstalled with extra adhesive.

Leave the adhesive to set and do not step on the tiles. You will need about 24 hours for the tile adhesive to cure enough for grouting.

Preparing Tiles For The Border

You will most likely need to cut some tiles to size so they fit snuggly against the walls. You can measure tiles exactly by laying them upside down over your last full tile row, and marking them. Then you can cut them with a tile cutter or saw.’

Grouting

Mix the grout following the pack instructions. Depending on the effect you are after, you can choose a grout mixture that dries on a contrasting colour to your tiles, or one that blends with them. This process is very similar to installing vinyl floor grout.

Using a rubber-edged squeegee held at 45-degree angle fill the spaces between tiles with the grout, after removing the spacers. You can use a damp sponge to remove any stray grout that falls on the surface of a tile, but be really careful not to remove the grout you just applied in between the tiles!

Once the grout has cured you can use warm soapy water to clean up the floor, just make sure to use products suitable for the type of grout and ceramic tile you installed. Some people prefer to use a grout sealer at this point to make sure bacteria and dirt can’t enter the porous grout. If you are installing ceramic tiles on kitchen or bathroom surfaces this step is advisable for hygiene reasons.

Tips For Laying Ceramic Tiles On Uneven Surfaces

How to Remove Floor Tiles

Filed Under: DIY Installation

Before you can install your new flooring, you need to get rid of the old one. Learning how to remove floor tiles quickly and efficiently will save you lots of time and money, even if you choose to have the floor installed by somebody else. Depending on the type of tile, this process can take from a few hours of light work to over a day of hard work, lots of noise and dust if you need to remove ceramic tiles attached to concrete.

Removing Vinyl Floor Tile

If you are removing a vinyl floor, whether it is made of self adhesive vinyl floor tiles or vinyl planks, the job is usually relatively easy. In many cases, you can use a utility knife to cut the tiles into strips, and cut the adhesive below to separate the vinyl sheet from the floor. However, this won’t get rid of the adhesive glue and if you want to install a new type of flooring on top of it you’ll need to clean it up scrapping, or using chemical solvents to remove old vinyl.

Removing Vinyl Adhesive Video

Removing Ceramic Floor Tile

Depending on the base to which the tiles are glued, the process will be more or less difficult, but keep in mind that invariably you will produce lots of noise, dust and flying particles, so make sure you wear the right protective gear and warn your neighbours before they call the police to complain.

Recommended Protective Gear

Don’t leave anything to chance and protect yourself from damage when removing porcelain or ceramic floor tiles.

Leather gloves, thick long pants and a thick long-sleeve shirt that will protect your body from flying bits of porcelain (which are very similar to glass and can cause deep cuts).
Wraparound safety googles
Ear protection if you are using power tools (and you should).

Ceramic Tiles On Concrete Slab

This is the most difficult type of floor tiles to remove, as the tiles need to be broken in order to remove them from the concrete slab. You can do that with a small sledgehammer, or rent a power scrapper or chipping hammer to pulverise the tiles in a fraction of the time.

To remove ceramic tiles on concrete slab start with breaking up the tile using one of the above tools. Then loosen any remaining tile fragments with a hand-held scrapper on a long pole or with a putty knife, using a hammer to hit the handle. The result will be sharp shards of tile everywhere (particularly with porcelain, which reacts pretty much like glass when struck), which you will need to either sweep using a broom or vacuum.

Watch This Video To See How To Remove Ceramic Floor Tiles

Ceramic Tiles On Cement Board

If the ceramic flooring you are trying to remove is attached to a cement board, the best and quickest option is to remove both at the same time. To do so, you will need to start removing the flooring at the place where it ends and a different type of flooring (carpet, wood) starts, and you will be able to use a spade to separate the cement from the wood substrate by lifting it.

Start by using the hammer to pulverise the tiles on an area that is as wide as your shovel and a few inches into the vinyl floor. You can try to use a putty knife and a hammer to chip out the grout, and prying up the tile by wedging the knife under it. Once the tile and tile fragments are removed, you will need a hammer to pulverise the cement board.

Once you have enough room to push the spade under the board, you can use a pry bar or a flat spade to pry up the cement board. If the board was installed with screws, you may need to remove them separately.

Luxury Vinyl Tile VS Ceramic Tiles

Filed Under: Buying

Ceramic tiles have always been a popular choice for household flooring, particularly in warmer climates and rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom. However, new materials such as luxury vinyl tile offer many advantages over ceramic and are easily accessible at any home improvement store or over the internet. They are also easier to install as a DIY project than tiles, as they come in self-adhesive formats that don’t require thin-set or grout which may be difficult to handle for those new to DIY home improvement.

Open Studios Day 5 - Classic Vinyl Flooring — Open Studios Day 5 – Classic Vinyl Flooring (Photo credit: Jacob Whittaker)

There are many other benefits to luxury vinyl tile besides the ease of installation. For example, did you know that this material is soft and warm under your feet, naturally? This makes it perfect for a bathroom or other areas where you will be walking barefoot. It can also be installed with or without grout, in case the idea of cleaning grout regularly doesn’t appeal to you. If you install vinyl tiles with grout most people will confuse them with high quality porcelain, just softer and warmer and less likely to cause people to slip.

Cleaning luxury vinyl tile is also a breeze. This kind of flooring material comes with stain resistant finishings, and fade or wear through warranties that make them a great investment. If you buy an extra pack of luxury tiles when you install the floor you can also use them to replace any tile that chips or cracks. With ceramic tile, if a chip or crack occurs you are stuck with it, and if it happens in a very visible part of the room you may end up having to replace the entire floor which isn’t cheap or convenient. Vinyl is also resistant to water and humidity, so you won’t need to fear accidental spills like you would do if you had installed wood or natural stone tiles.

Luxury vinyl tiles are very versatile. They come in a variety of styles and colours, from 70s psychedelic patterns to more traditional wood and stone imitation. They can be installed with or without grout, though if you choose to install them without the space between the tiles may accumulate dirt, so you will need to be extra careful about keeping it clean. This effect is particularly visible on light coloured vinyl tiles. You can also choose to install a combination of different colours to create a unique pattern on your floor. And if you want, you can combine vinyl luxury planks with tiles to create a wood and tile look that will look like you hired a team of professionals to design your house.

The fact that luxury vinyl tile is affordable doesn’t mean you are more limited in terms of design than when using real tile. You can create inlays, borders and any design your imagination can come up with. This material has excellent flooring properties, and they don’t look cheap or fake looking like older and cheaper vinyl tiles. It is well worth keeping your options open when choosing a new type of flooring tile for your home, as luxury vinyl tile is a great alternative to more traditional materials and offers many benefits.

Bathroom Flooring: Vinyl Floor Tiles Or Ceramic Tiles?

Filed Under: Buying

There are several flooring options for bathrooms that can be installed by anybody with a certain degree of familiarity with DIY, but two of the most popular ones are without a doubt vinyl floor tiles and ceramic (or porcelain) tiles. Both have their advantages and their disadvantages, and choosing one over the other will depend on your needs and DIY skill level.

Bathroom Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tile (or sheet vinyl flooring for that matter) is a popular choice for bathrooms for many reasons, but the main one is without a doubt its great pricing. Even luxury vinyl tiles are considerably more affordable than any other flooring material, and with adequate care and a proper installation can last for years.

Laying vinyl floor tiles is something that anybody can learn, as it’s a very accessible DIY project (however, in order to avoid having the bathroom out of use for days it’s worth getting help if you are new to DIY). Self-adhesive vinyl doesn’t even require the use of adhesive, and if you are after a traditional look for your bathroom you can also install vinyl tile with grout instead of as a seamless surface.

Laying Vinyl Flooring (Photo credit: Jacob Whittaker)

Once installed, vinyl can last for a few years as bathroom flooring, and it’s a very comfortable choice as, unlike porcelain or ceramic, it’s warm to the touch and can be purchased with effective non-slip coatings, perfect to avoid accidents after a bath. However, you will need to be careful about your cleaning methods, as harsh cleaners will take away its glossy appearance.

Ceramic Tiles For Bathrooms

Ceramic has always been a popular choice for bathrooms, and the fact that properly installed it can last for decades makes it a cheap choice in the long run. It won’t increase your home equity as marble or granite would, but it’s a good choice in the medium price range. Porcelain is also totally waterproof, immune to humidity and impossible to scratch, though it can crack if something very heavy lands on it.

In terms of cleaning, you can clean porcelain and ceramic with almost anything and it will still look good. This is one of the reasons it’s a material used in schools, hospitals or public places, as it can be disinfected easily. Vinyl is much more delicate in terms of handing.

Porcelain and ceramic flooring for bathroom has a beautiful, stone-like appearance and can look similar to more expensive materials such as granite. If you are after a classic look for your bathroom, grouted ceramic tiles will give it and if you are good at DIY you may want to try and install it yourself. However, keep in mind that botching the job can be expensive, and unless you measure things carefully you may end up with uneven rows of tiles.

If you are unexperienced at DIY, looking for a very cheap solution for your bathroom or want to create a really funky look with textures that aren’t found in ceramic, vinyl tiles are probably the best choice. If you have more money to spend, want a more classic look or want a DIY challenge, porcelain tiles are a classic that never goes out of fashion and will give you great service for years.

How to Wax Vinyl Composite Floor Tile

Filed Under: Maintenance

Applying wax to vinyl composite tile flooring is a great way of protecting the vinyl and enhancing its aesthetic appeal by giving it an elegant light shine. You don’t need to be a professional in order to learn how to wax vinyl composite floor tile, and doing it yourself can save you some money. However, if your vinyl floor is very damaged or too much wax has accumulated over long years of use, you may need to first strip the original finish before applying wax. If this is the case, you will need to use harsh chemical substances and buffing

What is Vinyl Composite Floor Tile (VCT)

Vinyl composite floor tile, or VCT for short, is a synthetic floor covering made from coloured vinyl chips shaped into square tiles. It is low cost, easy to maintain and comes in any imaginable colour and pattern, which makes it a favourite for high trafficked areas. This type of vinyl commercial flooring is easy to install, and can be refinished as many times as necessary to extend its useful life and keep it looking good, which makes it perfect for commercial and public locations, but it has also found its way to the floors of many consumer houses along with vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl composite floor tiles are glued to a smooth and level sub-floor using vinyl adhesive.

Preparing to Wax Vinyl Composite Floor Tile

The first thing to keep in mind if you are learning how to wax vinyl composite floor tile is that wax will seal in any dust, dirt or particles on top of the vinyl. You will need to first wash or strip away the existing finish, using a low power bufferer or a chemical stripper depending on how much finish has accumulated. Use your regular vinyl composite tile cleaner and a damp mop to thoroughly clean the floor, and let it dry before using a VCT stripping product and a floor buffer to fully remove any trace of the old finish. Use a dry mop to remove the liquid and mop the floor again with really clean water before letting it dry thoroughly. Once the floor is fully dry it’s time to wax vinyl composite floor tile.

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How to Wax Vinyl Composite Tile Floors

First of all, vacuum the floor again to make sure no particles or debris remain on the vinyl. Pour vinyl composite finishing liquid on a bucket, and dip a wax mop on it until it’s fully saturated. Never let the mop dry off, as that would make the finish layer too thin. Working side to side, apply the finish to the floor carefully treating a small area after the other to apply an even coat of wax to the entire surface. Leave the wax to dry, making sure that nobody steps on the floor until the finish is fully dry.

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After the first coat of vinyl wax is dry, repeat the process but choose a different wall to work from. This way this coat and the previous one will overlap more and the chances of an area getting poor coverage are much lower. Apply three to five coats following the same procedure, alternating the direction on which you move and leaving the previous coat to dry undisturbed. Do not feel tempted to crank up the heating to speed up this process as the surface of the finish may look dry but the finish isn’t done yet.

How to Wax Vinyl Composite Tile Floors Video

Tips For Waxing Vinyl Composite Floor Tile

The most important thing to keep in mind is that the floor needs to be spotless and free from any residue before you apply a new finish, or you’ll get a patchy finish and trap dirt between the finish and the vinyl tiles. When moping, make sure to refill the bucket with clean water as needed and don’t skimp on cleaning products. The stripper that you used to get rid of the old finish needs to be rinsed out completely before you apply the new finish, or it will just not stick. You may need to change the water a few times, particularly if you are treating a large surface, because the old finish will be making the water grey.

Keep your tools clean and use them only to wax vinyl floors. Any particles left on the mop will end up dampening the shine of your vinyl tiles when they get stuck on the finish, so don’t use just any other fiber mop. Buy a mop that is prewashed and suitable for the application of wax finish to floors, and use it only for that purpose.

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Also make sure you wait the required time in between coats, and don’t let anybody step on the floor when the old finish has been removed or while the new one is drying. If you want a spotless and shiny vinyl floor, be prepared to spend a few hours maintaining it every so often.

And remember to put a sign about the newly waxed floor, as it will be slippery!