Home Repair and Paint Guide

... The easiest way to handle a ceramic tile floor layout is by using a grid. ... Find the largest ceramic tiles you are going to be using. ... Be sure to space each tile for the grout lines. ... Go to a corner that has the longest and straightest walls. ... Pop a chalk line between the two marks. ... To see if the lines are square, find the point where the chalk lines intersect. ... Now measure 48″ from the intersection, along the other chalk line, and mark that spot. ... If not, be sure your measurements off the walls are correct. ... Adjust the chalk line that is out of square and check everything again. ... It’s best to pop the chalk lines off of your longest wall first. ... Repeat this process until the entire area is covered. ... Keep the first grout joint to the wall. ... Be sure to keep the grout joint spaced accurately between tiles. ... The easiest way to handle a ceramic tile floor layout is by using a grid. ... Find the largest ceramic tiles you are going to be using ...

... Flexing of the support structure will cause the tiles to crack in a short period of time. ... Cracked tiles might indicate that there has been excessive flexing. ... Vinyl or linoleum should be removed for best results, but you can also cover it with a proper underlayment such as cement board. ... You may have to roughen the surface of the tile if it’s too glossy. ... This will reduce the height of the cut-ins along the bottom of cabinets. ... Making these too short will cause you to catch a toe on the cabinet edge when approaching the area. ... Getting the floor too high will close the gap at the bottom. ... Backerboard has a solid concrete core and is faced on both sides with fiberglass. ... Cutting backerboard is a lot like cutting drywall. ... You can use a regular utility knife for this, but you’ll go through a lot of blades. ... Break the board by applying pressure until it snaps apart along the score line. ... Use the flat side of a notched trowel to spread the thinset out where the sheet of backerboard will be placed ...

... Drilling ceramic tile requires a carbide or diamond drill bit. ... You can find these at most home improvement and tool stores and the price is reasonable.  Ceramic tile is very hard and breaks easily if not supported. ... In order to prevent cracks and discoloration, use a variable speed drill and new drill bits. ... Use a very slow speed in the 100 - 200 RPM range. ... Since there is no way to score ceramic tile, you cannot use a punch to create a starting point for the drill. ... Use a piece of duct tape to keep the drill bit still until it bites into the surface. ... To prevent overheating, keep the drill bit cool by dipping it in a small container of fresh cutting oil every 15 seconds. ... You can buy this oil at a home improvement store or plumbing supply house. ... These will do a satisfactory job as long as they are kept cool the same way as carbide bits. ... Large holes can be created using a hole saw that has diamond cutting teeth. The hole saw must be equipped with a pilot bit that drills a smaller hole at the center of where the larger hole is to go. The pilot bit keeps the hole saw from wandering ...

... Cement backer board is a product that goes behind ceramic tile. ... Cement board provides a very stable surface for ceramic tile. ... The surface provides a high level of grip for tile adhesive. ... For walls, this means that there are no bows in the cement board and the edges are attached over, and supported by, the studs. ... On floors, the cement board is attached to the sub-floor material. ... This is especially true for kitchens where large appliances are installed. ... Cement board can be cut with a circular saw driving an abrasive blade, but that creates a ton of dust and can damage the saw motor. ... It usually snaps the backer board in two along the scribed line. ... Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. ... Make sure that the screws or nails are corrosion resistant. Leave about a 1/8 inch gap between the boards and fill this gap with silicone caulk. ... Instead, leave a 1/8 inch gap between the tub rail and cement board edge and fill the gap with silicone caulk. ... If you took your time and made sure everything is flat and plumb, the tile installation should go smoothly with a very satisfying result ...

... It takes a certain level of skill to grout tile. ... If you are not familiar with grout application, practice on a set of old tiles before starting your project. ... Some grouts have additives such as powdered latex or acrylic to improve bonding. Portland cement can absorb water vapor from the air if left exposed. That’s why grout bags are lined with plastic. ... You cannot discard the lumps and continue with the rest of the powder. ... The grout should look like a bag of baking powder, with no lumps. ... This will keep it from hardening and also keep you from trying to move too fast. ... If this happens, just add a little extra powder. ... Don’t try to “save” it by adding water. ... During application, use a sponge that is only damp with water. ... Don’t leave water sitting on the surface because this will weaken the material the same way as mixing it too thin. ... The water vapor keeps the grout from drying too fast, which would weaken it. It takes several days for grout to reach full strength and the first few days are critical ...

... Tile is beautiful, durable, and waterproof. ... For the most part, the lumber used to build the foundation will not be completely dry and cured. ... If this is not controlled it has the potential to crack the tiles. ... Plan for this by keeping a box or two of the original tiles. ... It is important that tile be installed on a substrate that will last for many years. ... This item is strong, durable, and waterproof. ... In areas of heavy loads, such as a kitchen where a refrigerator is located, it is very important to ensure there will be no movement of the subfloor where the load will be rolled across and placed. ... It’s a good idea to install double joists in this area for extra load bearing capacity. ... After removing the tiles and subfloor, it was discovered that the joists were placed on 24 inch centers instead of 16 and they were nailed haphazardly into the side joists. ... This is a good reason why you must be vigilant if having a house custom built. ... If you don’t like something, start asking questions and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the answers ...

... Ceramic tile floors are very popular in kitchens and bathrooms. ... Ceramic floor tiles come in a huge variety of design patterns, shapes, and sizes. ... Tile floors are durable and easy to maintain. ... If the grout is sealed, stains cannot penetrate it to cause discoloration. ... Tile is made by adding silica to pliable clay and forming it into uniform shapes. ... This heating changes the structure of the clay and produces a very hard substance. The resulting tiles are extremely wear resistant and durable. ... Ceramic tile flooring can be damaged by dropping heavy objects on it. ... This type of damage can be fixed by applying an epoxy repair material made for the purpose and then painting the crack with clear urethane. ... Porcelain tile flooring is one of the most popular types. It’s extremely durable and has a very long lifespan, even under heavy use. It’s also easier to fix cracks and chips because the interior is the same color as the top surface.  Installing floor tile is quite a job, but is within the ability of a good handyman. ... Get used to cutting and fitting at edges and corners ...

... Ceramic tile can be painted. ... In order to be successful, you must purchase the correct type of paint, and then apply a coat of clear urethane to lock it in. ... All traces of dirt, grease, and wax must be removed. ... Allow to dry thoroughly. ... Water-based paints that contain a urethane resin would be a good choice. Urethane is a very sticky glue and that’s just what you need to prevent peeling. ... Paints containing urethane resin overcome this problem and provide a good lifespan. ... Otherwise, you will have to either paint each individual tile by hand (keeping paint off of the grout), or mask the grout with acrylic masking tape before starting. ... You can use a roller or a spray gun. ... Spraying does give a real smooth, nice looking job. ... That’s where the clear urethane comes in. ... Make sure the urethane is applied to a clean dust free surface. ... This will allow evaporation of the chemicals to take place. ... Ceramic tile can be painted. ... In order to be successful, you must purchase the correct type of paint, and then apply a coat of clear urethane to lock it in ...

... Installing a ceramic tile backsplash is not a very difficult task and can usually be completed over a weekend. ... Take your time during the initial planning stage and make sure you have all tools and materials available before starting. ... Before starting, review the features of the area. ... Try to compliment any pattern that is present. ... A good backsplash design will enhance the overall look of your kitchen. ... Surface Preparation Tile can be installed over most substrates if they are clean, smooth and dry. ... Repair and level any damaged or uneven areas. ... If not, insert shims between the lower cabinets and the countertop. ... Be careful! Electric wires and plumbing run between studs in walls. ... Layout and Cutting Dry fit your tiles and carefully mark with a pencil or felt-tip pen. ... For best results on curved cuts, only chip small pieces at a time. ... Applying Adhesive and Setting Tiles Select the right adhesive for the substrate. ... Follow all instructions and precautions on the adhesive or mortar package. ... Using the type of trowel recommended on the adhesive package, spread a 1/4″ coat on the surface using the flat side of the trowel ...

... It’s frustrating to have to change a cracked bathroom shower tile several years after the project is finished, only to find that the pattern is no longer available. ... Use a long straightedge across the wall to help locate areas that need work. ... Make sure the tile edges are no more than 1/8 inch from the walls. ... Finish by applying tiles to the side walls, working from back to front. ... Make sure the lines are accurate and easy to see. The procedure to use depends on whether your tub or shower pan is level: Level Tub or Shower Pan - If the tub is level to within 1/8″, measure and mark your horizontal line from the high point of the tub. ... Measure up from the lip of the tub, the width of a tile plus 1/8″. ...   Out of Level Tub or Shower Pan - If the tub is not level to 1/8″, mark your horizontal line from the low point. ... It is usually best to nail a straight wooden batten so that the top of the batten is set to the horizontal line. ... After all the tile is laid, remove the batten and install the bottom row ...