Tile Laying Tips and Tricks
Tile is found in homes throughout the world. While in living areas, tile is usually just confined to the floor, it is in the kitchen and the bathroom that tile laying poses unique challenges. Here's your first tile laying tip. Let's start with your mixture. You want to make sure that your thin set is mixed smoothly, without lumps. If you stir it too much, you can end up with thin set that is gummy and won't be as easy to put down. Mix it a bit, and then let it sit for about 10 minutes. This will help any leftover lumps to absorb liquid and be smoother. This is called slaking. Once your thin set is slaked, add water as needed and again wait at least 10 minutes before you do anything with it. However, while your thin set is important, your floor is also important. Make sure that your floor is level and smooth. Any imperfections will cause your tile to either be raised or recessed which will require some hasty repairs. The best way to solve this problem? Self-leveling compound. But before you dump the bucket on the floor, remember these two potential issues: self-leveling compound will seep into even tiny cracks and fissures and it dries within 30 minutes. When you are using your tools, make sure that you have a caulking gun to start. You want to make sure that you fill every single gap, even down to the smallest hole. Let the caulking dry and go over the floor with a magnifying glass if you have to. Once you've inspected the surface you're going to be doing tile on, then it is time to put the self-leveling compound down.
Tile Laying: Use Caution With Self-Leveling Compound
There are some tile laying jobs you can do on your own. Applying self-leveling compound isn't one of them. You're going to need at least one helper. One of you will have to pour, and the other one will have to stir. Even with help, you’ll have to move quickly. So don't mix it and then call it a day. Get it on the floor fast.You also want to make sure that all of your baseboards are removed. Without baseboards, you have a bit of room if you need to put a weird length of tile down. Above all else, however, when you're putting down tile, always make sure that you have the right tile tools for the job.
Tile Tools HQ
