I am planning on putting wall tiles in my kitchen. I'm not crafty. Your best advice? (other than hire out)
Question:I'm getting some books at the library to help me along. I'm putting the tiles under the cabinets and over the stove. Is this a difficult job?
Answers:
Hi lawlady;
If you have lots of time to do this project, then, by all means, research it and do it yourself. There's plenty of DIY home improvement sites with TONS of advice for tiling kitchens and baths. Is it difficult? I would have to say "Yes. To do it properly."
If you'll be moving cabinets or tiling before they are installed it's fairly involved. You have to determine the high point of the room... determine level... snap lines... calculate tile spacing and layout so you don't have odd cuts... There's alot to know or learn... and there's plenty of mistakes to be made.
It would take you quite a few hours to research it properly. You'd need a few specialty tools. You'll need to know exactly what you're putting up and what you need to have the job last and look good.
Some places you can save a few bucks by doing it yourself. If you're not handy, and you haven't many tools... you'll not be saving much money... and definitely not time.
I post now and then on a home renovation forum and I dislike pessimism or discouragement when a homeowner is attempting to do something themselves so I'll conclude by saying that - should you decide to do this job yourself - you'll come out of the experience wiser and more capable and having saved a couple 2-300 hundred bucks (maybe). You'll also have some tools you didn't have before... cordless screw gun/driver, level(s), chalk line, straight edge, tile cutter, notched trowel(s) and so forth...
If this is your only kitchen and you'll need to keep it functional, or if there will be gas and plumbing hook-ups required... or full cabinetry installed, I'd have to say let a pro handle it. You wouldn't want a tile setter representing you in a court of law.
Good luck,
wayne
I would suggest that you look for a class at Home Depot. These are free and usually on a Saturday morning. From what I understand, cutting tiles that need trimming is the most difficult part. Some store will make the cuts for you.
You most important part of the job is " A Level Surface." This will be your demise if it is not attended to early on.
If you wall needs work do that long before you begin this job, is my advice. Weaknesses will eventually make themselves known. Fill in holes, gouges, and planing you need to do to make the surface level then i do it but not over do it. You want you backer board to sit level but the backer board will provide the level surface for the tiles. Some don't even worry about leveling the wall since the backer board provided the level surface - I try to get the basic surface ( the wall) level too so the backer board itself has a level surface.
Next you want to decide on what tiles and pattern you intend to go with. what cut from a tile is involved to make that pattern- you should think of also.
How will you make that cut? With a WetSaw, which you can rent.
You will install the backer board to the wall. On top of that goes the mortar with that tile trowel. It has the ridged teeth on the one end so you can make the grooves in the mortar as it is applied to the wall. You need this for the tiles to stay, so the mortar has to be applied with that side of the trowel on a 45 degree angle so the 'teeth' leave their mark in the applied mortar.
Next you put a tile in place and press it down firmly. Between tiles you will use the spacers ( plastic pieces that just sit between the tiles). This will provide the exact space needed between the tiles so you can fill that space later with the Grout.
I would strongly advice you to have the 'Wet Saw' in another room - outside is best. Using eye protection when operating the wet saw is a must, one chip of a ceramic tile can devastate your eye - don't take the chance be prepared.
You will want to lay out and mark the cuts for an entire row at a time- then go to the saw and make all the cuts for that row. come back and put up the whole row. This running will be often, and will be allowing the mortar to dry, so this tells you not to mix a lot of mortar at one time - think of how dry it will be by the time you get to the bottom of the bin ( unusable).
Once the wall is done, it is time for the grout to go in. You must apply downward pressure to 'Force ' it in between the tiles. You must rub it in all directions over the surface of the tiles. Do not go up and down only, go diagnally, circles, sideways. But apply pressure. Once it looks like you go it all, then do it again. and again. You really need to force as much in there as is humanly possible, and then force some more to get in there. This is very tough at times, but no impossible.
After this is done, get clean soapy water and wipe off the tiles repeatedly, you may have to change the water as much as four or five times, and redo the entire surface twice each refill. Start in a different place on the wall each refill - so the cleanest spot is not the same spot.
Once it is a done deal I use a pencil ( the eraser end) and go down each groove between the tiles very lightly to give it a bit of a shape - that grout shape we are used to.
The key to a nice job is planning. Plan the tiles and the pattern in advance, get end tiles and cap tiles and plan each row like I said above.
It helps to have two people working this job. Once is the pattern person - they mark the tiles and layout the row. the other person runs back and forth to the wet saw and does the cutting.
The grout can be applied by the two alternately, and the wiping them down as well.
You should visit Bob Villa's site, and DIY's site, they have plenty on installing ceramic tile, and a ceramic tile back-splash.
Maybe homedepot has something - they do have a project center on their site.
Perhaps Lowes does too.
http://www.lowes.com
http://www.homedepot.com
http://web.diynet.com/diy/web/searchresu...
http://www.bobvila.com/
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/...
Hope some of this helps ya out.
Have Fun !
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