How do you install a ceramic bathroom floor?
Question:I have a 5x6 bathroom (not counting the tub). I want to use 12x12 tile but I'm afraid of the cuts around the toilet and the floor vent. Any ideas?
Answers:
first off-what is on the floor now? If you want to install ceramic make sure you going on the right sub surface, this will insure that your installation is going to be permanent. Being a 30 square foot job when you strike your chalk lines to a dry lay of the tile seeing which layout will be most pleasing to the eye as well as serving to give you the correct cut around the toilet flange (you will have to pull the toilet ) To do that there are a couple of things that you have to shut off the water to the toilet (make sure that there is no running water) then un hook the water line to the toilet then unbolt the toilet (empty out the tank of the toilet first before you pick it up) there is a wax ring that you will have to replace when you reinstall the toilet.Now to the vent when you do the dry layout mark on the tile where you going to put your vent ( measure with a tape) so when you cut your tile use a wet or dry saw( you will need to rent) to do your cuts or possibly contact the local flooring store to have one of their installers make the cuts for you.It will cost you as well but it will be done professionally.
Remove the toilet and vents...its not difficult. Set the vent and toilet back down on top of the tile after you have done the straight cuts.
Use a tile saw for any odd or round cuts. Draw the shape on the tile you want to cut out with a grease pencil. Then cut notches into the tile up to the grease pencil line. Then use the tile nippers to cut off the slivers. It's still not going to be perfect, but will be close enough to be hidden under your toilet and vent...if it is rounded design.
If you have a tile cutter, then you only have to cut the corner of each tile that goes around the toilet. Cut the tile as close as you can to the flange. The toilet covers the cuts you make, so if the cut is not perfect, you wont see it anyway. For the floor vent, you will probably need a small wet saw. I don't think the 12" tiles will fit perfect without it. Take the wet saw and cut the tile as close as you can to the vent, once again, part of the vent cover should cover your cuts. GOOD LUCK------J Hill
Moab is right. I always like to see what I'm supposed to do so I understand it. So, here is a step by step illustration of the whole process. About 2/3 down the page they show you how to cut around for the toilet and floor vent.
I have done a lot of tile work and find that, although a little more time consuming, it is better to lay out the entire floor with the spacers and make all the cuts before I mix thinset. After that it's easy.
http://www.thetiledoctor.com/howto/floor...
just wanted to mention, for a a bathroom as small as yours is, you may want to choose a 6x6 tile otherwise the 12x12's will make your bathroom look even smaller. most ceramic/porclain tiles these days come in as many 6x6 varieties as the 12x12's do in terms of color/style.
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