My bathroom floor is currently covered with linoleum. I plan to strip the floor of this down to the sub-flooring (wood). What steps will I need to take to ceramic tile my bathroom floor? What things will I have to buy and in what order from start to finish to go from sub-floor to completed ceramic floor?Thanks!10 POINTS to the best answer!!!
After you strip the floor you will need to make your it is sound and secure. You need a smooth clean surface. For a bathroom you need dura roc or hardie backer as an underlayment. You will need to do a dry setting of the tiles. That means lay the tiles out to figure the best pattern and get an idea as to space etc. once you know how you want the tiles laid start cutting. You will need a mastic/thinset to set the tiles...whichever one you choose just follow directions. The directions will tell you what size trial you will need to spread the mastic/thin set. as you set the tiles insert spacers they come in different sizes. after all the tiles are set, let sit for 24 hrs. clean out any grout lines and remove the spacers. now you are ready to grout. grout comes in different colors and there is a sanded grout and a non sanded. When you buy the tile ask the sales person which grout you need for that tile, sanded or non sanded. some tiles will scratch with sanded tile. follow directions on the grout. make sure you wipe of any clumps of grout or it may not come off. lightly wipe extra grout as your grouting. there will be a haze over the tiles. you can wipe over the tile very lightly every few hours.
Once the flooring is cleaned and ready to go. You ll need 1/2 cement board. My preference is Durock..Pre cut the Durock and lay into place. Cutting can be done with a hand cutter with a carbide tip or cut with a masonry saw blade (DUSTY!)..Dry fit the pcs, lift and sweep the area again. Spread a thin set with a 1/4 x 1/4 square notched trowel. Set board back into the thin set and walk on it all over. Nail down ( or screw) with 1 1/2 galvanized nails . Use nothing shorter.. 8 in the field and 3/4 along all the seams. Tape all joints with thin set and cement board tape ( this is different from dry wall tape.) Let floor dry 24 hrs.. You are ready to tile. Use the proper trowel for your tile. My recommendations are to use thin set and thin set only for tile setting. Starting from the middle, dry lay tiles out to the walls.. If you have a 1/2 tile or bigger , your good. If less than a 1/2 tile, readjust center of the tile to the center line, this will get you a better wall cut. Straight edges and tape measure to stay square is the best way to go. All this is in accordance with the Tile Council of America guide book, Along with the TCA guidelines. Any other specific questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL
