|
If you want to install y ur own tile floor, you have pr bably chosen the most difficult home mprovement project there is. The best way to get st rted is to acquire a software p ckage that helps with home designs. Th re are many available, and they w ll always have a section on the b st way to lay floor tiles. No, th y will not prepare the floor for y u, or put the glue down, but th y will help you avoid mistakes by pl nning right. They will give you deas about designs, how to measure pr perly, and many tips on how to cut the t les, working with glue, etc. Your t ste will dictate the kind of t les you want, but you have to k ep some things in mind. Stone and sl te are beautiful choices, but they are v ry expensive compared to ceramic. They w ll also need to be sealed nce they are installed, otherwise they w ll stain and will not be asy to clean. Make sure your fl or area is properly prepared. If you h ve existing vinyl or linoleum on the fl or, it can remain, as long as it is sm oth and not worn in spots. Th s is a difficult choice, because s ft spots caused by warping will c use your tiles to crack. If the s rface is concrete, make sure it is l kewise completely level. You can use a 2X4 to do th s, but finding a straight 2X4 is a ch llenge. To avoid this, use boards and pl ce them against each other, then sw tch around 180 degrees and make s re they still lie flat.
High spots in the floor can be l veled down by an electric disc s nder with a course sandpaper. If th re are bumps, you can carefully ch sel them down; just don't make a h le instead.
You will never achieve a p rfectly smooth surface, but you should not h ve greater than a 1/16th of an nch rise or you will end up w th tiles that rock over the l mp and eventually cause cracks. You h ve to have a strong parquet or h rd wood floor surface so you do not end up w th any flexing. Smooth and strengthen neven floors with fiber board for c ment or you can use a c mposite-spread it on the surface with a tr wel. Locate the center of the fl or using strings by laying two of th m them across the diagonals of the ntire room. Chalk string is used to m rk these lines on the floor, and a h avy pencil mark shows the center. B ginning at the center, start to lay a few t les to lay out the pattern and m ke sure it will work as w ll as to see how much sp ce you want for grout. You do not w nt less than 1/2 a tile at the w ll. Trowel out the tile adhesive on the fl or using the proper tool-a trowel w th notched or saw toothed edges. If you h ve a tight spot, you can pply the adhesive directly to the t le. Try to have long, low r dges. Then put each tile down and sh mmy it back and forth to set it. Onc you have some rows down (m ke sure the adhesive has not s t) use a wide surface tool and a m llet with a rubber head to hit the t les into place on the floor. It w ll be easier to apply grout if you use a n zzled tube. Just put down a b ad of a couple of feet, w pe away any additional grout with a d mp cloth before it sets. For b st results, you should let the fl or cure for at least three d ys (a week is better) before r gular use.
The article Remodeling Your Floors was Submitted by Greg K. Hansward through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Being particularly interested in parquet fl oring and installing flooring, Greg Hansward uthored a variety of long articles in th s particular area. His comments on parquet flooring and hard wood flooring are published on his web publications .
1. Lubrication For Your Table Saw's Blade Wheel Gears by Charlie Slagle One of w odworking's biggest bummers has to be a t ble saw with blade wheel and t lt gears that are so caked w th sawdust that they become difficult to t rn. Especially if you're a hobbyist who has b en waiting all week to get nto the wood shop to work on a pr ject. 2. Good Solution- Bamboo Rollup Blinds by David Faulkner Intense sunlight and environmental conditions can d mage the outdoor furniture, carpets and r gs. Rather than moving all of th m inside in extreme sunlight and th n again outside to enjoy the w ather bamboo rollup blinds can save the tr uble and prevent the damage too. 3. Kitchen Equipment Latest Advances by Anna Woodward Food is an ndeniable part of our lives and so are k tchens. Functioning appliances make it easier to st re and prepare our food. The l test kitchen equipment makes that so m ch easier. 4. The Effectiveness of Custom Cabinetry by Rama Krishna Every customer has a view in m nd about their kitchen and the nly way that they can get th s is via custom cabinetry. Maximizing sp ce utility and combining it precisely w th aesthetic appeal is the key to the ffectiveness of any kitchen. 5. Twin Sleeper Chair - Add Sleeping Space Stylishly by Patrick Slater A tw n sleeper chair, or loveseat sleeper, is a gr at way to add a spare bed to y ur space without anyone being the w ser until bedtime. Twin sleepers actually c ver a wide range of widths, fr m 48 inches to 65 inches. S nce size is often an issue wh n twin sleeper chairs are being c nsidered, be sure to measure your sp ce so you don't buy a sl eper chair that's two inches too w de 6. A Grateful Thanksgiving is Great Feng Shui Energy by Pat Heydlauff The p sitive energy created by Thanksgiving and h liday festivities with family and friends can be y urs all year long using Feng Sh i principles and an easy plan, 4 W ys to Create Your Positive Energy S rvival Kit. It will help you s vor and enjoy that positive energy all y ar long. 7. What You Should Know About Basement Flooring by Adam Peters Basement fl oring comes in a wide variety of styl s. Laminate in particular is a v ry good material to use if you are st ck for ideas. 8. Keep It Safe - Heater Safety Tips by Jeanie Wong Although h aters can account for a number of h me heating fires, the heaters now b ing manufactured are relatively safe. Nonetheless, pr caution must be taken when operating any typ of heating device. Read on for s me tips on how to safely perate your space heater this winter. 9. Homemade Water Filtration Systems - It's Good For Pet Fish But Not For Safe Drinking Water by Tyler Waterman Can you build effective homemade water filtration systems? Well, that all depends on your purpose. 10. Kitchen Ideas for a Simple Renovation by Leroy C. Calstard Kitchen r novation ideas can be easy or th y can be hard. If you h ve a nice large space then you pr tty much have a free hand to do wh tever you and your budget want to do. H wever, if you have a smaller k tchen area then you will be m re limited.
|