Materials Needed To Lay Tile

A manual snap cutter an electric wet saw and a tile nipper.

Materials needed to lay tile.

5 space tiles evenly with disposable tile spacers. Cement board or backer board are the most standard underlayments. It sometimes has colorful glazed patterns but it more commonly the traditional rosy orange terracotta color like a clay pot. Make sure to get the trowel size mortar type and other tile setting materials such as spacers that are recommended by your tile s manufacturer.

Setting tile is fairly straightforward if you begin in the center of the room and work your way out this guide shows you how to work with mortar lay out and level tiles and score tiles to complete a professional looking installation. For cutting tiles there are several tool options. If possible avoid tearing out vinyl flooring. The substrate or subfloor is the ground whether it s made of plywood or cement.

You need a few easily accessible tools such as a tape measure a chalk line and a level. You can lay tile directly over the existing vinyl as long as it s well adhered. Best way to cut tiles carpet and tile flooring hanks carpet has carpet tile closeouts from top names like shaw industries beaulieu mohawk industries and others. Use tile nippers or pliers to nibble off the uneven edge of a broken tile.

Leaving it in place saves time of course but it also reduces asbestos hazard concerns. The manual cutter is generally used for smaller jobs. Asbestos was used in sheet vinyl and vinyl tile until the mid 1980s. Mexican tile also known as saltillo is made from red clay.

Use a round file to smooth rough edges of areas that have been nibbled away. Tile specific tools include a notched trowel a rubber grout float and grout. Underlayment is something you put on top of your substrate to prepare it for tiling. If a straight cut edge shows rub it against a sheet of 80 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper to round and smooth the edge.

Make cuts for small tile jobs with a manual carbide tip tile scorer and use a plier type tile crimpers or nipper to trim away excess tile.