At the start of the New Year, most existing trends come up, which are worth noting. This is especially true for people in the home décor and fashion industry.
Home décor trends are fun since they present creative ways to style and update a home. If you plan to update tiles in your bathrooms, mudroom, or kitchen, the following are tips to look at:
- Prepare the Surface for Installation
It is important that you adequately prepare your floor before you start any tiling project. In order to prepare the subfloor, consider removing vanities, toilets, and furniture. Ensure you also take everything which can get in your way.
Afterward, prepare the room. You can use a plastic tarp so as to block off windows and open doorways. While doing so, ensure you wear a mask and safety goggles every time to protect yourself from dust.
- Mix Mortar and Lay the Main Flooring
Mix mortar as advised by the manufacturer. While doing so, avoid damaging and over-mixing the pigment.
Afterward, experts at Metro Tile suggest that you apply a mortar bed to your floor using a notched trowel. But don’t overdo it. Mortar dries fast, so consider spreading enough to install two or three tiles.
- Start With Flat Flooring
Tiling wavy flooring is basically a nightmare. You pry and push to get the tile flush, and you still end up with edges, which protrude above the tiles.
So before undertaking the project, check the flooring with a 4-ft straightedge. If there are low spots that are more than ¼ deep, be sure to screed thin-set over them. This will help to make the surface flat.
- Spread Adhesive
Spreading flat layers of thin-set large tiles for better adhesion is a great idea. If you opt to spread the surface of the flooring instead, consider using a bigger notch trowel. But whichever method you prefer, always use your adhesive in one direction.
- Avoid Using Cheap and Low-Quality Tiles
Bargain or cheap and low-quality tiles are normally made from inferior materials, which easily crack or break and are hard to replace and remove.
Keep in mind that replacing tiles is costly and challenging. So before buying low-quality tiles, set your expectations as well as avoid any potential problems. In order to avoid such problems, get tiles from reputable and known manufacturers.
- Plan for Layout
If you want to install tiles in your kitchen, ensure the bottom of the kitchen is parallel to the countertops. This ensures that the grout lines remain consistent and straight.
If there is a slight and noticeable difference, consider creating a baseline. You can achieve this using a level to keep the surface straight.
Once you ensure the wall space is leveled, be sure to measure the focal point of the surface you want to work on and see how it fits.
In a Nutshell!
Installing tiles, whether in your bathroom or kitchen, can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive procedure. Although it is possible to finish the project with one contractor, having two handymen will make the work easier and quicker. This is true if you are dealing with heavy and large tiles.
