How Cutting Standard Tiles?

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Lay out your tiles on the counter, table, or floor. Make sure that your tile lay out matches the dimensions of your wall. For example, if your backsplash is 6 to 2 feet (1.83 to 0.61 m), then your tile lay out should also be 6 to 2 feet (1.83 to 0.61 m). Include the tiles that will get in the way of cabinets, corners, and edges. You will cut these down to size later. Also, remember to include the grouting gaps between the tiles; use a spacer if you have to.

This step is known as “dry-fitting.” It will help you figure out whether or not you need to cut any tiles. Leave a 1⁄8-in (0.32-cm) gap around the backsplash, where it connects to the cabinets, counter, and adjacent wall. If you are working with a large sheet of tiles, click here to continue.

Mark the tiles that will get in the way of cabinets and corners. Check the dimensions of your wall against your laid-out tiles. Use a marker to make a mark across the tiles where they will bump against a cabinet or corner. Mark the tiles that will be along the top edge of your backsplash, next to a wall, or under a cabinet. They will be more disguised that way.

Put on some eye and respiratory protection. A pair of safety goggles will protect your eyes against any flying pieces of tile. A good respiratory mask will prevent you from breathing in any sanding dust. Most masks are graded based on the type of particle they can filter. Choose one that can filter dust particles.

Use a score-and-snap tile cutter on large tiles. Use the cutting wheel to make a single, deep score in the tile. Snap the tile along the scored line. If the tile has a mesh backing, make sure that the mesh side is facing up. Do not use grinders on tiles made from slate. You can use them on ceramic tiles, however.

Tile Commercial Polishing

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Apply a wax stripping solution to remove any built up wax. If your tile floor has previously been waxed, you’ll want to remove it before polishing. The old wax may be flaking or collecting dirt, and will affect the overall polish. Fill your bucket with a wax stripper and scrub your tile floor clean of any old wax with a scrub brush, then mop the floor with clean water to remove any chemical residue.

Allow the floor to dry at least 1 hour before moving on, but make sure the floor is fully dry. You can find wax stripper at any home improvement or hardware store. Try hydrochloric acid for soap scum and water deposits on tile flooring. Hard water deposits and soap scum stains require heavy duty chemicals to be removed.

Empty the bucket of water completely, then fill it with 4 cups (950 mL) of water and 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) of hydrochloric acid. Apply the mixture directly to the stain and allow it to sit for several minutes. Then scrub the stain clean and allow the area to dry completely. Hydrochloric acid is available for purchase at most hardware stores. It is also often sold at pool supply stores because the acid is commonly used to sanitize swimming pools.

Hydrochloric acid is a harsh chemical and can burn your eyes and throat, so mix it in the bucket outside or a well-ventilated area. Be sure not to get any of the chemical on your skin as it can cause chemical burns. Use an electric floor buffer to buff the tile floor quickly. A floor buffer is a great option for a quick and consistent buffing. Consider renting or borrowing one for the day if you do not own one.

They are often as easy to use as a standard vacuum cleaner. Turn the buffer on and move it across the tile floor using small, sweeping side-to-side movements for an even finish. You can rent electric floor buffers from home improvement stores like Home Depot for around $30 a day.

How Using Natural Products on Tile Flooring?

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Clear the tile floor of furniture and obstructions. Before you start, be sure to move any furniture that can get in the way of polishing your tile floor. Remove chairs and tables as well as rugs and mats that may be in the way. If you have tile you’d like to polish that is underneath or adjacent to appliances, you’ll need to remove them as well.

Use a baby gate or close the door to the room to keep out any pets that could walk over the tile floor while you’re cleaning it. If you have tile flooring underneath cabinets or in a pantry or closet, make sure you clear out anything that could get in the way of cleaning and polishing.

 

Mix 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water and 1⁄4 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar. Vinegar is an age old cleaning product that is much less harsh on the environment than industrial cleaning chemicals. Vinegar is also safe to use on tile and will not stain or discolor your tile flooring. Fill your bucket with warm water because warm water will help the vinegar mix and form a natural cleaning solution.

 

Use this vinegar solution to scrub, mop, or clean your tile floor. Sweep the tile floor to remove dirt and dust on the surface. Once the room is clear of obstructions, use a broom to sweep the floor free of large dirt particles to make it easier to polish. Mopping a dirty floor can just move the dirt around and make your tile look dingy. A good sweep before you mop is always a good idea for a clean floor.

Don’t neglect sweeping the corners of the room or beneath any cabinets. A Swiffer or dry mop works great to pick up dirt. Scrub the grout between the tile with a stiff brush or toothbrush. Focus on the grout in-between the tiles before you clean the whole floor.

How Maintaining the Tile Floor?

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Vacuum or sweep your tile floor every day. The best way to maintain your tile floor’s polish and shine is to keep it clean. Sweeping and vacuuming will remove dirt and debris that can build up and cause your tile to lose its luster. Even worse, dirt that is left for a long time can get smashed into the tile and turn into grimy stains.

 

If you plan to mop, make sure you sweep or vacuum first. Mop the floor regularly. In addition to sweeping or vacuuming dirt and debris, it’s important to mop your tile floor to maintain its polish. This doesn’t necessarily mean dragging the bucket and soap out every other day. If your floor doesn’t require a heavy cleaning, a damp mop will be enough to keep it clean.

 

Keep your mop clean so you’re not spreading dirt around your tile floors when you mop. You can also use dry mops like a Swiffer for an easy clean. Clean any spills or stains quickly. To keep your tile floor polished and without any deep stains, it’s important that you clean up any spills that occur as soon as possible.

 

Things happen, stuff spills, but the longer a spill sits, the more it can stain and soak into your tile and grout. They can also cause your floor to be sticky, which can attract dust and dirt to adhere to your tile. Use disinfectant if necessary, but sparingly, as the chemicals can discolor tile floor.

 

Buff the tile floor with a microfiber cloth. Buffing your tile floor can really bring out its shine and add a smooth texture to the finish. Use a microfiber cloth and buff the floor in smooth, even circular motions. Start at one end of the room and work your way across so you don’t miss any sections. Some dry mops have microfiber pad attachments you can use as well.

How Preparing the Backsplash Surface?

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Turn off the power to your kitchen. Find the electrical panel in your home. It is typically a small, metal panel painted to match your wall. Open the panel, then find the switch for the bathroom or kitchen electrical outlets (wherever you are doing the backsplash). Flick the switches to the off position. Remember to flick the switches back on after you have finished installing the tiles.

 

If your tiles are already on the wall and you wish to cut a hole in them, complete this step, then click here to learn how. Remove any light switch and outlet covers. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws from each cover. Place the covers into separate zippered bags along with their matching screws. Work 1 cover at a time so that you don’t mix or lose the pieces.

You will need to reinstall the light switch and outlet covers after you have finished installing the tiles. Clear and cover the counters. Move anything on the counter that might get in the way, such as coffee makers and toasters. Cover the counter with a plastic sheet to protect it. If you are installing the tiles later, it would be a good idea to mask off counters and cabinets.

This will save you a step. To mask off the counters and cabinets: lay strips of painter’s tape along any counter or cabinet edges that touch the backsplash wall. Mark the center of the wall, then draw a plumb line through it. Find the center of the backsplash wall, and make a like mark with a pencil.

Place a 2-ft (61-cm) level against the mark and orient it vertically. Use the edge of the level as a ruler to draw a vertical line spanning the height of your backsplash. The plumb line will help you lay out your tiles evenly once you go to mount them on the wall. Make sure that the level is straight. The bubble inside the glass tube should be centered between the lines.

How to Polish Tile Floors?

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A well-polished tile floor can make a room feel clean and inviting. Whether you have ceramic, vinyl, stone, or any other type of tile flooring, giving your tile a shiny luster doesn’t have to be difficult, time-consuming, or costly. The keys to a polished tile floor are a clean and well-buffed surface and regular maintenance.

 

Dirty and discolored grout will stand out once you’ve finished polishing the tile, so it’s best to clean it well before you clean the rest of the floor. You may need to put in a little elbow grease and get down on your knees to scrub the grout well. Treat very dirty grout before you start scrubbing. Sprinkle baking soda over the grout, then spray vinegar onto it. Leave it to sit for 5 minutes before you start scrubbing.

 

If you have a lot of grout, it’s best to use a grout brush because it will be more efficient than a toothbrush. You can buy a grout brush for a few dollars at most department stores or online. Don’t scrub the grout so hard that it starts to flake or chip off! Use a mop to clean the whole tile floor. It’s important that you clean the tile floor well before you begin to polish it. Because you’re not using chemical soap, you don’t need to mix or slosh the water to create suds.

 

Dip your mop into the vinegar solution, wring out any excess water, and mop the floor in broad strokes. Work your way from one end of the room to the other, taking care not to miss any spots on the tile floor. Don’t forget any corners, cabinets or pantries. Apply club soda to remove any built up floor wax. Club soda is an excellent natural and environmentally-friendly wax-stripping alternative.

Fill a clean bucket with only club soda and scrub your tile with a brush to remove old wax. Then use clean water to mop up any residue and allow the tile floor to fully dry. For a stubborn wax buildup, you can let the club soda sit for a few minutes before you scrub it.

How Laying the Tiles?

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Mark your tile layout on the substrate and mark out your first course carefully. If your shower enclosure walls are not perfectly square, or if you plan to install accent tiles, the layout of these tiles becomes increasingly important. Measure up from the bottom of the backer board the height of a tile minus 1/2″. This will give you a 1/2″ overlap over the tile lip on your shower pan.


Make sure that you allow room for the grout joints as well. Mark this with a sharpie or chalk and using a level, transfer the mark across the shower stall. This will be a guide for the top of the first row so that all tiles will be level. Only use dry tiles make sure that the lay out works as well.


Another way to plan out the first row of tiles is to measure the high part and low part of the shower pan. Make the cut spot on the low end a full tile, mark it, and then cut the tiles on the high side down to the level of the uncut tile on the low side. Keeping grout lines away from the inside corners of the enclosure can prevent the need for tiny tiles and poor grout joints. Plan accordingly and always make cuts tight on the inside corner.


Mix enough thin-set for the bottom row. You want your thin-set to be the consistency of peanut butter — not too thick or it will dry out and not too thin or you’ll have a hard time setting the mortar with strength and cleaning. Use an electric drill and a mortar mixing bit attached to your drill to mix your thin-set mortar. This will ensure even consistency and ultimately a better product. Let the mortar set for seven minutes and then mix it again.


Dampen the cement board with a sponge before applying the mortar. If you do not, the cement board will draw the moisture out of the thin-set too quickly, making for a brittle set that is susceptible to cracking.

How to Cleaning tile?

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Avoid cleaning with abrasive materials. Never clean your solid stone tiles with anything that’s abrasive. These can scratch and damage the tiles. When making or buying cleansers, avoid: Hard bristle brushes, Vinegar or lemon juice, Products with acid cleanse.


Trowel some thin-set onto the back of the tile and spread it with a notched trowel. This process is called “back buttering.” Apply mortar to the backer board along with back buttering and then set the tiles on top of that. It’s a lot cleaner, too!


Be sure not to apply too much mortar to the back of a tile. You only need a little in each corner and a little dab in the middle for back buttering. More isn’t necessarily better when it comes to thin-set. Keep in mind that back buttering is only necessary when you are using a larger tile (8″ x 8″ or larger) and you only need to add a little dab of thin set mortar to each corner.


Set the first tile in the middle of the wall (or floor). This will create a pleasant visual effect and allow each tile that is placed beside it on either side seem centered. After back buttering, simply press the tile onto the backer board and apply pressure to make sure that the mortar adhered properly to both the tile and the backer board. Then, give the tile a little twist and tap each one with a rubber mallet, especially the floor tiles.


Wipe away any excess thin-set mortar after pressing the tile onto the backer. Although you’ll be grouting and caulking between the tiles, it’s best not to leave any thin-set on oozing out from the sides of the tile. Dig out any oozing thin-set that you notice. Simply wipe away excess thinset with your finger or a Q-tip.

Grout the Tile

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Mix up a batch of grout and let it rest for 5 to 7 minutes. Lightly wet the area you’ll be grouting with a damp sponge and dump a bit of grout onto the area. Use a rubber float to smooth it into the joints, attacking each joint at a diagonal angle.


After 30-40 minutes (check the directions on the bag of grout) you want to wipe the excess grout with a damp sponge and a circular motion. Keep wiping with a clean sponge until the tile is clear. The tiles may look a bit hazy even after wiping, so you may have to buff them with a clean sponge to get rid of this haze.


Let the grout cure for approximately 3 days before sealing. Then, seal the grout. Run a thin bead of liquid grout or aerosol grout sealer onto the grout line and wipe away. Let dry and then test its water resistance by dropping water onto the sealed grout. Correctly sealed grout will cause the water to bead up on top of it.


Caulk any needed areas. Make sure to use a grout caulk to match the colors. As you caulk, remember to pull the caulk gun relatively quickly across the joint. Most amateurs caulk too slow and end up dropping too much caulk down on the joint. Other things to remember:Keep the tip angled as you run the bead along the joint.


Match the speed with which you pull the caulk gun trigger with the rate at which you pull the gun along the joint. You don’t want to be pulling the gun fast but triggering slowly, or vice versa. After applying the bead of caulk, “bed” it by running a damp finger across the bead with light pressure. Make sure that your grout chalk matches the grout. Let the caulk dry and redo it if you are not happy with the results.

Using Commercial Polishing Products

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Remove any obstacles that may get in the way. The first thing you should do is remove any furniture or obstacles that may obstruct your ability to clean your floor. This includes tables and chairs, but also placemats and rugs. You don’t want to have to stop in the middle of the process to slide furniture out of the way.


This also includes the family pets! You may want to consider keeping the door closed, using a baby gate, or blocking off the entrance to the room with a chair or something that would prevent any four-legged friends from getting in.


Sweep the floors to remove large dirt particles. After clearing the room, take a broom and sweep up any dust and dirt that may have built up on the tile floor. If you plan to apply wax later, a dirty floor will make it difficult to adhere, and make the floor look grimy. You also don’t want to just move dirt around as you polish, so it’s best to thoroughly sweep the floor first.


Be sure to get into the nooks and crannies and remove as much dirt as you can. You could also use a dry mop, also called a dust mop, to sweep the floor. Dry mops are great for picking up dirt and dust without leaving streaks.


Scrub the grout in between the tiles with a soap and water and a scrub brush. Before you mop the entire floor, take a stiff brush and focus on cleaning the grout in between the tiles. Grout requires a little more effort to scrub clean, so you may need to get down on your hands and knees to scrub it well. Discolored or dirty grout will really stand out once your tile floor is polished.