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How to Apply Ceramic Tiles to Concrete?

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Installing ceramic tiles over concrete can help to create a more inviting indoor or outdoor living space. Prepare the concrete. Using an acid based cleaner or deep cleaner of your choice, clean the concrete and allow it to dry thoroughly. Examine the floor and see if there are any cracks or pits that need to be fixed and use the proper concrete repair kit to repair them.

A muriatic or other acid-based cleaner is usually the best way to completely clean the concrete prior to installing wood tile. Seal and level the concrete. Once your repairs have dried, take the time to seal the concrete. Once the sealer has dried, apply the concrete patch or leveler and make sure that you have a flat surface with no defects. The floor must be level or your tiles design and grout will form cracks.

Cleaning the concrete should be done before adding a floor leveling compound. A sodium silicate or lithium silicate based sealer will help to waterproof and strengthen the concrete. Because silicates work below the surface, they won’t interfere with adhesion.

Plan the tile layout. Before installing the small tile it is a good idea to lay our your design. Pre-plan which and how many pieces of tile have to be cut and where the cut marble tile will be placed. Chalk lines will become very helpful so make sure you mark the floor.

Mix the mortar. After you have decided where you want to begin, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer and begin to mix the mortar. Don’t mix too much in advance, as it will begin to set up on you before you can use it. Using your grooved trowel, begin spreading the mortar over a small area. Never spread out more than what you can cover with three or four floor tiles at a time.

Different kinds of tile require different types of mortar. Ask the sales representative who sells you the glazed rustic tile to help you choose the right one. A grooved trowel will be necessary to spread the mortar. They are available with different sized grooves, so be sure to read the package directions on the mortar to ensure that you buy the right size.

How to Taking Care of Your Ceramic Tiles?

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Clean the grout regularly. Grout is used to fill the spaces between your ceramic tiles and keeping it clean is an important part of tiles maintenance. Once dirt settles into the grout, it can be difficult to clean and eventually compromise the durability of your kitchen tiles. You can use acid and ammonia free products to give your grout a good clean.

Clean off dirt and dust from the surface. Use a broomstick or vacuum to remove any type of dirt and debris that has accumulated on the surface of your tiles. Do this 2 to 3 times a week to make sure that your  small tiles remain dust free.

If you choose to vacuum your marble tiles, make sure to use a vacuum cleaner that does not have a beater bar as this can damage the surface of your wall tiles over time.

Wash your tiles once a week. You can use a gentle detergent and warm water to give your tiles an overall clean. Be careful not to oversaturate your cement tiles with water during this process and allow enough time for them to dry completely.

You can also use a cleaning product that has been approved for ceramic surfaces. This ensures that you are using a product that is safe for your tiles. Avoid using oil-based cleaners as they can often leave residues that can trap dirt and cause damage to your floor tiles.

How to Remove Bathroom Wall Tile?

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Protect yourself and your surroundings. Wear wraparound safety goggles, work gloves, long sleeves, long work pants, and a dust mask. Lay a canvas drop cloth over the bathtub, shower floor, or any fixtures you want to protect from chipping. Cover any drains with painter’s tape. Consider tearing apart shower walls. Shower tiles are usually installed over drywall and/or thin backerboard over drywall. Ripping the entire substrate away is much faster than removing the tiles piece by piece, but will break all your marble tiles. Chip away the rounded bullnose wood tiles from the edge and top of a shower with a hammer and chisel.

Cut through the drywall along the edge of the tiles design with a utility knife. Cut along the edge of the wall studs, if possible. A reciprocating saw is the best tool for this job. Place a pry bar against this line and lever away large sections of the wall. Work it left and right to loosen the nails holding the drywall in. Once the side walls are removed, remove the back wall of ceramic tiles by breaking small tiles in a vertical line with a hammer, then prying the exposed edge.

Chisel away polished tiles instead. This method is slower, but allows you to save some of the wall tiles for reuse. Scrape away some of the grout in a long line using a utility knife, grout saw, or rotary grinder. Place a chisel against the edge of a tile in this line, almost flat against a wall, and tap with a hammer. If all goes well, the tile will pop out. If it doesn’t budge or if a small piece chips off, remove grout from the sides and try again.

This becomes easier once the first tile is removed. An electric chisel can speed this job up. Remove adhesive. After chiseling away kitchen floor tiles, scrape away the adhesive with a putty knife or hand scraper. Try soaking the tiles in water first to soften the mortar.