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How Preparing the Shower for Tiles?

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Gut the shower stall down to the studs. You may need to remove the shower pan and ceiling, as well. Do not put down any plastic because this can trap moisture and lead to rotting. Instead, use a product that you can paint on to help prevent moisture.


Choose a vapor barrier to install and introduce according to manufacturer directions. If you fail to install a vapor barrier, you might grow mold and mildew as moisture from your shower escapes through the tiles and into walls. Improperly installed tile and grout can allow water vapor to pass into the space behind.


When installing a vapor barrier on an exterior wall, it may be helpful to seal a plastic vapor barrier to the concrete floor but not all the way up to the top of the ceiling. With insulation improperly installed, or in colder climates, there’s a chance that condensation that forms behind the vapor barrier will cause the framing members to rot. In order to avoid that possibility, install the vapor barrier with space to spare so that the gap behind the vapor barrier can breathe. Use a roll on product, such as Red Guard.


Wedi boards are another option some consider even better than cement board. If you choose a membranous barrier such as Trugard or Kerdi, you can install plain old drywall or you can just install a cement board instead.


Put up a sturdy cement board backer. Putting up cement board is just like putting up drywall. You cut it to fit using a grinder with a diamond bit, and then screw it to the studs. Leave a 1/8″ gap between panels and then a very small space between the shower pan and the bottom of the backer so that the two don’t squeak by rubbing together.

How to Clean Tiles?

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Tiles are both stylish and practical. Unfortunately, over time, they can get greasy and dirty. To do a general floor clean, mop the tiles with water and a element tile cleaner. If your tile splashback has greasy marks on it, use soapy water to the oil splashes. Clean the grout between your tiles with baking soda and vinegar to remove discoloration. These methods are quick and easy, and will leave your tiles looking sparkling clean!

Sweep up any dust and dirt with a dustpan and brush. Use the brush to push any debris and dust into the dustpan. This avoids you spreading the dirt around the floor when you mop it later. If you don’t have a dustpan and brush, use a broom instead.

Mix water and tile cleaner in a bucket. Choose a tile cleaner that is designed for your type of wood marble tiles. For example, look for a commercial cleaner marketed as “ceramic-friendly” or “safe for stone floors.” Fill a mop bucket with water and add the tile cleaner, as directed on the back of the container.

Purchase tile cleaner from a cleaning store. Most tile cleaners require approximately 1 capful of tile cleaner per bucket of water. Avoid using citrus cleaners on stone as this can damage the wood tiles. Try not to use cleaners containing soap or detergent, as these can make your tile floors slippery. If you want to make your own wall tile cleaner, mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a bucket. This can be used on all types of tiles.

Wipe the cleaner over the tiles with a mop. Dip the mop into the bucket of water and tile cleaner, and then squeeze out any excess liquid to avoid drips. Push the mop back and forth over the entire area until the tiles are clean. Press the mop down firmly when cleaning any stained areas, as the tile cleaner and the pressure of the mop will help to remove the stains.

How to Cutting Curves with an Angle Grinder Before Cut Marble Tiles?

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Marble tiles look great in a bathroom or kitchen, but sometimes you may need a smaller piece of tile to fill in a gap. While ceramic tiles can be scored and snapped, marble needs to be cut completely or else it will shatter. You can use either a wet saw to make straight lines or an angle grinder to make curves as long as you have a diamond blade. Once you make your cuts, you can make marble tiles any size you need.

Change the blade on your grinder to a diamond blade. Loosen the nut attaching the blade to your grinder using a ratchet wrench. Remove the current blade, and set the diamond blade in its place. Put the nut back onto the blade and tighten it again with your wrench. Check your grinder’s rotation in the instruction manual and compare it to which direction the arrow faces on your blade. If they go in opposite directions, install the blade upside-down so it cuts the right way.

Place a 2 in (5.1 cm) piece of scrap wood or foam underneath the wood tile. Find a flat piece of plywood or stiff foam that you can put underneath your tile. Make sure the wood or foam is at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick. That way, your angle grinder won’t cut into your work surface.

In a pinch, clamp multiple pieces of cardboard together to make a new cutting surface. Warning: Don’t hang your cement tile over the edge of your work surface since it’s more likely to break or shatter.

Cut halfway through the tile design for its entire length. Turn your angle grinder on with the switch on the main body. Carefully lower the blade of the grinder onto your kitchen tile in a slow and steady motion. Push the grinder halfway through the wood marble tile and follow along with your line for the entire length. When you finish your cut, turn off the grinder.

Keep your fingers clear from your blade so you don’t accidentally cut yourself. Don’t attempt to cut through the entire tile right away since it may create sparks or break your blade. Follow along with the line again to cut through the wall tiles design completely. Turn on your grinder again and start from one side of your cut line. This time, push the grinder through the rest of the element tile so it cuts through it completely. Push the grinder slowly in a straight line so it doesn’t jump out of the cut.

How to Cleaning a Tile Floor with Vinegar?

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Sweep or vacuum the floor. Before cleaning a tile floor with vinegar, you will want to remove all debris from the surface of the floor. Use a broom, dust mop, or vacuum cleaner to remove all loose dirt and debris from the tile floor. Vinegar is great for ceramic tile floors. Don’t use vinegar on marble or granite. Instead, use a cleanser specifically formulated for these delicate stone types.

Mix hot water and vinegar in a bucket. Add equal parts hot water and vinegar to a bucket. The bucket should be large enough to easily rinse and wring out a mop. Wring out a mop. Place a mop in the bucket of hot water and vinegar. Lift the mop from the bucket and wring it out. Try to wring as much water out of the mop as possible.

Mop the floor tile. Use side-to-side motions to mop the tile. Rinse and wring out the mop frequently while mopping. If you are cleaning a large area, make a fresh batch of hot water and vinegar when you finish mopping half the area. Fill the bucket with clean water. Once you finish mopping the rustic tile with the vinegar solution, you will need to rinse the tile with clean water. Dump the vinegar solution down a drain. Fill the bucket with fresh, hot water.

Mop the tile with clean water. Dip the mop in the fresh water, wring it out, and mop the tile using side-to-side motions. Rinse and wring the mop frequently as you mop. If you are mopping a large area, fill the bucket with fresh water after mopping about half of the surface area.

Let the tile air-dry. Allow the bathroom tile to air dry before you walk on it. This will prevent footprints and debris from sticking to the wet wood tile. You can also dry the floor with a clean, soft towel if desired.

Create a vinegar and baking soda paste to work out tough stains. If there are any stains on the marble tile, then try mixing a small amount of vinegar into some baking soda to dorm a paste, such as 1 part vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Apply the paste to the stain with a scrub brush or sponge. Then use a wet paper towel to remove the paste.

How to Tile You Own Kitchen Countertop?

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Apply thin-set mortar to the top of the countertop. For the edges and backsplash, apply rustic tile mastic, which is flexible, along the outside edge of the countertop. This will allow for expansion so that your edge tiles do not crack.

Lay the tile in place, then push it firmly into the mortar to adhere it in place. Lay the edge tiles design first, then lay the countertop (field) tiles, using vinyl spacers to account for the grout lines. Keep moving in this pattern — mortar, tile, press, spacers, repeat — until you need to mix more mortar or finish your section.

Clean any excess mortar off the surface of your wall marble tile as you work. Removing grout is much more difficult once it dries, so work to get rid of excess while it’s still soft.

Check for consistency as you work with a straight edge. Use a straight edge to determine that your lines are straight, and place a level on top of the tile countertop to determine that your wood tiles are uniformly set into the grout. If not, you still have some time to adjust the small tiles while the mortar sets.

Cut tiles as you go to fit any problem areas. Use a floor tile cutter to cut any irregular edge and sink pieces if they only require trimming, then set those in place last. For larger cuts, or making many cuts, you should invest or rent a wet saw, which is made to cut marble tile without deforming or cracking it. When done with the counter, set any backsplash tiles using mastic. The process is the exact same.

How to Laying Your Tile?

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Use a trowel to apply pre-mixed mastic to the wall. Mastic is the adhesive, much like mortar, you’ll use to secure the floor tile to your wall. Spread enough pre-mixed mastic on the wall so you can place 1 row of marble tile for about 4 linear feet (1.2 m). This way, you’ll be able to place your tiles before the mastic starts to dry.

Switch to a v-notched trowel to remove excess mastic from the wall. Hold the trowel at a 45 degree angle. Gently sweep vertically over the mastic. This will remove excess mastic and will also create grooves that will help the cement tile adhere to the wall.

Separate your tiles with 1/8 inch (.32 cm) porcelain tile spacers. Place one wood tile (or one sheet of polished tiles) on the wall at a time. Once you’re done with the 4 foot (1.2 m) row segment, apply more mastic and place more rustic tile on the wall. Continue this process until you’ve covered the majority of your drywall with complete tiles.

Use a toothpick or another tool to remove excess mastic from between the common marble tiles. Slide your tool of choice into the space between tiles and push out any mastic that was forced up when you placed the element tile. By removing excess mastic, you’ll make sure there is plenty of room for grout when you apply it.

Cut partial tiles. In spaces where a whole mosaic tile won’t fit, you’ll have to cut smaller pieces of whole tile. Use a wet saw to cut your tiles. If you don’t have a wet saw, you can purchase a ceramic tile cutter. Before cutting a tile, use a pencil to outline where you need to cut it.

How to Cut Tiles with a Glass Cutter?

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Draw a straight line for your cut using a square. You can use a specific marble tile marker or a crayon. Set the square about 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) below the line, allowing room for your pencil or marker to line up perfectly with your measurement. You can buy a square at a hardware store or from an online retailer. If you don’t have a square, you can use anything that has a straight edge.

Score the tile along the cut line with the glass cutter. Firmly press down on the glass cutter as you drag it along your marked line. The idea is to just cut partially through the glazed rustic tile. You don’t want to push hard enough that you cut all the way to the bottom of your ceramic tile. Scoring should sound like a scratching or crackling noise.

You can buy a glass cutter at a craft store or hardware store for around $10. It’s a small hand tool with a sharp blade that cuts through glass and other hard materials when you press down and drag. Set a square along the cut line during this step to help guide the glass cutter.

Place a wire clothes hanger underneath the scored cut on a flat surface. A sturdy surface like a workbench or thick piece of plywood is best. Line up the long wire part of the hanger with the scored line. If you don’t have a wire hanger, you can use a thick piece of regular wire. It just needs to be thin enough to run along the scored line.

Break the tile along the score line by pressing down on each side. Use your palms to push gently to avoid splintering the wall tile, but use enough pressure to cleanly break the polished tile. The wire hanger elevates the tile slightly off the table so the sides of the tile size have room to snap off.

Wearing safety glasses when you break the tile will protect you from any pieces that might fly off. The spots tile should snap very easily. If it doesn’t, you may need to score it again. If you have a rough cut edge, you can sand it on a slab of concrete or a brick to smooth it out.