Ceramic Tile Installation: What You Need To Know

Ceramic tiles can be a fantastic way in which to enhance your home’s beauty. Here you will find some basic knowledge ranging from how to choose ceramic tile to how to install it yourself. If ceramic tile installation seems to be a little overwhelming and you feel you would benefit from using a professional ceramic tile installation company then you are in luck as Hawthorn Interiors offers qualified and professional Calgary based ceramic tile installers.

How to Choose Ceramic Tile

Since there are literally thousands of different types of ceramic tiles from which to choose from  it is important to ask yourself a few questions that will help you in narrowing down your choices.

What size should I use?

The most popular ceramic tile size is the 4 1/4" square but recent trends show that the larger tile, 12 x 12, is quickly becoming the most popular ceramic tile size.

What type of ceramic tile should I use?

Glazed Ceramic Tile: Very durable and coated with a liquid glass before being baked into its final form.

Mosaic Ceramic Tile: Made from clay with color pigments added ; color goes all the way through the tile.

Quarry Ceramic Tile: Made from a mixture of different clays; usually found in deep red and unglazed.

How to Prepare for Ceramic Tile Installation

Once you have chosen the ceramic tiles you must next choose the adhesive. Since there are different types of adhesives for different types of ceramic tile it is important that you do some research in order to make sure you select the right one for your specific ceramic tile installation needs. The next step is preparing the surface for the ceramic tile installation and again, it is important to research the type of surface you will be using so you know the correct preparation technique: a smooth, flat, clear surface is necessary for your ceramic tile installation to adhere to and set properly.

Ceramic Tile Installation Basics

Installing ceramic tile can be quite the challenge as there are many aspects to making sure you are doing it right.

After you have done your homework, bought all the required materials,  and have prepared the surface for your ceramic tile installation you are ready to start. Take the adhesive and spread a thin layer onto the prepared surface, a good place to start is in the middle of the prepared surface. Take a tile and work it into the adhesive until it is in the exact position it needs to be in.

Repeat until you are no longer able to insert any ceramic tiles due to limited space, as this is where any specialized cuts will need to be made in order to perfectly fit the ceramic tile into its proper place. The last step is to use a sealant that will protect your completed ceramic tile surface from moisture. Simply choose the one for your specific needs and make sure you cover all the grout (this is really what needs to be sealed, not the actual tile) really well in order to avoid any mildew problems that can occur if not properly sealed.

TIPS:

Only put down enough adhesive to cover a few square feet, or less, at a time so that it does not dry out before you get a chance to get to that specific area.