There are numerous various kinds of tiles which, the handyman can apply to floors, walls and ceilings. Among the oldest types is ceramic tile - they're baked clay and have been used generally in the toilet for walls and floors. There are also plastic Accra Tiles which have been used mainly for walls and ceilings.
Ceramic tiles , however, have moved from the bathroom into the rest of the home. Contemporary homes usually have kitchen counter work tops and sometimes even family area walls manufactured from ceramic tile. These tiles could be applied with special waterproof adhesive to any suitable smooth surface. No longer could it be necessary to utilize wire lath and cement setting the tiles in place.
Plastic tiles , which may have gained in popularity since the finish of World War II, can be purchased in numerous colors, sizes and patterns.
You can find basically two types of plastic tiles. The rigid ones are made of polystyrene; the flexible tiles are generally manufactured from vinyl. Both are applied in somewhat exactly the same manner, though some flexible tiles come already glued. All that's necessary would be to moisten the adhesive backs of the self-adhesive tiles and they may then be placed on the wall or floor.
Metal tiles of various kinds also are available. Certainly one of the most recent developments is a metal tile to which a ceramic coating is bonded at a temperature of from 900° to 1000° F. It can be cut easily and even bent if necessary. The tile is applied with mastic.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is one of the oldest building materials recognized to man. Its history dates back centuries ago when it was learned that clay baked at high temperatures becomes a tough, durable material which can be both waterproof and fireproof.
But tile is one of the very modern of materials, too. It is simple for the common handyman to put in and will afford a duration of constant, rugged use without deterioration. Real tile - that's, tile created from baked ceramic materials - is a permanent installation. Its colors never fade. Due to its durability and the lack of any upkeep or remodeling, real tile takes its significant economy.
Today, ceramic tile can be obtained to the homemaker in an incredible number of sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. With an excellent waterproof adhesive, tile could be readily installed on walls, floors, and countertops.
Technically, there are two main divisions of tile: wall and floor tile. Wall tiles in popular use vary from 17/4" square to 6"x9" rectangles. They come in either a higher glaze or even a matt glaze which really is a somewhat softer-looking surface.
Floor tiles go from "dots" (11/32" squares) to 9" squares. Commonly used nominal sizes, though, would be the 2" square, the 1" square, and the 1"x2" rectangle. Floor tiles are often unglazed.
Floor tiles could be broken down into three subdivisions:
• Ceramic mosaics are less than six square inches in facial surface. • Pavers are those unglazed floor units measuring six square inches or more in facial surface. • Quarries are created to resist especially severe conditions of weather and wear. They've a strong, dense body which can withstand extremes in temperature.
Means of Handling Tile
Listed below are simple instructions for installing ceramic wall and floor tiles.
Practically all common home surfaces which are true, level, free from moisture and foreign matter are suitable for receiving tile. In virtually any area affected by steam or water, the beds base surface should really be covered with two coats of primer, the next applied at right angles to the first.
All joints and apertures, such as for example those for bathroom fixtures, should really be sealed off with a waterproof tape.
To start tiling, install the underside row first. Set up a level line for it. If the floor isn't level, make cuts in the underside row of Accra Tiles. If this is performed, the very best row of the wainscot will soon be level.
CUTTING
Simply draw a pen line on the glazed surface parallel to the raised bars on the trunk of the tile, take a regular glass cutter and score the outer lining across the line. Then place the tile, glazed side up, over a claw and press on each side of the scored line. The tile will part cleanly down the line.
For special cutting, such as for example around fixtures, use pliers to nip off small chunks of the tile. Then smooth the outer lining with a Carbo-rundum stone.
Tiles in the underside row should really be "buttered' individually with a tiny dab of adhesive and then pressed against the wall. Don't placed on an excessive amount of adhesive; it could ooze from the joints between tiles.
After setting the very first row, spread a slim layer of adhesive over several square feet with a saw-tooth trowel. Press the tiles firmly into place with a twisting motion of the hand. Spacing bars on the edges of wall tile will keep the pieces a standard distance apart.
Once a wall has been tiled, allow it to set for a day or so that the volatile elements in the adhesive can escape. Then soak the joints between tiles with a damp sponge at least four times at five-minute intervals. A quart of water is enough for about 50 square feet of tile-work. Soaking - thorough soaking - is performed so that the tiles won't draw water from the fine cement, called grout, used to fill the spaces between them.
GROUTING AND FINISHING
Commercial grout is really a fine white powder. Mix it with water to the consistency of heavy cream. Allow it mean 15 minutes and remix. The mixture could be placed on the tile joints with a sponge, a squeegee or by hand with a pair of rubber gloves. Fill the joints completely.
Groing through the job with the finish of the handle of a brush can give it a specialist finish. It will force the grout to the joints, too.
Cleaning is simple. A damp sponge or cloth will remove the extra grout from the face of the tile. A dried cloth should really be used for polish.
But before the ultimate polishing, most of the grouted joints should really be wet down with a sponge several times next four or five days, so they will set properly.
Just how to Tile Floors
Floor tile is defined very very similar way as wall tile. The outer lining must first take good condition, firm, perfectly smooth and free from moisture and foreign matter. Floor tile - the smaller unglazed units - come pasted on to paper sheets measuring l'x2' ;.
Sheets of the tile are pressed to the adhesive spread on the floor, with the papered side uppermost. Let the tile set an hour. Wet the paper slightly with a wet sponge and pull it off the tile. At this time, the adhesive it's still pliant to help you re-align individual tiles if necessary. When you have to walk over the floor now, do this aboard or cardboard so your weight will be more equally distributed.