Index
A
accent strips, 161–163
accessibility
curbless showers/wet rooms and, 114–119
threshold transitions for, 43
acrylic fortifier, 36
adjustable grate plates, 116–118
American National Standards Institute, 16, 17
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 16
angle grinders
cementboard cutting and, 40–41
for cutting tile, 52
anti-fracture membranes, 42
asbestos
resilient flooring removal and, 64
underlayment removal and, 68
asphalt roofing felt, 137
B
backer boards, 38, 83. See also cementboard
backsplashes
countertops and, 172
mosaic tile, 186–189
style ideas, 129
tile options for, 173
See also countertops
baseboards, removing, 61
bathrooms
curbless showers/wet rooms and, 114–119
custom shower bases
about, 106
deck mud for, 108
installing, 110–113
sinks, removing, 63
style ideas, 8, 10, 12, 13, 25, 57, 126–128
toilets, removing, 62
tub apron tile installation, 150–155
tub surround installation, 144, 146–149
vanities, removing, 63
bathtubs
style ideas, 126
tub apron tile installation, 150–155
tub surround installation, 144, 146–149
buff rags, 53
building codes
curbless showers/wet rooms and, 116
custom shower bases and, 106
radiant floors and, 80
shower enclosures and, 73
tiled steps and, 196
bullnose base tile, 89
bullnose edging, 178
buying tile
estimating floor tile needs, 22
estimating trim tile needs, 22
estimating wall tile needs, 22
suggestions for, 23
C
carpenter’s squares, 51
carpet
removing, 67
transitions to, 43
caulk
expansion joints and, 143
grout and, 46
replacing, 229
cementboard
about, 38
cutting, 40–41
floor underlayment installation, 71
safety and, 40
scoring and snapping, 40–41
wall installation, 136–137
cementboard knives, 50
cementboard mesh tape, 39
cementboard screws, 39
cement body tile, 21
center punch, 31
ceramic subway tile, 13
ceramic tiles
basic installation
backer board installation, 83
cutting tiles, 86
grouting, 87–88
laying out tile, 83–86
reference lines for, 83
sealing, 88
threshold transitions, 88
glazed, 18
removing from floors, 66
removing from walls, 133
chalklines, 51
chimney flue tiles, 208
cleaning, 230
coefficient of friction numbers, 16
cold chisels, 48
color variations, multiple boxes and, 23
combination squares, 30
concrete resurfacer, 36
coping saws, 52
cork tile style ideas, 10
countertops
building, 176–178
corner variations, 184
edge options, 173
granite tile installation, 182–185
installing tile, 178–181
kitchen island, bi-level, 191–193
laying out tile on, 175
removing existing, 183
sink cutouts, 183
typical construction, 173
See also backsplashes
crack isolation membranes, 42, 73
curbless showers
about, 114
installation, 116–119
typical construction, 115
cutting tile
holes, 30–31
irregular notches, 29
mosaic tiles, 30
nippers
safety and, 26
square notches and, 28
using, 29
porcelain, 102
safety and, 26
square notches, 27–28
tile cutter safety, 26
tools for, 52
tungsten carbide hole saws, 31
wet tile saws
irregular notches and, 29
porcelain and, 102
safety and, 26
square notches and, 28
using, 27
D
deck mud, 108
diamond blades, 52
door jams, preparing, 61
drains, custom shower bases and, 110–113
dry pack mortar, 108
dry-set thinset mortar, 44. See also thinset mortar
drywall. See wallboard
drywall squares, 50
E
ear protection, 34
electric wire fault indicators, 78
F
fasteners
underlayment removal and, 68
fireplaces
mantel casing installation, 169
mantel installation, 165
style ideas, 129
tile surround, 164–166
tile surround with wood border, 167–169
first aid kits, 35
flat pry bars, 48
floor covering
assessing existing, 61
removing
about, 64
adhesive, 66
asbestos and, 64
carpet, 67
ceramic tile, 66
sheet vinyl, 65
vinyl tile, 66
floor leveler, applying, 36–37
floor mud, 108
floor-patching compound, 72
floor resurfacer, 36
floors
anatomy of, 60
preparing, 60–61
radiant floors
connecting, 81
electrical service requirements, 76, 77, 78, 79
installation, 78–81
subfloor and, 76
See also floor covering; shower bases, custom; underlayment
floor tiles
about, 16
countertops and, 172
curbless showers/wet rooms and, 114–119
custom shower bases and
about, 106
deck mud for, 108
installing, 110–113
estimating amount needed, 22
glass mosaic installation, 96–99
installing
backer board installation, 83
cutting tiles, 86
grouting, 87–88
laying out tile, 83–86
reference lines for, 83
sealing, 88
threshold transitions, 88
porcelain snap-lock, 100–103
ratings for, 16
regrouting, 223
replacing, 221
resilient tile, 120–123
self-leveling systems, 104–105
foam brushes, 53
fortifier, 36
fountain, ceramic tile
construction of, 208–209
creating, 210–211
foyers, style ideas, 58
framing
building countertops, 176–178
custom shower bases, 107, 109–110
fireplaces
mantel casing installation, 169
mantel installation, 165
garden bench, 215–217
kitchen island, bi-level, 191–192
tiled wall niche, 157–158
friction ratings, 16
G
garden bench, 214–217
GFCI circuits, radiant floors and, 76–78
GFCI receptacles, 35
glass tile
color variations and, 96
mastic for, 24
mosaic tile floor installation, 96–99
thinset mortar and, 44
wear and, 24
granite tiles
countertop installation, 182–185
sink cutouts, 183
style ideas, 58
grinders, 52
grout
carbide-blade grout tools, 222
cleaning products and, 230
floor tile installation and, 87–88
porous tile and, 207
thinset and color of, 44
tile spacing and, 46
types of, 46
wall tile and, 140
grout colorant, 224–225
grout sealers
about, 46
applicators for, 53
grout tools, 222
H
hand mauls, 48
heat guns, 48
holes
cutting, 31
marking for cutting, 30
patching wall, 131
hole saws, 40–41
I
irregular notches, 29
J
jamb saws, 61
jigsaws
cementboard cutting and, 40–41
square notches and, 28
for substrate work, 49
K
kitchen islands
building a bi-level, 191–192
corners of, 184
options for, 190
tiling, 192–193
kitchen style ideas, 13, 56–58
knee pads, 34
L
latex additive
for floor leveler, 36
for grout, 46
for thinset mortar, 44
latex gloves, 34
latex grout fortifier, 46
latex leveler fortifier, 36
latex-modified grout, 46. See also grout
latex-modified thinset mortar, 44. See also thinset mortar
layout lines, 120
leveler, applying, 36–37
levels, 51
low-voltage lighting system, 209–211
M
maintenance, 220, 230. See also repairs
marble tile style ideas, 10
margin trowels, 46
masks, 34
masonry chisels, 48
medallions, installing, 90–95
metal tile, 19
modified thinset, 44. See also thinset mortar
mosaic tile
about, 20
backsplash, 186–189
color variations and, 96
cutting, 30
installing floor glass, 96–99
obstacles and, 99
outdoor fountain
construction of, 208–209
creating, 210–211
sealing, 99
style ideas, 13
N
needlenose pliers, 53
niches
tiled wall niche, 157–159
nippers
safety and, 26
square notches and, 28
using, 29
notches, cutting
irregular, 29
square, 27–28
O
obstacles, floor glass mosaic installation, 99
outdoor tile
concrete steps
preparing, 196–197
tiling, 198–201
cutting contours in, 205
frost ratings, 17
garden bench, 214–217
grouting porous, 207
mosaic planters, 212–213
patios
grouting/sealing, 206–207
laying out tile, 203–205
surfaces for, 202
style ideas, 11
tile fountain, 208–211
outlets, 35
P
painted tile, 126–127
paper templates, 29
patios
grouting/sealing, 206–207
laying out tile, 203–205
surfaces for, 202
planters, mosaic, 212–213
plaster, removing, 133
plywood, 72
polyethylene sheeting, 136–137
polymer-modified grout, 46. See also grout
polymer-modified thinset mortar, 44, 45. See also thinset mortar
Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI), 16, 17
porcelain tiles
about, 18
basic installation
backer board installation, 83
cutting tiles, 86
grouting, 87–88
laying out tile, 83–86
reference lines for, 83
sealing, 88
threshold transitions, 88
snap-lock tiles
advantages of, 100
cutting, 102
installation, 101–103
replacing damaged, 103
portable drills, 49
primer, leveler and, 36–37
pry bars, 48
Q
R
radiant floors
connecting, 81
electrical service requirements, 76, 77, 78, 79
installation, 78–81
subfloors and, 76
repairs
about, 219
accessories
replacing built-in, 227
replacing surface mounted, 227
grout colorant, 224–225
heavy stains, 230
regrouting
floor tile, 223
tools for, 222
wall tile, 226
replacing caulk, 229
replacing damaged tiles
floor, 221
porcelain snap-lock, 103
wall, 228
resilient tile, 120–123
respirators, 34
resurfacer, 36
rotary tool, 40–41
rubber gloves, 34
rubber mallets, 53
S
safety
basics, 34–35
cementboard and, 40
cutting tile and, 26
first aid kits, 35
with hammer and chisel, 220
safety equipment, 34
safety goggles/glasses, 34
scoring tool, 40–41
sealant
mosaic tile and, 99
testing, 230
tile appearance and, 17
self-leveling systems, 104–105
self-leveling underlayment
about, 36
applying, 36–37
mixing, 36
sheet vinyl flooring, removing, 65
shower bases, custom
about, 106
deck mud for, 108
installing, 110–113
shower enclosures, membranes and, 73
shower pan liner, 42
silicone grout sealers. See grout sealers
sinks, removing, 63
snap cutters
resilient tile and, 123
using, 26
snap-lock porcelain tiles
advantages of, 100
cutting, 102
installation, 101–103
replacing damaged, 103
soap niches, 8
sound isolation membranes, 42
spackle, 131
square notches
cutting options, 28
marking, 27
stain removal poultice, 230
stairs, concrete
preparing, 196–197
tiling, 198–201
stone tiles
basic installation
backer board installation, 83
cutting tiles, 86
grouting, 87–88
laying out tile, 83–86
reference lines for, 83
sealing, 88
threshold transitions, 88
stone floor with medallion, 90–95
style ideas, 11
style ideas
accent strips, 163
backsplashes, 129
bathrooms, 8, 10, 12, 13, 25, 57, 126–128
fireplaces, 129
foyers, 58
porcelain tiles, 8, 11, 13, 56
terra cotta tile, 11
wood tiles, 13
T
tape measures, 51
thinset mortar
glass tile and color of, 44
grout color and, 44
premixed, 45
radiant floor installation and, 81
safety equipment and, 34
trowel size and, 45
types of, 44
tile membranes
curbless showers/wet rooms and, 114–115
for custom shower base, 110–112
installing, 74–75
tile stones, 52
tile types, 18–21
T-molding, 43
toilets, removing, 62
tools
for applying grout, 46
for cementboard cutting, 40–41
for cutting tile, 52
for regrouting, 222
setting and grouting, 53
for substrate installation, 50
for substrate work, 49
for surface removal, 48
for tile layout, 51
See also nippers; snap cutters; wet tile saws
transition strips
about, 43
floor tile installation and, 88
trim tiles
about, 21
backsplashes and, 173
bullnose base installation, 89
bullnose edging, 187
countertop edges, 173, 178, 180
estimating need, 22
wall installation, 142
tub-and-tile caulk, 46
tungsten carbide hole saws, 31
U
underlayment
flooring removal and, 66
installing floor cementboard, 71
installing floor plywood, 72
materials for floor, 70
removing, 68–69
utility knives
for substrate installation, 50
V
vanities, removing, 63
vinyl tile flooring
removing, 66
resilient tile, 120–123
style ideas, 9
W
wallboard
installing, 134–135
removing, 132
walls
cementboard installation, 136–137
checking plumb, 138
correcting out-of-plumb, 131
measuring, 138
patching holes in, 131
preparing, 130
removing plaster, 133
wallboard
installing/finishing, 134–135
removing, 132
wall tile
about, 17
accent strip, 161–163
accessories, replacing, 227
estimating amount needed, 22
fireplaces
tile surround, 164–166
tile surround with wood border, 167–169
grouting/sealing, 143
grout lines and, 140
hanging substrate for, 134–137
layouts for, 138–139
ratings for, 17
regrouting, 226
replacing damaged, 228
setting, 141–142
style ideas, 8, 9, 10, 13, 126–129
tiled wall niche, 157–159
trim tiles, 142
tub apron tile installation, 150–155
tub surround installation, 144, 146–149
water absorption ratings, 16, 17
waterproofing membranes
curbless showers/wet rooms and, 114–115
custom shower base and, 110–112
installing, 74–75
waterproof sealant, 75
wet rooms
about, 114
installation, 116–119
typical construction, 115
wet tile saws
irregular notches and, 29
safety and, 26
square notches and, 28
using, 27
wheelchair use
curbless showers/wet rooms, 114–119
transitions for, 43
wiring, 34–35
work gloves, 34