Typically, the underlay is a sub layer of plywood or cement board. It is recommended that the subfloor be at least 3/4" thick, but a thicker sub-floor certainly won't hurt. An existing layer of tiles or linoleum may also be used. If an existing layer of tiles were already in place, using it as the underlay for a new layer of tiles would make the refurbishing process far less time consuming. Tiles may also be installed directly over concrete. As long as the underlay is level and solid it will suffice.
Once the sub floor is in place, be sure to clear the underlay surface of dust and debris prior to tile installation. In areas of differing floor heights or working surfaces that are not level, it is important to use a leveling compound to even out the surface before any tile installation is started.
Before actually installing the tiles, it is always a good idea to lay out the tiles on the floor to make sure that the pattern fits and you can figure out how many cuts you will have to make. Pay close attention to how the tiles run out toward the walls, in the corners and next to bathroom furniture and sanitaryware.
The purpose of the dry installation is to be able to inspect the overall appearance before being stuck with it, but more importantly, to allow you to see where all of your cuts are going to be (yes, you will have to make some cuts). It is best to keep tiles cuts to the perimeter of the room or around toilets and/or furniture.
Once you are satisfied with how the installation will look, the next step is to leave yourself a visual guide to work from. There many ways to do this, but a common method is to pencil draw a partial tile grid. A chaulk line is commonly used to create a grid around the floor. This will make it easier to keep a straight line in your layout
When lifting the dry installation leave the center tile in place. Draw a straight line on the underlay along one of the edges of this tile and continue it to the wall. Do the same thing with the edge that is 90? to this one. You will be left with a large right angle on the underlay surface meeting each other at the corner of the centre-most tile.
Once you are ready to start installing, make sure the area is free of dust and debris one last time. Apply the ceramic adhesive or thin set to the underlay surface, starting in the center where the two perpendicular pencil guidelines intersect. Apply enough material to cover the area you will get done before encountering any cutting or disturbances. The last thing you want is for the adhesive to harden leaving you with an uneven surface before the tiles are laid, so it is recommended to work in smaller, manageable areas. Use 30 minutes as your nominal countdown so-to-speak. Read the adhesive material packaging as some adhesives are designed to harden even quicker.
When applying the thin set, first spread it with the flat end of the trowel. Lay it on relatively thick, approximately 1/8" to 3/16" thick. Then turn the trowel around and run the notched edge over it. This creates ridges in the thin set that help to hold the tile down more securely. The larger the tile, the larger the notches should be. As a guide, a 1/4" notched trowel is suitable for 12" x 12" tiles.
Once the adhesive has been applied, install the tiles working from the centre outward. With larger tiles apply a thin coating of mastic to the back prior to laying it on the floor. This will help ensure a good bond. As you near the walls or edges of bathroom furniture and sanitaryware, you will need to cut some of the tiles. A portable wet-saw is the best option for cutting tiles, as it will allow you to make very accurate cuts. You will also save money in wasting fewer tiles due to bad cuts or breakage. You can usually rent a wet saw from your local Home Depot or Lowes.
When applying tiles, you may want to use spacers. Spacers are available in various shapes and sizes and the size chosen depends on your personal preference. In bathroom flooring, it may be a good idea to keep spacing to a minimum to reduce water collection. Spacers will ensure uniformity throughout your tile layout.
After the tiles have been installed, allow them to sit for 24-48 hours before applying grout and/or walking on them. Grout comes in a wide range of colors, so it is possible to match up a grout color to your tiles. Simply mix the grout with water or a special bonding agent and apply it with a rubber trowel. Remove the spacers as you apply the grout.
Once applied, immediately wipe excess grout off the tiles, using a wet sponge. Wait approximately 25-30 minutes and wipe the tiles of any residual grout again. Wait another hour and repeat. If any grout is left on the tile surface you will have a hard job getting it off without damaging the tiles. Other than that, within a day you will be able to stand back, or on your finished handiwork and admire it.
Plastic ceiling tile is great for added insulation. You will find that your home or business will use less energy when you have ceiling tile that is plastic. Because plastic is often what is used for insulating windows and doors, it just as easily works wonders on the ceiling as well. If you have poor insulation and you are in need of a new ceiling as well, you might as well go with plastic for your best bet.
You will find while you are shopping for plastic ceiling tile that it is very affordable. Face it, plastic is cheap, this means that your ceiling tile that is made of plastic will be cheap as well. This is great if you are on a tight budget for your ceiling tile replacement. You are sure to find ceiling tile that is plastic that will fit your budget perfectly.
While you are shopping for your plastic ceiling tile, you will want to be sure that you check out your local home improvement center to see what they carry. If you are looking for a certain style or color of ceiling tile you might have to shop around to find what you want. Another great place that you can look for ceiling tile is your local hardware store. The hardware store usually carried things such as ceiling tile, and you never know, they might even have the style and color that you are looking for.
Once you have located the plastic ceiling tile that you want, it will be time for the installation. You may want to do it yourself, so that you will save money from hiring a contractor to install it for you. When you start looking for information that will tell you how to install the ceiling tiles yourself, you will want to visit your local library. While you are at the library, you will find many books that will tell you how to install every kind of ceiling tile that you could imagine. The library is always a great resource for finding information on do it yourself projects.
Ceiling tile installation is something that you want to have done right. You do not want a less than perfect job done on your ceiling, whether you do it yourself, or hire someone to do this for you. When you are installing your own ceiling in your home, you are going to make sure that you get the job done right. However, you want to be sure that you person or crew that you hire to do the job for you will be just as particular as you. While you just never know when you are hiring a stranger to do work on your home how professional they are going to be, there are some things that you can look for and do to make sure that you're hiring someone that will get the job done right.
When you come across someone that you are interested in hiring for your ceiling tile installation, you will want to ask for references. Getting references of the contractors past work will help you when you are deciding whether or not the person is professional. Be sure that you get more than one reference, and call each one until you get a hold of someone that can tell you how professional of a job that the contractor did for them when installing their ceiling. This is a great way to tell if someone that you are considering hiring for work in your home is a reputable contractor or not.
Another way that you can make sure that you will get a professional job done by the contractor you are considering hiring for your ceiling tile installation is to check with the better business bureau. If the contractor is the owner of a company, or it is a company that you are considering hiring for the job, if there are any complaints against them, more than likely the better business bureau will have a record of them. This is an excellent way to make sure that your contractor is reputable as well.
All contractors that are hired to work in someone's home should be insured and bonded. Making sure that the person you are considering for ceiling tile installation is insured and bonded will be your best bet when you want to make sure that things are done right.
Both Jason Delmar & Andrew Manifield are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.