Ceramic Tile Backer Board

Posted By admin on November 25, 2010

Ceramic Tile Backer Board

Ceramic Tile Backer Board

Tile It Yourself

About me, I am a professional wall and floor tiler based in Birmingham UK. Obviously I would prefer it if everybody wanted to pay a professional tradesman (especially me) to do the job, but I know that this option isn't always within everyone's budget. I have had to salvage countless botched Do It Yourself Tiling jobs over the years, and thought that maybe a few simple hints on here may be of help.

WALL TILING
First things first......... make sure that the walls you are going to tile onto are sound! Tiling over old crumbling plaster is not a great start, obviously, and needs to be re-plastered or replaced with plaster board or tile backer boards (such as Hardibacker). Tiling onto existing tiles should be avoided if possible, as you can never be 100% certain of what is underneath them

When tiling onto plaster, prime the walls before tiling - use the primer that is recommended by the supplier of your adhesive, do not use PVA!

 

Getting kitted out...... for wall tiling you will need a 6mm or 8mm notched trowel, usually a 6mm will be OK for very flat walls and small tiles, but you may find an 8mm better for large tiles or slightly uneven walls. A dry cutter for scoring and snapping ceramic and porcelain tiles when making straight cuts, and an electric wet cutter for making "L" shaped cuts and also for natural stone tiles. A rubber grout float is necessary too, makes things so much easier. As far as adhesive goes, you can use the tubbed adhesive for normal ceramic tiles, but be sure to use one that is waterproof for shower and bath areas. This adhesive dries by dispersion on contact with air, so needs to be left ungrouted for a day or two to set properly. For porcelain, natural stone or large format ceramic tiles you should use cement based bagged adhesive, but avoid rapid setting adhesive for wall tiling. For grout, definitely best to mix powdered grout from a bag, and not use the stuff that acts as both adhesive and grout! Oh...... and you need tile spacers too, the cross type will do nicely.

Getting started....... you really need to start from a perfectly level base, which may not necessarily be the case if you start from, say, the floor or bath. There are a couple of ways of doing this but the easiest way for a novice is to use a spirit level and fix a batten of 2" x 1" timber to the wall (after making sure that your batten is actually straight) at the level of the bottom of the first full tile above your base (e.g. bath or floor), sit your tiles on this batten and leave the bottom row off until the adhesive has set, then remove the batten and individually measure and cut your tiles to fit the space left between the bath/floor and your bottom row of full tiles. Your wall will look best if you centre the tiles on the wall (except if you have a large feature window, when it is usually best to centre the window), try measuring from the centre point and if at the edge you are left with a small cut (less than half a tile) then move the middle tile sideways by half a tile width before fixing, this will then give you more than half a tile at the edges, which looks much better. Start by fixing your centre tile first and work your way out to the walls, complete each row including cuts before moving to the next row up - avoid the temptation to fix the full tiles and leave the cuts until last. Hope this helps. Barney

 

 

What is the easiest way to put down cement backer board prior to laying ceramic floor tile?


I've done the hard way - bunches of expensive special screws. I found that to be expensive and time consuming (and therefore back breaking). It seems like it takes just as long to do the backer board as it does to do all the remaining steps with the tile. Can I use nails? If so, what kind? Thinset and nails? The subfloor is plywood with old vinyl tiles, I have no intention of remove the old vinyl tiles first. Please reply if you have personal experience with an alternative. Thanks!

I've done this many times. Use GALVANIZED roofing nails with thinset under the cement board. I've done the screws too and this is WAYYYY easier.

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With more than 70,000 copies sold, Lark’s Handmade Tiles has delighted crafters everywhere, and whetted their appetites for more beautiful ideas. They’ll find just what they’re looking for in these dozen ceramic tile projects, which include everything from trivets to tabletops to stepping stones. The wealth of practical, visually breathtaking information covered here includes everything from design and formation through decoration and site installation, making this manual an absolute must in every ceramics and home improvement library. Find out about basic tools and materials, glaze application, and techniques for making slab tiles. Get the lowdown on mosaics, and stamped, carved, and inlaid designs. With these techniques, even beginning crafters can start working fast, and move on to simple stair risers, a kitchen backsplash, and an exquisite window surround.

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Everything a do-it-yourselfer needs to know about tiling floors, walls, counters, patios, and more can be found in Ultimate Guide to Ceramic & Stone Tile. Design and planning information helps readers prepare the site and select the right tile–ceramic, stone, vinyl, glass, and more. Chapters on tools and materials feature how-to photo sequences so even novices can tackle tile projects successfully. The emphasis is on solid, durable installations that can stand up to years of use in kitchens, baths, and other areas. The book also covers exterior applications, and includes a practical and complete guide to repairing and maintaining existing tile.

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Easy-to-understand, and an enthusiastic treatment of the art of making tiles that provides a wealth of practical information, from design and formation, through decoration and installation. “The definitive guide to tile and how to make it. This is a book that demands your perusal.”—The Tile Heritage Foundation.

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Given the high prices that contractors charge for ceramic tile jobs, many homeowners would undoubtedly consider installing it themselves, if they had the proper guidance. Also in the last ten to fifteen years, tile used in new homes is often glued to nothing more than plasterboard. The life expectancy of this type of installation is generally less than two or three years, which means that homeowners must pay to have the tile torn out and redone-an expensive proposition. Now, John P. Bridge comes to the rescue, providing do-it-yourselfers with all of the information they need to complete ceramic tile projects with long lasting, professional results. Bridge begins with a brief discussion of the tools of the trade, materials required, and various types of masonry tile. Readers will then find easy-to-follow instructions for installing floors, tub surrounds, walls, and counter tops. Bridge takes readers step-by-step through the entire process, from surface preparation, layout, and design to setting the tile, grouting, and finishing

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Introducing tile and stone into the home gives designers and homeowners an artistic medium like no other. Reclaimed, antique terra-cotta tile can transform a high-rise city kitchen into a French countryside retreat. Italian mosaic tiles hand-assembled in geometric borders and colorful murals can turn an ordinary bathroom into an oasis of luxury.This book traces the latest designs using tile, stone, and mosaic. Through beautiful photography and illustrative text, installations for every room in the house-kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and more-are presented. Renowned designers and tile manufacturers from around the world share their exquisite creations.In this high-tech world, tile, stone, and mosaics can fulfill our innate desire for tactile design. With these materials, we can create homes that are sensual places where the feel of cool stone beneath bare feet is as important as its deep, rich color or how the sunshine illuminates it.For interior designers, homeowners, and apartment dwellers, this book is an essential guide to using tile and stone to decorate. It will surely inspire.

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Complete DIY tile installation instructions with over 350 how-to, step-by-step photos; tool and material selection guides with full-color photography; design inspiration; the most up-to-date tile products and projects, such as recycled glass tile and other environmentally friendly and sustainable tile, new advancements for tile specifically engineered for outdoors, faux-stone tiles (made of more affordable materials), etc.; tile for all home projects including floors, walls, bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoors. This is the one stop shop for do-it-yourself tile installation instructions.

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With nearly 100 selections taken from the book 500 Tiles, this pocket-sized book will delight art enthusiasts. The magnificent tiles--from single standouts to large displays designed to decorate public spaces--will inspire beginners and professionals, as well as collectors and enthusiasts. The renowned artists include Paul Andrew Wandless, Lai Gong, Claudia Riedener, Melody Ellis, Ruchika Madan, and many more.

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Chalky blues, sultry ochres, imperial reds, 1,000 Tiles dazzles with the brilliant color and design that has adorned even the farthest reaches of the world down through the centuries. From Mesopotamian to Post-modern examples, each exquisite tile or tile plate is presented in rich color and matched with a profile describing its origin, history, symbolism, and decorative motifs, as well as providing information on techniques such as fire glazing and dust pressing. Arranged by period and style, this comprehensive book makes it easy to access tiles from any era or movement. Artists and designers looking for inspiration, especially in the realm of patterns and color play, will find much to admire in this visually arresting volume. Complete with a resource section and tips for building a collection, 1,000 Tiles is the ultimate guide to an ancient art form that remains vital today.

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“Easy-to-conquer designs....Every part of the process—indeed, of the more than 25 designs—is well documented with clear directions and color photos. In part for novices; in part for those firing up their skills.”—Booklist. “Shows how to add color designs to existing tiles without an expensive replacement job...a very practical book for public libraries on an often underutilized decorative feature.”—Library Journal.

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