Module 2 Tiling the First Two Rows

Transcription

1 Module 2 Tiling the First Two Rows Getting Started Where should you start tiling? We get this question a lot and it s totally understandable. So here s our take Tile the back wall first so that you can hide the grout joints on the sides. More on this a bit later but as you can see, tiling is like chess. You need to plan out multiple moves ahead of time. We re going to dive into the details. Here s your supply list: Laser Level Tuscan SeamClips (Blue) Horseshoe Shims (1/16 ) Sponge Carpet Knife for Thin-Set Removal 1/4 1/4 1/4 Square Notched Trowel Ishii Big Clinker Tile Cutter (Borrow, Buy or Rent) Tile Wet Saw (Borrow, Buy or Rent) Tape Measure "1

2 4 Level Pencil 5-Gallon Bucket for Water 5-Gallon Bucket for Thin-Set Ardex X77 Thin-Set (White) We made these links Amazon Affiliate links so that you could see the pictures and prices Place 1/16 spacers on the tub for expansion and contraction purposes. Bathtubs, believe it or not, will expand when filled with water. This is true even for steel or cast iron tubs. Leaving a 1/16 gap between the tub and tile will prevent the tile from cracking when the tub expands. Plus, a 1/16 gap allows the caulk to properly fill the space and waterproof the transition between the tile and tub or shower. Position the 1/16 horseshoe shim on your tub and measure up to the laser level. Keep in mind, that at this point you ve determined what size tile the first row should be. And that horizontal laser is denoting the top of the first tile. Cut your first tile to size with a tile cutter or wet saw. Ishii makes a large tile cutter called the Big Clinker that we love. You can cut tiles up to 24 long. It s not cheap but worth renting or even buying and selling back on Craigslist. Line up marks with Ishii s cutting wheel and make the cut. "2

3 You ll see Steve do this in the videos. Follow his guidance and technique. Proper Thin-Set Technique We like two types of thin-set: Ardex X77 and Mapei s Kerabond. Ardex X77 is considered one of the best thin-sets for vertical tile because of it s bond strength. We use it exclusively for large format tiles on the wall because the tiles stay put. Follow the directions on the thin-set bag for proper mixing and trowel size recommendations. Mix thin-set with either a margin trowel or opt for a half-inch drill and paddle. Either will work fine, but the margin trowel method just takes longer. Apply thin-set on the tub surround to cover the area where the first row will go. Comb all the thin-set grooves in the same horizontal direction on the wall. Backbutter each tile and run the thin-set grooves the same directions as the wall. PRO TIP: The back of the tile should be % covered in thin-set. This is perhaps the most important step that some folks forget. Backbuttering tiles ensures a good bond with the wall thin-set. Embed your tile into the thin-set on the wall. "3

4 PRO TIP: Clean the thin-set off the tile surface with a damp sponge as you tile the wall. It s a good idea to do this cleaning process as you tile the wall. You ll see Steve repeatedly sponge the tiles in the videos because dried thin-set on tiles is no fun to cleanup!! Although, we do have a solution for this in later modules. Double check your tile measurements before cutting the next tile. SeamClips for Tile Lippage and Even Grout Joints Uneven and wonky grout joints make any tile job look terrible. One way to avoid this is to use a tile leveling system. We like the Tuscan SeamClip leveling system because of it s simplicity and quick learning curve. Seriously, anyone can learn how to use SeamClips in 5 seconds. Place a SeamClip in the center of the vertical grout joint and compress it after you adhere the second adjacent tile. Determine the size and quantity of SeamClips you ll need for the tile before beginning your tiling project. Each SeamClip provides a 1/32 grout joint but the industry minimum is 1/16 which means you ll need to place a horseshoe shim between tiles. Or if you trust your judgement you can simply eyeball the grout joint. "4

5 Tuscan Leveling System makes the SeamClips and you can read their FAQs right here. Wedge 1/16 horseshoe shims behind tiles to eliminate any minor lippage. PRO TIP: Reference the tile direction before embedding it in the thin-set. Each tile has a direction, usually this is indicated by an arrow or some other marking on the back of the tile. The last thing you want is for your tile surround to look terrible because you didn t identify the direction of the tile pattern. Scrape excess thin-set from grout joints with the carpet knife but be careful not to puncture your waterproofing. Apply thin-set to the next row on the wall and again, backbutter the tiles to ensure % coverage. Setup all the SeamClips on the top of the first row of tile. We use 2 clips per 12 of tile. And embed the next tile. Continue to run the laser up the wall and line up successive rows. You ll find that having a laser level is far easier than a pencil mark on the waterproofing. Pencil marks get covered with thin-set but laser levels don t plus, who doesn t love lasers!! Leave a 1/16 gap at a minimum between the tile and side walls. This helps with expansion and contraction. "5

6 In addition, a 1/16 gap makes your caulk joint look professional. Watch the video for all the details Test Your Knowledge Question 1: True or False, you should place spacers on the tub to set the first row of tile True, this is for expansion and contraction purposes but also to provide a gap for the silicone caulk. Question 2: True or False, tile the back wall of a tub surround first True, do this so that grout joints between the side walls and main wall aren t seen when looking straight into the tub it s a cleaner more professional look. Question 3: How much extra tile, as a percentage, should you buy to account for mistakes and mishaps 10-15% extra tile is a good rule of thumb. What s Next The next module is going to show you how to tile around a shower niche. Planning and layout are critical for niches because the last thing you want is wonky tile framing your niche. So don t miss Steve s tips!! "6