Ceramic Tile Application Questions
#1
11-21-04, 04:02 PM
Ceramic Tile Application Questions
I'm going to be installing ceramic tile in the foyer of a raised ranch. I had a few questions regarding the installation of the tiles.
1.) Do you take the baseboard off first or tile up to the baseboard?
2.) How do you finish off the tiles when placed up against a stairwell? Is there a trim to finish it off or do you need tiles with a finished edge to make the transition?
* I attached a picture of the foyer *
http://img96.exs.cx/img96/1107/floor1.jpg
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
1.) Do you take the baseboard off first or tile up to the baseboard?
2.) How do you finish off the tiles when placed up against a stairwell? Is there a trim to finish it off or do you need tiles with a finished edge to make the transition?
* I attached a picture of the foyer *
http://img96.exs.cx/img96/1107/floor1.jpg
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
#3
11-23-04, 09:37 AM
Member
I am not a tile expert but have done my own tile jobs.
I would remove the baseboard as the tile needs room to move and this will hide the "movement area". As far as the stairwell, if you do not want to place molding there you can use a caulking the same color as the grout (once again it gives the tile movement room.) Good luck on your project.
I would remove the baseboard as the tile needs room to move and this will hide the "movement area". As far as the stairwell, if you do not want to place molding there you can use a caulking the same color as the grout (once again it gives the tile movement room.) Good luck on your project.
#5
11-23-04, 05:23 PM
Member
What I meant was that by removing the baseboard you could leave a small space between the wall and the tile and the baseboard would cover the gap up. No need to fill with anything. The stairway, if you did not want to cut molding, could have same colored caulk to match the grout and it would provide the movement needed. If you install tile touching the walls and there is any movement (expansion or contraction) of the underlayment the tile will buckle. So you need room for that movement. Good luck.
#7
11-24-04, 09:03 AM
You can also leave the baseboards in place and just make consistant cuts around the edges and fill with the color/texture matched caulk for your grout. This will allow movement and eliminates the need to remove baseboards which will keep allthe base baords at the same height if you have rooms where the height of the moldings will be seen from two rooms. Also a very good idea if you know you cannot find matching moldings in the event one of them breaks while you are trying to pull them off.
#8
11-28-04, 10:48 AM
Well, I decided to set the tile out a little further then the baseboard so that it will line up properly with the stairway trim.
I have set all the full tiles with the mastic and made all my cuts for the existing tiles and laid them out.
Here is how it looks so far. http://img19.exs.cx/img19/9614/floorlayout.jpg
BTW... What's the best way to get the mastic off the finished tile??
I have set all the full tiles with the mastic and made all my cuts for the existing tiles and laid them out.
Here is how it looks so far. http://img19.exs.cx/img19/9614/floorlayout.jpg
BTW... What's the best way to get the mastic off the finished tile??
#9
11-28-04, 05:14 PM
Hopefully by mastic you mean mortar and the glue that comes in a bucket cause that would be the wrong stuff to use.
Couple of questions though ,did you use durock or other c.b.u or just go over the plywood?Also what are you using at the stairs that go down?If you were going to remove the base why did'nt go all the way under the base?Never was a fan of tiling up to the base,always removed it regardless of the type or age ,don't care for the look,sloppy I.M.O, so you will still have the big grout joint when you put the base back on.
Carry a bucket and sponge with you when tiling and you can wipe the stuff off as you go while it is still wet,if it is dry then take something like a 5 in 1 and being very careful scratch through it and wipe the rest off with a damp sponge.Do it gently or you will leave a black mark known as a metal mark on the tile that you cannot remove
Couple of questions though ,did you use durock or other c.b.u or just go over the plywood?Also what are you using at the stairs that go down?If you were going to remove the base why did'nt go all the way under the base?Never was a fan of tiling up to the base,always removed it regardless of the type or age ,don't care for the look,sloppy I.M.O, so you will still have the big grout joint when you put the base back on.
Carry a bucket and sponge with you when tiling and you can wipe the stuff off as you go while it is still wet,if it is dry then take something like a 5 in 1 and being very careful scratch through it and wipe the rest off with a damp sponge.Do it gently or you will leave a black mark known as a metal mark on the tile that you cannot remove
#10
11-28-04, 05:47 PM
Hey floorman, Actually I did mean mortar (versabond thinset).
"did you use durock or other c.b.u or just go over the plywood?"
I just went over the plywood because its such a small area and there didn't seem to be any spring in the ply (also to prevent cutting of the door). Was this wrong?
"what are you using at the stairs that go down?"
I am either going to cut the tile at a 45 degree angle or use the metal trim they use for lino and flip it upside down so the nails go into the stairs and not the tile.
"If you were going to remove the base why did'nt go all the way under the base?"
Well, the baseboard was already removed by the previous owners. If I sat it on the tile it would not line up with the stairway base Unless I ripped the basebord to size.
I'm guessing I shouldn't have let the mortar dry on the finished tile??
"did you use durock or other c.b.u or just go over the plywood?"
I just went over the plywood because its such a small area and there didn't seem to be any spring in the ply (also to prevent cutting of the door). Was this wrong?
"what are you using at the stairs that go down?"
I am either going to cut the tile at a 45 degree angle or use the metal trim they use for lino and flip it upside down so the nails go into the stairs and not the tile.
"If you were going to remove the base why did'nt go all the way under the base?"
Well, the baseboard was already removed by the previous owners. If I sat it on the tile it would not line up with the stairway base Unless I ripped the basebord to size.
I'm guessing I shouldn't have let the mortar dry on the finished tile??
#11
11-28-04, 05:57 PM
Sorry wasn't trying to be critical,If the floor was good and tight along with the versabond you will ,in all likelyhood be o.k. in the small area that you have tiled.Now if you ever want to tile a bigger area then use a different method.
Ther are meatls that are made that will go under the tile and cover not only the tile edge but the edge that you will see coming up the stairs,meaning the plywood edge at the top of the stair under the tile.
That mortar is alot easier to clean when wet than after it dries,live and learn my friend,bet the next time that wont happen, have fun!
Ther are meatls that are made that will go under the tile and cover not only the tile edge but the edge that you will see coming up the stairs,meaning the plywood edge at the top of the stair under the tile.
That mortar is alot easier to clean when wet than after it dries,live and learn my friend,bet the next time that wont happen, have fun!
#12
11-28-04, 06:15 PM
Thanks floorman, you're not being critical Just helping 
. I didn't realize there was a proper end cap for the tile (good to know). I'll pick one up at Home depot.
Also I will be doing my kitchen in the same tile so what I understand from your response I will need to put down mudboard or something first?
. I didn't realize there was a proper end cap for the tile (good to know). I'll pick one up at Home depot.Also I will be doing my kitchen in the same tile so what I understand from your response I will need to put down mudboard or something first?
#13
11-28-04, 06:30 PM
Depnding on the size ,span ,and the spacing of the joists you will want to do something to the floor before tiling.Before you go to put tile down get back to us and we'll teach you about deflection (the silent killer)cause in these bigger areas you will want to pay attention to that one.We will aslo want to know you have for a sub floor thickness of the ply and what type,then we can help you with what to do next.The type of tile you choose will also play a part too.
Some situations you can go over the ply but you need a thinset that is made for those applications,and more than likely you will need to add some more ply to the subfloor before doing this.
There aRE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MET,not trying to yell,and if you don't that is just another future problem that may come back to haunt you so you want to try to take care of the obviouse ones cause of all the variables that go along with setting tile.
Have a good one and leat us know when you get ready for the other project
Some situations you can go over the ply but you need a thinset that is made for those applications,and more than likely you will need to add some more ply to the subfloor before doing this.
There aRE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MET,not trying to yell,and if you don't that is just another future problem that may come back to haunt you so you want to try to take care of the obviouse ones cause of all the variables that go along with setting tile.
Have a good one and leat us know when you get ready for the other project
