Bath 3 Floor coverings

Floor Covering
While looking at possible wall coverings, we ran across a sale on floor coverings. We picked up some very nice tile at a great bargain. When we got home we laid out several different patterns to see what we might want to use for the final installation.

I happen to like the look of both the off set and staggered patterns. Anna on the other hand knows my tile skill level better than I do and decided we would use the standard square pattern. Meanwhile, we ran into another sale and found a roll of great vinyl sheeting. We went back and forth for some time on what covering would be best. Both had advantages and both disadvantages. The decision maker was actually laying out some tiles to see what it might look like. Tile it is.

To the left is the "dry fit" of the new bathroom tile floor. We spent a lot of time trying various layouts to see which one resulted in the fewest cuts and the widest pieces of tile to be fitted. The first three attempts just did not work, even though they looked pretty good to the eye. Just too many small pieces of tile. This whole affair was brutal on my knees.

Instead of picking up each piece of tile for every new permutation of layout, I used a putty knife to lever each tile.

Once we were happy with the pattern, I made all cuts and dropped in those pieces as well.

The new "thinset" (the stuff you use to get tile to stick to the floor) is pre-mixed, has some sort of additive to make it work better, and comes in several colors. We used white mainly because that container was closer to me on the shelf than the usual gray thinset. Follow the directions exactly, using the proper tools.

When I had a few tile squares in place, I used a fairly long level to gently form a flat surface. Remember that our floor is not even close to level, but at least it is mostly flat.

Since we used larger tile, our brand of thinset told us to wait about three days before grouting. That gave me three days to re-cover before going back down on the floor.

	Getting a bag these little spacers turned out to be a great idea. Not only do they help to space between each tile, they also helped in get better alignment across the entire pattern. Still, I can see a couple of screw ups, but I will put either a sink or rug over them.
	I have attempted to tile in the past and each time wished I had one of those tile wet saws. Anna must have been distracted or something and let me slip this $88 job in the basket. It was on sale, cheaper than renting, available for other projects and it WORKED. Get a pair of "nippers" too. Look like pliers, but the jaws have two cutting edges that come together to snip little pieces of tile.
	After each cut with the wet saw, I made sure the new edge was smooth by using a two grit stone. One side is coarse while the other is fine. Reduces chipping and helps you fool guests into thinking that you actually know what you are doing.

Laying tile is not a bad job, just terribly hard on your knees, back, wrists, hands, elbows and patience. I always think that I will enjoy laying tile and actually do like it for a few minutes, then I start to feel the pain creep in. About a day or two after the job is done, I begin to like laying tile again. Then I remember that I still have to grout.

Grout is the stuff you squeeze into the spaces you so carefully created between each tile. It helps hold the whole affair together and can provide a nice contrasting color to the tile squares. Anna decided on a cream color akin to just too much creamer in your coffee.

Follow these directions to the letter just as you did for the thinset. I used both a small trowel used for concrete work and the usual rubber bottomed rectangular trowel for pushing the grout into the spaces. I know I made a mistake, because I mixed exactly what I needed for the job. Normally I would have been just two tile squares short.

Our brand had us "spritzing" the floor for about three days. Guess that is to help prevent too rapid drying, causing cracks in the grout.

There is still a lot of finish work to be done and Joe the Plumber and the electrician need to be scheduled too.