What Lies Below
This short article and others that follow will be devoted to home repair work and improvement handling various locations from roofing to basement.
If you are going to re-do the restroom floor-- this indicates using up your tile, sheet vinyl, or ceramic tile and underlayments you should make sure there are no indications of water damage to the subflooring and examine to see if it is solid throughout. When putting down a new floor the main question is always can I lay tile over the existing floor or do I need to pick up the old one initially? If the flooring is level and sound you can typically just tile right over it with plastic or vinyl floor covering, but remember just how much space you have for the restroom door, door frame read this and wall molding (if any) you may have to open or close the door from time to time!
If the underlayment is solid however not stop level you can utilize leveling embossers (like mortar) to fill-in low areas to make a level surface, otherwise put a brand-new underlayment over it, if you can. I have seen property owner doctor it up with thin plain wood strips do not do it! All products need to be water and moisture resistant as possible. Always utilize a minimum of a 3ft level to insure surface is not inclined in any way.
For a typical ground level home like a cattle ranch without any basement, flooring foundations are 'framed', meaning the flooring rests on joists with 2-by's (stills) running perpendicular to the joists along the structure. 'Girders', (metal rods) at or near the center of the joists assist in assistance. Above the framing lays the subfloor, usually a 3/4 ″ tongue and groove particle board, plywood or comparable product. Above that there is a1/4 ″ plywood or cement board (wetness resistant) thats called the underlayment and may also have a sheet of roofing felt or comparable product for included cushioning. Take additional care budget tips for homeowners when laying underlayment over the subflooring due to the fact that the flooring may split if the seems match up so it's best to stagger the seams.
Ceramic Tiles: Because this type of tiling has become popular in cooking areas, bathrooms, halls and even living rooms for its toughness and design, I want to devote this section on the subject.
Setting up ceramic tiles in the bathroom will change the height of fixtures like toilets, vanity sinks and cabinets as well as the door and adjacent room it is best to get rid of everything and go back to square one. This means getting rid of the old underlayment as well. You have to produce a level surface area or the tiles will crack or break. A lot of ceramic flooring tile is thick so you will have up to added to the old flooring presuming you had plastic tile or vinyl to begin with. You will be balancing out the height of the old fixtures and the door so a bit of trimming might be essential (If you are changing fixtures-no issue).
For tiling restroom floorings these steps will give you excellent results:
* Utilizing a 3/ft level check if the flooring even throughout.
* Lay out a row of tiles, with spacers (cross formed inserts for grout lines) along the length and width of the room to gauge the number of tiles you are utilizing. This is also to see how many tile cuts you will need to make near walls.
* Set cement board, cut to fit location and utilize a small layer of mortar to attach board to subflooring. Use screws every 6 to 8 inches along the edges of board to secure in place. Use mesh tape over the joints and cover with a thin layer of mortar.
* Using a trowel use mortar about every 3 1/2 at a time and use smooth even strokes.
* Set the complete ceramic tiles at a point furthest from entrance and press down firmly, tapping it with a rubber mallet so it spreads out uniformly. Have the cut tiles all set so as you move away from the wall location and set as you go.
* insert cross shaped spacers on end between each tile to insure rows are even. At corners lay spacers flat and butt tiles at the angles (dont concern, it will be same with). You can also stand the spacers upright versus walls.
* When all the tiles are down you should wait a least one day for it to set correctly this is an essential action before you put down the grout. When ready, mix tile grout to cover about of the room at a time, this will provide you time to do to right. Get the cross spacers and use grout with a grout float, then holding float at an angle squeeze off excess grout. Do this with step with the rest of the room.
* The last action is to dampen a tidy sponge with water and wipe off the access grout, rinsing the sponge often.