Laying ceramic tiles can be expensive, therefore a lot of homeowners try to achieve it at home but it is not always a success. This article is your ultimate guide to laying ceramic tiles by yourself. This guide aims to show you how to lay your own ceramic tiles. We will share with you all the intel about laying ceramic tiles from the average cost of the tiles to how you can do it at home.
Can I lay my own ceramic tile?
Laying ceramic tiles is not easy and is considered quite the challenge.From that angle, it may seem wiser to hire a professional tiler than to proceed by yourself. A lot of services offer professionals who will do that for you but that usually costs a lot of money. If you want to save your money, one good approach is to do your own tilework for the least visible areas .Then you can hire a professional tiler for the most visible areas. However, if you try to do it yourself, keep in mind that it is hard to reverse tilework and the margin of error should be very low. Some tilework is easier to pull off while some may take a lot of thinking and experience. We have gathered all the information you need to laying ceramic tiles by yourself at minimum costs.
what you will need
- Straight edge – 10 foot
- Rubber grout float
- Notched trowel
- Rubbing brick
- Drill/driver
- Pointing trowel
- Margin trowel
- Flush cut saw
- Tape measure
- Tile cutter
- Nippers
- Carbide-tipped scorer
- Folding layout A-square
how to: laying ceramic tiles by yourself:
What to keep in mind:
Laying ceramic tiles by yourself as a DIY project is possible. Just be careful , it will take you a lot of patience and a set of skills. You can rent all the tools you will need and follow the guidelines in the video above.
Take extra precautions whenever you are using a wet saw since you will work with both water and electricity simultaneously. If you think your job is gonna take a lot of days to complete, consider buying an inexpensive saw, it will cost you less than renting it for several days.
watch the video to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before laying ceramic tiles by yourself.
PORCELAIN VS CERAMIC TILES:
The only big difference between porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles is how they’re made. Both tiles are mostly made from a clay mixture after that mixture has been fired in a kiln, at high temperatures. This makes it denser as well as more durable than ceramic tiles. Therefore porcelain tiles are more expensive than ceramic tiles and are also considered to be of higher quality. If you’re looking for the best tile flooring options, porcelain tiles are likely the best option for you, but if you are looking for a cheaper alternative, ceramic tiles are your answer. Laying both types of tiles is the same so this article will be helpful no matter what type of tiles you chose to purchase. Just keep in mind that porcelain tiles are trickier to cut.
Ceramic Tile Costs
The price for ceramic tiles could vary from 4$ to 8$ depending on the quality and durability. Really thin ceramic tiles can actually cost less tha 1$.
The durability of ceramic tile is rated between on a PEI scale from 1 to 5. Look for a rating of 3 or higher when purchasing your tiles. Anything less is better suited for walls.
Consider installing porcelain tiles when installing floors in damp areas like your bathroom and kitchen. Due to the manufacturing process of porcelain tiles, it is denser and better at repelling water. Porcelain costs 2 $ per average per square foot but wears better than ceramic.
When purchasing ceramic tiles we recommend shopping around in order to get the best deal. You can find affordable prices at smaller shops and online.