Manufacturers create ceramic tile in many styles and colors.
Companies construct mobile or manufactured, homes and move them to your land. In the construction process, the companies often use particle board for the flooring. This is the number one obstacle when putting tile floor in a mobile home, since particle board may be water resistant, but it is not waterproof, according to an article on the U.S. Forestry Service website. Therefore, preparing the floor by covering it with plywood helps create a solid foundation for the waterproof backerboard required for tiling. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Inspect the sub-floor. If it is particleboard or oriented strand board, cover it with plywood. Use 3/4-inch plywood, cut to fit the area. Screw the plywood into the floor joists with wood screws.
2. Cover the plywood with 1/2-inch cement backerboard. Start at the far side of the room and work out. Center the ends of the sheets of backerboard over the floor joists and secure it with screws or galvanized nails.
3. Mix the mortar or thinset you will use to adhere the tile to the backerboard according to the manufacturer's directions. When mixed with water, the thinset's consistency should mimic peanut butter.
4. Work from the backside of the room towards to door. Save the edges for last. Apply a baseball-size portion of the mortar to the back of one of the tiles. Spread it out evenly, covering all corners. This helps the tile sit flatter. Press the tile firmly onto the backerboard. Use the pre-printed grid on the board to keep the tiles square. Place a spacer at the edge of each tile to help keep the spaces between the tiles even.
5. Repeat the process until you have covered the entire floor.
6. Measure from the outside wall to the edge of the tile. Allow room for the spacer. Trim the tile to fit the area. Set the tile after cutting it with a wet saw or tile cutter. Allow the tile to set for 24 hours.
7. Mix the grout in the color you prefer with water. Make the grout consistency similar to pancake batter.
8. Remove the spacers. Dip a medium-sized portion of grout onto the tile. Spread it evenly over the tiles and fill in the spaces. Use a large, damp sponge and grout float and create smooth lines. Rinse the sponge often and keep wiping the tile until the grout fills the gaps.
9. Apply a sealant to your tile grout. This prevents moisture from seeping under the tile. Follow the application directions on the label for best results.
Tags: floor joists, particle board, Spread evenly, with plywood, with water
