Install ceramic tile in a mobile home.
Ceramic tile is great for floors because it's easy to install and can resist wear and tear better than other flooring. It can also add instant value to a home. Installing ceramic tile in a mobile home is similar to ceramic tile installation in any other home. Having a good foundation and advanced planning is important. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the old floor cover. Regardless of what type it is, you need to see the sub flooring to check for water damage or other problems. Use a pair of pliers to remove any staples left behind. Also, remove trim around the bottom of walls and thresholds in doorways. Use a small pry bar and a flathead screwdriver to gently pry them away.
2. Clean and inspect the sub flooring. Use a broom and vacuum to remove all dust and debris from the floor. If you find water damage, replace the damaged sub floor by cutting out the bad area and replacing it with new sub floor. Use a level to make sure that floor doesn't have a slope. If the floor is unlevel, use a liquid floor leveler that can be purchased at your local hardware store. If the sub floor is made of an unstable material such as particle board, cover the entire area with 1/4-inch plywood to make the floor sturdier. Attach the plywood with wood screws every six inches.
3. Cover the area with 1/4-inch cement backer board. Backer board protects the floor under the tile from moisture. Place the backer board in sheets across the room horizontally, and screw it to the floor using screws every six to eight inches in the pre-marked circles.
4. Lay your tile starting from the far corner of the room and working toward the door. Do a dry run first, with no glue or mortar, to see how the pattern will work. Lay as many tiles as possible before cuts are needed along the edges of the walls and doors.
5. Start gluing the tiles in place. Pick up the tiles, and use a trowel to cover the back of each tile completely with tile glue or mortar. Do not put on too much glue because it will squirt out of the sides when you push down on the tile. Place the tile on the backer board. Use the grid on the backer board to keep the tiles in line. Press firmly to make sure each tile is set in place. Use a spacer between the tiles to keep them an equal distance apart. Continue to lay all of the tiles that do not require a cut.
6. Return to the far corner, and begin measuring the tiles along the walls for cuts. Measure from the wall to the next tile, and allow for your spacer amount. Mark the tile with a pencil according to your measurement. Use a wet saw to cut the tile along the mark, and follow the guide on the saw. Dry the tile before applying the glue and laying it.
7. Remove the spacers. Mix the grout in a large bucket using a drill mixer if you have one. If not, the grout can be hand mixed. Do not mix too much grout at one time because it will dry quickly. Mix the grout to a consistency of peanut butter. Dip the grout onto your tile, and use a rubber float to spread it out. Make sure each tile has grout down in between the openings. If the area you are tiling is prone to moisture, use a grout sealer available at your local hardware store.
8. Use a large sponge dipped in water to smooth and clean the grout as you go. Continue to wet your sponge and remove the excess water. Do this until the room is complete. Allow it to dry overnight. Use a mop or sponge to remove the haze from the ceramic tiles the next day.
Tags: backer board, each tile, area with, area with 4-inch, because will
