Tile Basics

Recommended Reading: The Complete Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile
Part of the Black and Decker Series

Types of Floor Tiles
Glazed Ceramic Tile
Porcelain Tile
Quarry Tile
Natural Stone Tile
Terra-cotta Tile
Cement Body Tile
Mosaic Tile
Decorative Tile
Baseboards and Thresholds


Tools for Removing Old Surface
End Cutting Nippers
Heat Gun
Hand Mauls
Flat Pry Bar
Chisels
Floor Scraper

Tools for Repairing and Installing Substrates
Straight-edges
Jig Saw
Portable Drills
Circular Saws
Drywall Squares
Utility Knife
Cement Board Knife
Trowels

Tools for Layout
Straight-edges
Levels
Carpenter's Squares
Chalk Lines
Tape Measures

Tools for Working With Tile
Coping Saws
Tile Nippers
Hand-held Tile Cutters
Tile Stones
Wet Saws
Diamond Blades
Tile Cutters
Grinders
Tile Spacers
Grout Sponges, Buff Rags, Foam Brushes and Grout Sealer Applicators
Rubber Mallets
Needlenose Pliers
Caulk Guns
Grout Floats
Trowels

Preparation Materials

Cork
Fiber/Cementboard
Cementboard
Greenboard (on walls)
Plywood
Trowel-Applied Membrane
Shower Pan Liner
Isolation Membrane

Materials for Setting and Grouting Tile
Thin-Set Mortar
Grout
Latex Fortifier
Grout Sealer
Wall Tile Mastic
Wall and Floor Tile Adhesive

Helpful Hints

1) Buy All Materials At Once
2) Mix Tile From Carton To Carton
3) Check For Warped Tiles
4) Make Sure The Subfloor is Flat
5) When Dealing With Porous Tile Seal It Before Installation
6) Dry-lay Polished Stone Tiles

Helpful Links
www.hometips.com
www.easy2diy.com
www.ceramic-tile-floor.info
www.super-tek.com
www.hgtv.com
howstuffworks.com
www.hometime.com