What Lies Below
This post and others that follow will be devoted to home repair work and improvement handling various areas from roofing system to basement.
If you are going to re-do the restroom flooring-- this means taking up your tile, sheet vinyl, or ceramic tile and underlayments you must make certain there are no signs of water damage to the subflooring and inspect to see if it is solid throughout. When setting a new floor the main question is constantly can I lay tile over the existing floor or do I need to get the old one first? If the flooring is level and sound you can typically simply tile right over it with plastic or vinyl floor covering, however bear in mind how much room you have for the restroom door, door frame and wall molding (if any) you might have to open or close the door from time to time!
If the underlayment is solid but not stop level you can utilize leveling embossers (like mortar) to fill-in low spots to make a level surface, otherwise put a new underlayment over it, if you can. I have seen homeowner doctor it up with thin plain wood strips don't do it! All materials must be water and wetness resistant as possible. Always use at least a 3ft level to insure surface is not inclined in any way.
For a typical ground level home like a ranch with no basement, floor foundations are 'framed', meaning the flooring sits 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 support. Above the framing lays the subfloor, generally a 3/4 ″ tongue and groove particle board, plywood or similar material. Above that there is a1/4 ″ plywood or cement board (moisture resistant) thats called the underlayment and might likewise have a sheet of roofing felt or similar material for added cushioning. Take additional caution when laying underlayment over the subflooring since the flooring may split if the seems match up so it's finest to stagger the seams.
Ceramic Tiles: Because this kind of tiling has become popular in kitchens, restrooms, halls and even living spaces for its toughness and style, I wish to commit this area on the subject.
Installing ceramic tiles in the restroom will modify the height of components like toilets, vanity sinks and cabinets as well as the door and adjoining room it is best to get rid of everything and go back to cloggeed drain vic square one. This implies removing the old underlayment as well. You need to develop a level surface area or the tiles will split or break. Most ceramic flooring tile is thick so you will have up to contributed to the old floor assuming you had plastic tile or vinyl to start with. You will be balancing out the height of the old fixtures and the door so a little bit of cutting might be needed (If you are replacing fixtures-no issue).
For tiling restroom floors these actions will give you terrific outcomes:
* Utilizing a 3/ft level check if the floor even throughout.
* Lay out a row of tiles, with spacers (cross shaped inserts for grout lines) along the length and width of the space to evaluate how many tiles you are utilizing. This is also to see the number of tile cuts you will have to make near walls.
* Set cement board, cut to fit location and use a little layer of mortar to attach board to subflooring. Usage screws every 6 to 8 inches along the edges of board to protect in location. Use mesh tape over the seams and cover with a thin layer of mortar.
* Utilizing a trowel apply mortar about every 3 1/2 at a time and utilize smooth even strokes.
* Set the full ceramic tiles at a point outermost from entrance and press down firmly, tapping it with a rubber mallet so it spreads out equally. Have the cut tiles ready so as you move away from the wall location and set as you go.
* insert cross formed spacers on end between each tile to guarantee rows are even. At corners lay spacers flat and butt tiles at the angles (dont concern, it will be exact same with). You can likewise stand the spacers upright against walls.
* When you get to the closet flange (toilet hole in flooring) you will require a tile nipper or tile saw to cut a partial circle. Do this for all sides and expert tips to unblock a drain lay tile down as before. You must do this also for sinks and cabinets.
* When all the tiles are down you must wait a least one day for it to set effectively this is an important action before you put down the grout. When all set, mix tile grout to cover about of the room at a time, this will give you time to do to right. Secure the cross spacers and use grout with a grout float, then holding float at an angle capture off excess grout. Do this with action with the remainder of the room.
* The last step is to moisten a tidy sponge with water and wipe off the access grout, washing the sponge typically.