Installing Tile?

[mitchell_NY]

Hey, installing tile in a kitchen and bathroom questions Here. Other than the wetsaw to cut the tile, whats the list of materials you will need to install tile? Is there a math formula for how many bags of grout u will need for installing tile? is laying tile something that a newbie can do to save money or would this be something that you recommend having installed by a profesional and look to save money somewhere else?

[giddonah]

read up on it and do it. It's not hard if you take your time to plan it out. I guess something like this http://www.tileforums.com/ might help (I just googled it). You'll need a trowel for the thinset, a rubber trowel for the grout, and a pair of tile nippers for odd corners. It takes a bit of study, but the actual installation isn't hard to get good results.

[midnightscape]

I installed the tile in my new master bath, tiled floor, up and around the corner bath and full shower. First time I've ever done it. Just take your time and dry set the tile to see how they'll end up. I have half or quarter tiles in my shower where I would rather not have them, but being my first time I think I did OK. Maybe I'll post some pics tomorrow. After that bath I did my old bath floor. I'm now thinking about tackling kitchen countertops.

[David]

I'll be doing tile soon, too. These are my lists so far:

* materials:
tile, thinset, grout, water, plastic spacers, sealant

* tools:
handheld grinder + appropriate blade, tile cutter, trowels, rubber mallet, edge clippers, tape measure, level, (2) 5g buckets, several rags, sponges, tape measure, masking tape, string, pencil, speed square, makeshift workbench

* Other tools that would be nice to haves:
Tile saw, laser level, laser layout tool

I may have to level the floor, too, since the house has a slab on grade foundation.

[CThomp]

BUY THE WET SAW.

I wasn't shouting I just wanted you to see it really well. This will save you many many many headaches.

You can level the floor just by adding more thinset to places where the house may have settled. If you are using larger tiles it can get tricky. 12" or smaller tiles is a cake walk.

[Cole]

I agree, buy a wet tile saw.

It will save you so much time.

[ITE]

I agree with CThomp and Cole, buy the wet saw. It will save time and energy.

[Dragon]

Or rent one

[David]

I don't plan to do this too often. I'd rather not spend more money than I have to on this. How much should I expect to pay for a saw? Then I have to buy the blade and keep the thing working -- and I hope to not be doing this work for a long time.

[midnightscape]

I've seen saws go for as little as $50 that come with a blade. I didn't even go through a blade when I did my bathroom. And the blades can be anywhere from $10 up to $200 for heavy duty ones.

I myself borrowed a saw from my neighbor who was a builder. He just had a cheap $75 saw that worked fine. I went out and bought him a new blade for it since he let me borrow it. I think the blade was $20 I got at Menards or Home Depot.

[CThomp]

Yeah I borrowed a saw from a friend. You probably know someone who has one and you don't even know it. I've done a couple of jobs without a saw and it was a total pain in the a$$. Luckily my uncle had a saw that he didn't want any more so it's now my saw. Works fine but it could use a new blade. I wore it out on the last job I did.