Master Bathroom Renovation Project - Tiling
PREP:
Finally it is time to put the tiles. The first step is to install guide bar at the bottom of the wall. To set the height of the first line of the full (not cut) tile, total height is measured and decide where the top and the bottom tiles are about the same size. Put the straight bar (I used 2x4s and some other woods) and temporarily fasten to the wall. All the walls including the tub and shower should have the same height, otherwise it will look awful.
For the floor, I have used Detra underlayment to prevent any moisture damage from the possible crack of the tile. I have used regular thinset as recommended by manufacturer as adhesive (Fig 31).
Fig 30. Tile guide for the first full size tile.
.JPG)
Fig 31. Detra underlayment installation on the floor.
WALL TILES:
The grout spacing that I have used is 1/8 for the 8x12 wall tiles and 3/16 for the 16x16 floor tiles. I have searched the web and the Floor Elf was somewhat helpful. At the end of the first day (Fig 32), I have done quite a lot (it was the first tiling in my life). Before starting, I was eager to get it done so I mixed ALL 55 lbs bag of fortified thinset in a bucket. It did not take too long to realize that this was a huge mistake. I did not cut all the tiles beforehand so unless you have a helper to cut the tiles, just mix what you can finish in two hours or so. I was not able to proceed with the mosaic tiles on the front wall because it was sliding down. I had to discard about 3/4 of 55 bags of thinset at the end of the day.
.JPG)
Fig 32. End of first day of tiling. The front wall's mosaic was
sliding down slowly so I removed the middle one.
Fig 33. Nails to prevent slipping of the mosaic tiles.
After the first day is over, I've got severe flu so I could not even move out of bed for 5 days. When I was little better (but still not able to work), I was thinking how to prevent sliding of the mosaic tiles. I bought thin 7/8 inch nails and used them to hold between mosaics (Fig 33). I have used about 3-4 nails for 12-by-12 mosaics. I was able to put the mosaic tiles all the way to the top in a day (Fig 34).
Shower niches will have the same mosaic tiles on the back wall. The trick of installation is the same but the side walls had to be cut before putting the tiles. The depth of the bottom wall is deeper so the mosaic will sit on the bottom tile and the side and the top walls are to be installed after back tile is installed to prevent cutting the mosaic tiles (Fig 35).
Fig 34. Progress in a day.
Fig 35. Mosaic tiles on Shower niches. (Left: Shower niche, Right: Sink wall niche)
Fig 36. Around the tub tile installation.
Lots of decoration tiles are used around the tub. Fig 36 shows the tile installation around the tub. The level was a little bit off on top of the tub so I had to use extra caution to add thicker mortar on the right side than left.
I have learned that the number of corners is directly proportional to the labor time. For example, the total working time to finish the shower niche was longer than the entire wall with 8x12 tiles. Measuring and cutting time took way longer than I thought it would be. The shower wall is complete. Now I have to select the grout color.
Fig 36. Finished tiles in the shower area.
FLOOR TILES:
Lessons were learned from the first few days. For the floor tiles, I cut ALL the tiles before putting mortar. Fig 37 shows most tricky cuts I made. As you can see in the Fig 2 from my old blog post, my bathroom has a small wall sticking out next to the toilet. There is a tricky cut around the wall. It is very tricky since one side was too narrow so it might easily break. I lost one tile and successfully made the correct cut in the second try. Another tricky cut was around the toilet. I had to make a big circle hole in the middle of the 16-by-16 inch tile. I also wasted one tile and made it in the second try.
Fig 37. Tricky cuts of the floor tiles. (Left: around the wall post, Right: around the toilet bowl)
After all the cutting is complete, I started to put them on the floor permanently. I have started from the middle towards toilet area. It took me about 4 days to install all the floors. One single mistake in using spacer will ruin your grout lines and the gap will become bigger and bigger. So be careful!
.JPG)
Fig 38. Left: Drying the mortars, Right: after applying grout.
GROUTING:
I have selected LINEN (#122) grout color, which is a little bit darker than cream. I bought two boxes of sanded and two boxes of non-sanded grouts. I used non-sanded ones on the mosaic tiles and sanded ones on the 8x12 walls and 16x16 floors. I have the pictures of the shower after grout in Fig 39.
Fig 39. Grouting is completed.
GROUT SEALER:
I have used Miracle Sealants 32 oz. 511 Impregnator Penetrating Sealer (bought it from Homedepot) to seal the grouts and natural stone tiles. It is very easy to apply - just used a small handkerchief-sized cloth and rubbed. It is almost done, although it is way over due and way over budget. :-(
PREP:
Finally it is time to put the tiles. The first step is to install guide bar at the bottom of the wall. To set the height of the first line of the full (not cut) tile, total height is measured and decide where the top and the bottom tiles are about the same size. Put the straight bar (I used 2x4s and some other woods) and temporarily fasten to the wall. All the walls including the tub and shower should have the same height, otherwise it will look awful.
For the floor, I have used Detra underlayment to prevent any moisture damage from the possible crack of the tile. I have used regular thinset as recommended by manufacturer as adhesive (Fig 31).
  |
| Fig 30. Tile guide for the first full size tile. |
.JPG) |
| Fig 31. Detra underlayment installation on the floor. |
WALL TILES:
The grout spacing that I have used is 1/8 for the 8x12 wall tiles and 3/16 for the 16x16 floor tiles. I have searched the web and the Floor Elf was somewhat helpful. At the end of the first day (Fig 32), I have done quite a lot (it was the first tiling in my life). Before starting, I was eager to get it done so I mixed ALL 55 lbs bag of fortified thinset in a bucket. It did not take too long to realize that this was a huge mistake. I did not cut all the tiles beforehand so unless you have a helper to cut the tiles, just mix what you can finish in two hours or so. I was not able to proceed with the mosaic tiles on the front wall because it was sliding down. I had to discard about 3/4 of 55 bags of thinset at the end of the day.
.JPG) |
| Fig 32. End of first day of tiling. The front wall's mosaic was sliding down slowly so I removed the middle one. |
 |
| Fig 33. Nails to prevent slipping of the mosaic tiles. |
After the first day is over, I've got severe flu so I could not even move out of bed for 5 days. When I was little better (but still not able to work), I was thinking how to prevent sliding of the mosaic tiles. I bought thin 7/8 inch nails and used them to hold between mosaics (Fig 33). I have used about 3-4 nails for 12-by-12 mosaics. I was able to put the mosaic tiles all the way to the top in a day (Fig 34).
Shower niches will have the same mosaic tiles on the back wall. The trick of installation is the same but the side walls had to be cut before putting the tiles. The depth of the bottom wall is deeper so the mosaic will sit on the bottom tile and the side and the top walls are to be installed after back tile is installed to prevent cutting the mosaic tiles (Fig 35).
  |
| Fig 34. Progress in a day. |
  | ||
Fig 35. Mosaic tiles on Shower niches. (Left: Shower niche, Right: Sink wall niche)
|
I have learned that the number of corners is directly proportional to the labor time. For example, the total working time to finish the shower niche was longer than the entire wall with 8x12 tiles. Measuring and cutting time took way longer than I thought it would be. The shower wall is complete. Now I have to select the grout color.
 |
| Fig 36. Finished tiles in the shower area. |
FLOOR TILES:
Lessons were learned from the first few days. For the floor tiles, I cut ALL the tiles before putting mortar. Fig 37 shows most tricky cuts I made. As you can see in the Fig 2 from my old blog post, my bathroom has a small wall sticking out next to the toilet. There is a tricky cut around the wall. It is very tricky since one side was too narrow so it might easily break. I lost one tile and successfully made the correct cut in the second try. Another tricky cut was around the toilet. I had to make a big circle hole in the middle of the 16-by-16 inch tile. I also wasted one tile and made it in the second try.
  |
| Fig 37. Tricky cuts of the floor tiles. (Left: around the wall post, Right: around the toilet bowl) |
After all the cutting is complete, I started to put them on the floor permanently. I have started from the middle towards toilet area. It took me about 4 days to install all the floors. One single mistake in using spacer will ruin your grout lines and the gap will become bigger and bigger. So be careful!
.JPG) |
| Fig 38. Left: Drying the mortars, Right: after applying grout. |
GROUTING:
I have selected LINEN (#122) grout color, which is a little bit darker than cream. I bought two boxes of sanded and two boxes of non-sanded grouts. I used non-sanded ones on the mosaic tiles and sanded ones on the 8x12 walls and 16x16 floors. I have the pictures of the shower after grout in Fig 39.
  |
| Fig 39. Grouting is completed. |
GROUT SEALER:
Fig 40. Handheld shower is installed after the sealer is applied.
Stay tuned. The next topic will be the Glass Block installation and the shower door installation.
 |
| Fig 40. Handheld shower is installed after the sealer is applied. |
