Preventing Water Damage By Replacing Tile

When your bathroom tile has become so cracked and the grout so loose and missing that water starts to seep underneath to the floorboards, then you have a problem. The water damage occurring to the floor underneath the tile is a potentially expensive and time consuming problem to take care of, so going ahead and replacing the damaged tile is a good idea.

You will need a tile cutter, chalk line, a grout float, tape measure, rubber mallet, notched trowel, level, and a pull saw.

To measure how much of a square tile you will need, you should draw the room’s layout on a piece of graph paper. Each square should represent a tile. The measurements should be checked more than once so you know just how much tile you need to order. After you figure that number, order at least 5 to 10 percent more tile so you will have a cushion in case you damage some of it.

Selecting the correct color grout is also a consideration. Dark grout can be used in high traffic areas to hide dirt.

Before laying the tile, you need a smooth, tough subfloor to put the tiles on. Ceramic tiles do not flex and an uneven surface can cause them to crack. The baseboards and the trim molding needs to be removed temporarily and the pull saw will be used to trim door casings and jambs so the tile’s thickness will be accepted.

All appliances must be removed from the floor, including toilets.

Start in the center of the room next to the main entrance and lay down a row of tiles without using any adhesive so you have a guide. Each tile should have an equal amount of space between them. The tiles should be perpendicular to the door.

The techniques used to actually install the tile vary depending on the kind of tile being put down and the size of it. Applying it to the tile instead of the floor is recommended for tiles larger than 8 by 8 inches. It should be skimmed with thinset mortar almost like peanut butter and this needs to be applied with the notched trowel; the trowel will help prevent weak spots in the installation. Use the tile cutter and nippers to cut the tile to fit certain areas of the room that will not accept a square tile.

After you are done laying the tile, the grout phase will come next. Apply it with your grout float and use a clean float to remove the excess. After about 15 minutes, wipe the rest of the excess away with a sponge and some water. Let it set for a day before walking on it.

Installing the tile correctly will waterproof your bathroom floor and prevent water damage from occurring to the wooden floor underneath and save you a large amount of money in the long run.

Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Texas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors and
Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.