Tile
Flooring
Tile flooring can add an elegant look and
feel to your house. Tile can come in many different forms
and styles. It is one of the oldest forms of flooring
available. It has been around for
hundreds of years in nearly every civilization.
Although it is old, it is also timeless. It is still a
great flooring choice for everyone.
One type of tile is ceramic tile. This is probably the
most common form of floor tile available on the market.
There are many different price ranges as there are economy and
high-end choices. A tile could cost as low as $.79/foot
or as high as over $20.00/ft. This gives you a vast
selection to choose from that can fit anyone’s
budget.
Ceramic tile installation is not the easiest job to
accomplish. Compared to other forms of flooring, there is
a lower margin for error. The reason for this is that it
is installed with a material called thinset. Thinset is a
concrete-like compound that holds tremendously well.
After you put the tile in and leave it, it’s stuck
there…regardless of whether it’s straight or not. On wavy
sub-floors, this can be difficult. You have to make sure
the thinset is level below the tile in addition to how straight
it is. An amateur installer can really make a tile floor
look bad. However, an experienced professional can give
your house an unmatched look of quality.
Depending on what areas you’re doing, you may be able to
install it yourself. If you’re doing the whole house and
there are many difficult cuts to make, it may be worth your
while to get a professional. Just keep in mind that the
most expensive part of getting tile is usually the
installation. In some cases, the installation costs three
or four times what the actual product does. In addition
to getting the tile straight on the floor, the installer has to
come back after 24 hours to grout. Then the grout has to
have about another 24 hours to dry. Be prepared to stay
off the floor for two days during this process. On big
jobs, be prepared for them to take a few days. A good
installer can lay between 150-350 square feet per day,
depending on the layout. This is not set in stone, but a
good rule of thumb to use.
Tile flooring can be installed on a concrete sub-floor as
well as a wooden one. It can be installed directly onto
the concrete as long as the concrete is relatively
smooth. If your sub-floor looks like the Pacific Ocean,
be prepared to have some floor prep done to smooth it
out. If you are putting tile on a wood floor, you will
need to install hardibacker as well. Hardibacker is like
a board that acts as concrete. This helps to stabilize
the floor so that any movement will not crack the tiles.
Tile flooring is great for any area and can
add value to your house.
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