How to Remodel a Bathroom With Ceramic Tile
- 1). Loosen the bolts holding your toilet to the floor, using a socket wrench. Once the bolts have been removed, remove the toilet. Place the toilet in a safe place where it will not get broken or damaged and keep the bolts in an easy-to-reach space for reinstallation. Place a rag into the toilet's sewer pipe. This will keep sewer gases from entering into your home while you are tiling. Remove the baseboards with a pry bar.
- 2). Install cement backer board. Apply construction adhesive to the back of the backer board and screw it into place. Stagger the joints of the backer board so that you never have four corners meeting at one place. Install screws on the backer board every 6 inches. Use a thinset mortar and alkali-resistant tape to seam the joints of the backer board. Allow the seams to dry overnight.
- 3). Lay out the tile on the bathroom floor. Do not use thinset. Place the tiles on the floor and use spacers between each of the tiles. Decide on a layout that looks good. Mark a starting point for the tiles and remove the tile from the floor.
- 4). Mix the thinset mortar. Apply the mortar with a notched trowel. Spread the thinset first with the flat edge of the trowel, then turn the trowel over and hold it at a 45-degree angle. Using the 45-degree angle, remove the excess thinset with the notched edge of the trowel. Only apply a small amount of thinset at a time to keep it from drying out too quickly.
- 5). Place the tiles on top of the thinset mortar. Firmly press the tile into place on the thinset. Use tile spacers between each of the tiles. Once all of the whole tiles have been installed, measure and cut the tiles that need to be cut (border tiles and tiles surrounding the toilet). Use a tile saw to cut the tiles. Allow the thinset mortar to dry completely.
- 6). Mix the grout. Use a rubber float to apply the grout to the joints of the tiles. Once the grout is in the tile joints, tile the rubber float to a 45-degree angle and run the float diagonally across the tiles. This will remove the excess grout from the tile.
- 7). Wipe away the grout film from the tiles, using a damp grout sponge. Do this carefully so that you do not remove too much of the grout from the joints. Let the grout dry for several days before heavy use.
- 8). Reinstall the baseboard molding and the toilet.