Before beginning the work of installing the ceramic tile floor, assess the work area. What one is looking for is asbestos. If the work area was built during the 1970’s or earlier, the chances of asbestos being present is very high. Asbestos was used extensively in the construction trade until the late 1970’s. Asbestos is the chief cause of a form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. When disturbed, its fibers get into the air which is breathed. Precautions need to be taken to insure one does not breathe those fibers.
Next, the foundation on which the ceramic tile is going to be put on needs to be assessed. There are certain foundations which are not suitable for ceramic tile flooring installation. They are cushioned vinyl flooring, any kind of particle boards, plywood, OSB (Oriented Strand Board), tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors. Concrete is a suitable foundation for ceramic tile flooring installation.
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Installing ceramic tile floors is not as hard as it looks. With a little knowledge and an easy step-by-step guide on how to do it, you can already be tiling your way to your dream floor. Here are some basic ceramic tiling tips you can chew on when you plan on installing ceramic tile floors at your home.
Knowing the kind of subfloor you’ll be installing ceramic tile flooring over is important. There are three main types of subfloors you might encounter: Vinyl, plywood, and concrete floors. Installing ceramic tile flooring directly to your vinyl or linoleum subfloor surfaces is greatly discouraged. One, it may contain asbestos fibers; and two, vinyl flooring is not a solid as good ol’ concrete flooring. When installing ceramic tile on vinyl, experts would recommend rough-sanding, or scarifying, the vinyl floor surface first so your tiling mortar has good grip to set on.
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So, if you should choose to use ceramic tile in your home, what are some of the things you should look for? The following are five features to consider when shopping for your ceramic tile.
1. Finish. Ceramic tiles come in a number of finishes. You can get glazed or unglazed tiles. So, how do you know which is best for you? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each. Glazed tile has the benefit of being more water resistant than unglazed. This is a great feature for someone with small children as they tend to spill often, and thus, water resistant flooring becomes a must. Also glazed ceramic tile is easier to clean than unglazed tile, which with children is also a plus. So, what are the cons? Well, for one, glazed ceramic tile tends to be more slippery when wet. This could be a hazard, but do not worry, this does not eliminate the pros of glazed tile from your options. What you can do, is use a glazed ceramic tile with a non-slip feature or material.
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