What type of adhesive can I use?
The choice of setting material is very important. There are now many different materials available to the DIYer or professional tile contractor, and making the right choice can be a difficult tak. Thinset cement is the material used to attach tiles. Although it is not necessary, latex can be added as an additive. Latex is a white mixture that you mix with your cement. It is usually not used for indoor applications, but provides a stronger and more water resistant material than thinset used on its own.
A first criteria to choose the right brand is the presence of a major tile organization's seal on the back. This is a guarantee that the product has been tried by experienced people.
Your choice will also depend on how experienced you are. Some adhesives are more difficult to work with. For instance, fast setting thinset are not recommended for a do-it-yourselfer.
Your choice of thinset depends also on what type of tile you plan to install. Check with the tile manufacturer.
Should I use gray or white adhesive?
A gray thinset mortar is recommended if you want to use a dark colored grout, while a white thinset mortar is more appropriate if you want to use a light colored grout.
What type of grout can I use?
Grout is the material that goes between the tiles, and comes in a variety of colors. However, most grout materials will result in a similar look. There are a few kinds to choose form: You can choose regular, portland based grout, latex/portland cement grout. You can also use stain-proof epoxy grouts for a better result and less maintenance, but epoxy is very, very expensive compared to regular grouts.
How much adhesive do I need?
Use the daltile tile calculator to work out how many pounds of thinset and grout you need.
How to layout your tiles
The first thing you should do is to draw a floor plan of the room. The plan should include all the details and information which could have any bearing on the carrying out of the project: doors, cabinets, toilet, electricity supplies, among others.
Should I use a backerboard?
Cement backerboards are thin concrete sheets that are used to cover plywood subfloors. Ceramic and stone tiles are not flexible, so they require a more rigid subsurface than other materials. Cement backerboard provides a solid, flat surface to install tiles on when you have a wood subfloor.
Should I use a waterproofing membrane?
A waterproof membrane stops moisture from seeping up through floors. In wet areas, such as a shower floor, install a waterproof membrane over the subfloor (and under the cement backerboard if you use a backerboard).
When I choose a trowel, what size notch should I go for?
It depends on the tiles you use for the job. If the back of the tile is flat, a 1/4 inch should be enough.
If you use heavily corrugated tiles, you might want to use a 3/8 of an inch notched trowel.
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