Replace Bathroom Tile
This is easy. If you canbake cupcakes or operate a remote control you can do this.
Instructions
1. You can replace a single tile, or put all new tile in your bathroom with just a bit of elbow grease.
2. Pry up the old tile. Be careful if you are replacing just one, you don't want to replace more than you planned to.
If you are replacing all the tile then just have it. You can also smash them with the hammer to make them easier to come up. WEAR GOGGLES!
Ceramic tiles can be like shattered glass, which you would not want sticking out of your eyeball.
3. Scrape up all the old adhesive. Scrape it up really well. You don't want any lumps. You need a nice clean, flat surface for your new tile to adhere to, so don't be lazy and think that one little lump wouldn't matter because it will. Uneven surfaces will make your tiles pop up, crack and break more easily.
4. Sweep up all the debris and then vacuum well. You want it clean, clean, clean.
5. If you are replacing a single tile, cheat and squirt some liquid nails on the back. Make sure you get a bit on the corners and a nice, smooth, single layered pattern on the back. It doesn't take too much.
6. Eyeball it to match the lines with the surrounding tiles.
7. Mix up a little matching grout in a ziplock bag. Mix it right in the bag to a nice thick frosting consistency. Cut the corner of the bag, and squeeze it in around your tile. Squish it in their good with your grout float. Use your wet finger to give it a nice, smooth finish, and a wet tile to remove excess.
8. If you are replacing all of your bathroom tile scrape and clean your surface, then measure and find the center.
9. You also need to remove the toilet, which is nothing. Unscrew the bolts, pull it straight up and place it out of the way.
Scrape up the old wax ring with something, anything. You don't even ever have to touch this yucky part with your hands, just use a disposable scraper and wads of paper towels.
10. Find the center of your tile, and measure how much you will need on either side. Your smaller final cut pieces should be pretty even against the wall. Hoonestly, I find my center, mark it, or lay out the tiles with the spacers and use a kids marker on the floor to mark my places. Then I see what sizes need to be cut along the edges, and I number the spot right there on the floor, mark the tile # with the cut size, and then write that number on the back of the tile before I bring it in
11. Rent, borrow or buy a wet saw for bigger jobs, or you can buy cheaper hand tools to score and hand break the tiles. Get a bunch ready at one time - thats why putting matching numbers on the tile and the spot where it goes on the floor comes in handy.
12. Mix up your thinset, allowing it to sit for 5 - 15 minutes so it will set up right, or cheat and use liquid nails, it is a pretty good cheat.
13. Use your floor trowel to make nice grooves for tile to adhere to. Use your spacers and your eyes to ensure straight lines. Wipe up as you go. The thinset is harder to get off if you let it dry.
14. Wipe up as you go.
Work your way out of the room.
No walking on the tile for a good 24 hours.
15. Go in and apply your grout just as descriped above. Allow it to dry out well, at least 24 hours, and then apply grout sealer with a kids paintbrush, it comes in a little can and is worth the extra effort.
16. Put a new wax ring on the floor where you are going to reinstall the toilet. Get a friend to help you put the toilet back on going straight down over the bolts and the new wax ring. Squeeze some Dap Plus bacteria resistant caulk around under the lip of the potty. Sit on it, tighten your bolts. Rim the edge between the bottom of the toilet and the newly tiled floor with caulk. Caulk comes in different colors, including transparent.
17.Enjoy your nice new bathroom!
Tags: your tile, clean clean, find center, floor mark, liquid nails, nice smooth