For more information and images for the Weekend Handyman episode 110 -- "Bathroom Tile" -- search for WKH-110. Time: 18 hours over two days. Difficulty Rating: It's rated a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. Materials for Complete Project: Variety of tile cutters
Variety of trowels
Variety of floats
Sponges
Cotton toweling
Spacers
Scrapers and blades
Plumbing tools (pipe cutter, torch solder)
Tiles
Tile adhesive
Grout
Silicone
Epoxy acrylic Before starting the project, you'll want to gather the tools and materials, and then prep the area: - Remove the old fixtures: faucet handles, tub spout and showerhead.
- Cut the pipes, pull out the old valve body, put the new one in and solder the connections.
- Remove the existing surround.
- Remove any rotten or moldy drywall or studs and replace them.
- Remove any loose paint or adhesive with a scraper.
- Measure the walls.
- Lay out the tiles to see where they fall on the joints.
Tiling - Center the tile either from the center of the tile or the joint: check to make sure your end of the piece is at least 1/2 the tile width.
- Determine the vertical layout. See if the tub is level, and if it isn't get the height measurement from the low side of the tub.
- Draw lines: the top line will be the glue line and the center line will be the plumb line. Then draw a grid.
- Trowel the wall with adhesive (in small areas that can be covered right away).
- Begin in the center of the bottom of the grid and move out toward the sides.
- Use spacers to make sure the grid lines are straight.
- Pull in all the full tiles.
- Cut the tiles to fit along the edges and bottom of the tub.
Cutting Tiles - Making straight cuts -- With a tile cutter, slide the tile in place, draw the wheel back along the tile to score it, press the handle down to break the tile. With a wet saw, put the masking tape on the tile, mark the cut line with a pencil and cut the tile.
- Making complicated cuts -- For cutting around fixtures, mark the square on the back of the tile where you need an opening, hold the tile against the blade and cut each side of the square, one at a time from the back of the tile.
- Making cuts for small divots -- Make your mark and use the tile nippers.
- For thin tile strips -- Score the tile on a cutting board and cut away the scored edge with nippers.
- Clean adhesive off the tile and take out the spacers.
- Tape off any walls or wallpaper for grouting.
Grouting - Mix the grout by pouring the water in first, and then add the powder, stir with a margin trowel. Mix to a smooth (like toothpaste) consistency and let sit for five minutes, then mix again.
- Put the grout in at a diagonal to the joints.
- If you're not able to finish the entire job in one day, make sure to finish an entire wall at least.
- Wash down the tiles after small areas so the grout and film don't dry on the tiles.
- Leave the corners and edges free of grout since silicone will go there.
- Clean the grout out of the corners of the walls.
- Continue grouting other sections.
- Wash the surface three times: First to remove the excess grout, second wipe with a wrung-out sponge dragging lightly across the surface, and be sure to wring out the sponge after each drag, and third buff with a dry cotton cloth to polish.
- Add the corner shelves by hammering in a small nail where the shelf will sit, apply silicone, set it in on the wall and tape in place to hold until the silicone dries.
- Put in the fixtures (assemble according to the manufacturer's instructions).
Refinishing the Tub - Remove any no-slips strips with a cleaner and degreaser.
- Wash the tub with an abrasive cleanser.
- Scrub the tub with an abrasive pad and Lime-A-Way.
- Sand the tub with 400-600 grit wet sandpaper.
- Mix the epoxy and paint it on with a brush and roller:
- Brush in one direction only.
- Brush on a couple of smooth, thin coats.
- Feather the edges as you paint.
- Apply two light coats one hour apart.
- Caulk around the tub, corners of the tile walls and around the corner shelves.
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