1. Is Ceramic Tile Suitable for Your Space?

There are many advantages to ceramic tile.  It is really durable and easy to clean.  It isn’t the best option in some spaces though.  During the winter months, ceramic tiles can really hold the cold, so you might not want to use them in a basement space.  Certain types can be slippery, so you if you are considering tile for an entryway, you should go with a more slip-resistant variety. 

2.  Select the right Size, Style and Texture

Ceramic tiles come in all sorts of shapes – anywhere from one inch to two feet.  The most common size tiles are between one and one and a half feet in size.  Choosing the right size is actually easier than you might think.  Just figure out the size of your room and then choose a size that suits it.  For example, if you have smaller room, a large tile would not be the best option because it would look like panels rather than tiles.  A large tile is really best suited to larger spaces because they look less busy than smaller tiles do.

Currently, there are many styles of ceramic tiles to choose from.  The easiest way to narrow down your options is decide on the type of look you are going for.  It you want a rustic, natural look than you might want to consider a rugged, natural looking tile instead of a polished marble.

Choose a tile with the texture that will best suit your rooms theme.  If you go for a rustic, natural looking tile, it will be rougher than a polished marble surface.  When choosing a texture, you do need to take safety into consideration.  The smoother that a surface is the more likely it is to be slippery when wet.  If you have children or elderly people in your home, then a high-gloss tile is not the best option from a safety standpoint.

3. Choose an Appropriate Grout Color and Width

Grout is a cement mix that has color added to it to compliment your tile.  Grout fills the space between tiles so you need to choose a grout width and a color that works in your space. 

4. Installation Materials and Methods

There are different installation methods and a successful installation will really depend on the materials used and the energy and patience put into the project.  You will want to make sure that you do the proper preparation and have all the materials you need at hand.  You will need to make sure that you purchase a high quality bonding material, grout (as discussed above), a sealer and the right tools to get the project done.

Laying tile can be a bit tricky.  You need to make sure that your cuts are correct and that the space around each tile is even.  If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of installing it yourself, then you might want to look at contracting the job out to a tiling professional.

5.  Maintenance

Ceramic tile is one the easiest types of floors to clean and if you take care of them, they will maintain their shiny, new appearance for years to come.  To clean tile, all you really need is water and any household cleaner product.  You can start by removing any dirt and dust with a broom or vacuum and then using a sponge or mop you can apply the mixture of water and cleaner to your tiles.  It’s as simple as that!  You will need to be cautious about dropping heavy objects on tile.  If tiles split, crack or chip, it is impossible to replace just one tile.  Odds are you’ll have to live with any cracks or chips until you’re ready to re-do the entire floor.

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1. Selecting the Right Color

No matter what the thickness of your grout, it will be visible so you want to choose a shade of grout that will compliment your tile and your decor.  You can get grout in all sorts of colors now, so you can try to match the color of your tile so it blends in more or you can choose a contrasting shade the will emphasize the spacing between each tile.  Remember that white and lighter shades of grout will show dirt and stains more than darker colors.  Grout color can also change over time so you’ll want to keep that in mind when selecting a shade for your new floor.

2. Purchase the Correct Tools

Just as with any home improvement project, having the right tools is important if you want to complete the project effectively.  You should purchase a good quality grout to ensure that it stands up over time.  You will need some kind of tool to apply the grout - a palette knife or spatula or trowel will decrease the mess on the floor and on you.  Using these tools will also help you keep the grout level.  You don’t want the grout to be too much lower or higher than the level of the tiles.  You will also need a sponge or cloth and a bucket to remove any excess.

3. Spacing

Spacing the tiles and the grout is a tricky business, but you need to be patient and take your time to ensure that your tiles look evenly spaced out.  You might want to take the time to layout your tiles and ensure the correct spacing before even gluing them in place.  You will need to work somewhat quickly once the glue is down, so planning ahead like this can save a lot of stress and aggravation later.

Once you have your tiles and know the size, you’ll want to figure out how much grout you want to have showing.  When it comes to actually laying down your tile, you can purchase spacers at your local home improvement or hardware store.  These will help you keep the tiles a specific distance apart and ensure a consistent width of grout all around the tiles.

You need to make sure that your tiles are in the correct spot before you put the grout down.  The grout only fills the spaces between the tiles, so if you find that the grout lines are uneven it is the result of the tiles being crooked, not the grout itself.

4. Sealer

To protect grout, you need to apply a sealer.  This sealer will protect the grout from damage and stains.  You can purchase these sealers at your local home store or at a specialty tile store.  It may take some time to apply this sealant, because you have to go over each grout line without getting any on the tile, but it will really help protect your grout from all sorts of harm.  Your grout will probably show age quicker than the tiles themselves, so you want to do everything you can to protect your grout right from the start.

5.  Maintenance

You need to clean and maintain your grout, just as you do the tile itself.  In fact, you probably need to pay more attention to the grout since over time it will build up dirt faster than the tile surface.  If your grout is not perfectly level with your tile, your mop may miss some of the dirt and stains and cracks or holes in the grout can also hide bits of dirt and bacteria.  Every once and awhile, you should carefully clear all of the grout lines to ensure you remove any hidden dirt and stains that might be missed during your usual cleanings.  Over time you may even want to apply more sealer since it can be worn down by high traffic and scrubbing.

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3. Three Top Reasons NOT to Tile over Vinyl Flooring

1.  It won’t stick well.

The top layer of vinyl is similar to plastic and it is very difficult to adhere anything to it.  Vinyl is shining with an artificial shine and as your base it isn’t porous which means a good bond is very difficult to achieve.  No matter what kind of glue you try to apply to the vinyl, your tiles will not bond well to the vinyl. There are some who recommend roughing up the surface of the vinyl for a better bond, but this really isn’t an effective method.

Because the tile and vinyl will not adhere well to one another, there might be lifting after you lay the floor.  If the vinyl begins lifting and pushing the tile up, you may have to replace a section or the entire floor.  If you do tile directly over vinyl or linoleum flooring, you may find at a later date that you need to remove the new tile floor to get to the old vinyl because of lifting and instability.  It is probably better to save yourself the time, money and hassle by removing it now.

It is important that your new tile floor is secure and stable and direct adhesion to vinyl flooring will not ensure that.  There isn’t a mortar on the market that will stick to the surface of vinyl at the level needed for tile installation.

2.  It won’t be level.

It is much more difficult to get the floor level if you tile right over vinyl.  You won’t be able to figure out the anchoring pattern when you tile on top of vinyl and this is one of the key factors in a stable and level floor surface.  It will also be difficult when trying to insert transitions where the floor rises or where spaces must be filled.  If you start with a fresh or existing sub-floor you will have a much more stable and level end result.

3.  The sub-surface under the vinyl isn’t suitable for tile.

Vinyl flooring is usually installed on 1/4” plywood or particleboard.  These substrates are not approved for tile because of a different material make-up.  If you lay tile right over vinyl or linoleum the safety of your floor will be compromised.  Tile on top of a cushioned floor is very unstable and you can develop cracks in the tiles or the grout.  Because vinyl flexes, it can crack the tile.  It is nearly impossible to replace a tile with a chip or a crack once it is adhered so you may end up having to replace the entire floor in the future because of the vinyl lifting and flexing.

If you do want to leave your vinyl down, then you need to prepare the floor structurally for the tiling.  You will need to screw down the old vinyl and then create a mortar base using mesh and concrete.  If you don’t want to get into pouring cement, you can lay down a plywood sub-floor.  There are products on the market now that increase the crack resistance of tiles placed on wooden sub-floors.  This method isn’t really much different from lifting the vinyl up.  It may seem like a lot of work right now, but taking your time and doing it properly now will save you a lot of time and money down the road.

If you are still determined to keep your vinyl down, then you might consider talking to a professional tile installer.  They can go over all of the pros and cons with you and look at your specific situation.

Before you proceed with your plans to tile directly over vinyl flooring, keep all of this information in mind.  Not only will you have difficulty with bonding and leveling, but you will also end up with a floor that is unstable and in some cases unsafe.  This money-saving and timesaving route could end up costing you a lot in the future.

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