Learning how to install tiles is a very important and also a very handy skill to have. It literally has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. It is also not as difficult as some people would have you believe. One of the most important aspects of being able to properly pull off a tiling project is to have some of the tools mentioned below at your disposal. While there are obviously a lot more things that you will need in order to actually install tiles, the ones listed in this article are the less obvious ones. These are the ones that you are most likely not to think about as they serve pretty basic functions. It is important to remember, however, that these basic functions are absolutely essential in order to properly pull off a tiling job.
Chalk Line
This is a very simple tool in carpentry. It is absolutely essential for you to have if you want the tiles in your ground or walls to be straight when you are installing them. This simple tool makes it particularly easy to line up the tiles you are working with perfectly. After going through the process of measuring where exactly you want the lines to be, all you have to do is simply pull out the tool. When you take it out of its box, it will already be covered in a bit of chalk dust.
When using the device, make sure that you chalk a line from one end to the other where you want the line to be marked. After this has been done, all you need to do is simply snap the tool down onto the walls or the floor. What this does is that it leaves a straight line behind, which will allow you to install the tiles that you have properly and not have to worry about accuracy. Make sure that you blow away the extra dust of chalk so that you can get a line that can be made use of easily. The best part about the tool is that if you do make a mistake, you can simply wipe it off with the help of a rag and just start over again.
After you use the chalk line, one thing that you will need to do is to wind it back up in order to make sure that the string has gone inside the box. This will ensure that the string of the tool gets covered with more lines of chalk, and it will be ready for use the next time you do need it.
Bubble Level
This is yet another very simple tool that is easy to overlook and ignore. This tool allows you to make sure that any surface you are working on is properly level and/or plumb. This tool is sometimes also known as “spirit levels,” and they also have glass vials that have the centers marked properly. Inside of this vial, there are liquids and also a bubble. It is because of the fact that the tool has a slight curve in the middle of the device, the bubble can then move naturally right to the middle of the vial. What this implies is that if the level is completely flat, the bubble will be situated right in the middle. When you are installing tiles, you want to make sure that you use this tool in order to make sure the walls are level when you are installing the tiles on a vertical surface. You can also use this tool on tiles you lay on the floor as well. When you do this, you will ensure that the floor tiles are placed properly and that there isn’t too much adhesive beneath the tiles.
One thing you should make sure of when buying this tool is to make sure that the tool is properly long. This is of vital essence as if you get one that is not long enough. You will get not get the proper benefits that this tool has to offer.
Tape Measure
When you are in the process of laying tiles, you will want to make sure that you use both the tape measure and the chalk lines you have in order to make sure that the tiles you are laying are properly laid. You can also make use of a carpenter’s square in order to double-check the work that you have done with the tiles. These tape measures come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. You will want to make sure that when you are buying one of these tools, that it is properly long enough. You want to be able to measure the entire length of the project as well as the width of the project. Having to stop in the middle of measurement because the tape is not long enough will severely damage your productivity and efficiency when installing tiles.
Make sure that the tape measure that you buy has the automatic return function in it and that it also has a floating hook right at the end. This will make sure that you can measure everything properly even if you are working just by yourself.
Carpenter’s Square
The main purpose of using this tile is to make sure that all the pieces of tiles you install are properly angled. You will absolutely not want to have to deal with tiles that are not installed at the proper angle after they have been installed. Ideally, making sure that you check the work that you have done as you go along is the right way of doing tile installation. This is probably the best way to make sure that you do not have to make any major mistakes. These tools will also help with checking that your guidelines are at proper 90 degree angles.
