Jim Alfredson Posted July 30, 2003 Report Share Posted July 30, 2003 So my wife and I are closing on our first home this Thursday. It's a beautiful home built in 1909 in one of Lansing's historical districts. The sellers have owned it for 30+ years and have not re-decorated since they first bought the home with the exception of some really butt-ugly linolium they crappily installed in the downstairs kitchen and bathroom. We want to tile the kitchen floor, the bathroom floor, the kitchen counter top, and about 3 feet up the bathroom wall since we will be installing a clawfoot tub (a home that old has to have a clawfoot tub!) My question is has anyone in Organissimo-Forum-Land done tiling before? Any suggestions? I've bought a book and I'm studying it. We also found some tile that we really like but it seems a little pricey. I've searched the web, but I can't seem to find any good deals. Are there any places we should look? The tile we like is an Italian import called Casa Dolce Casa (home sweet home!) and they use really beauitful earth-tone colors and each tile is different from the next. The shading is really subtle and beautiful and the line we like has that wire-cut edge (ie, not a perfect edge in any sense of the word) which adds a nice rustic-ness to the tile. Just looking for some hints or suggestions. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pryan Posted July 30, 2003 Report Share Posted July 30, 2003 Jim, I know nothing on this topic myself but I did check out the website of Canada's home improvement guy, Shell Busey. If you try a search on his site for "tile floors", it should bring up some top-notch info. Here's the link: Shell Busey's homepage Let me know if you find what you're looking for there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted July 30, 2003 Report Share Posted July 30, 2003 Congratulations, Jim! My wife and I bought a house just over a year ago--sounds similar, built in 1865 and in a historic area of Philadelphia. We've been having a blast with it--painting, floors, etc. BUT, I have no experience with tile. Sooooooo, this post is of NO HELP WHATSOEVER, but sincere congrats, and I look forward to hearing what you do with the place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacman Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 (edited) most of the home improvement stores (Lowes, Home Depot, Etc.) have weekend classes on things like laying tile, decorative wall painting, and the like. i haven't done my floors yet, (gotta paint first), but i have done some mosaic-ing, and it's not that difficult. best to start with a little used room or closet to gain skill and confidence. if you have a big job buy one of these, other wise rent. Edited July 31, 2003 by jacman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 I have a good amount of experience with tile. I would not recommend that manual tile cutter. With the amount of work that you have ahead of you Jim, it is going to make more sense to purchase a wet saw than to rent one. You may be able to find a used wet saw around town. Odds are someone in your neighborhood was in the same situation as you. They aren't terribley expensive either. I have a list of supplies that are necessary for a tile job somewhere, but I'd have to dig it up. I was always forgetting something. Multiple trips to the local improvement store became a pain in the ass. Once you have completed the demolition phase, start with a chalkline. Work out the grid you will be working on. Keep the width of your grout lines in mind. This way you will know approximately what kinds of cuts you will be making. Mark the tile that needs cuts with a pencil. Are you going to be using a border of any sort? Once this is done, do a dry run. Lay out the tile without the mastik. Make your cuts one by one. You are going to have to do some trimming here an there until you get it right. Just don't cut to much! Always cut conservatively! As far as laying tile vertically, you will need to first install backer board. This serves as insulation and the mastik really adheres well. My advice is to take your time. Especially when making cuts. It can get tricky. Not all of your cuts are going to be level, straight lines. This isn't a Saturday afternoon project. Be patient. The reward is a nice, stout floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_kitchen_bath_t...TV_3751,00.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted July 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 Thanks, everyone! I think my mother-in-law has a tile cutter, although I don't know if it's the one jacman posted or a wet-saw. I've been reading books and soaking up information. I realize this isn't going to be a one day project. I think we're going to have a lot of fun and work ahead of us but I'm excited at the prospect of finally making the bathroom and kitchen that we want!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 A mother-in-law with a tile cutter? Some guys have all the luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 Thanks, everyone! I think my mother-in-law has a tile cutter, although I don't know if it's the one jacman posted or a wet-saw. I've been reading books and soaking up information. I realize this isn't going to be a one day project. I think we're going to have a lot of fun and work ahead of us but I'm excited at the prospect of finally making the bathroom and kitchen that we want!!! That's what its all about. You'll have a real sense of accomplishment once its all said and done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted February 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Wow. I can't believe I originally posted this in July and here it is almost friggin' MARCH and I finally got the floor tiled. Next week I move on to the walls. Here's the bathroom before, with my new plywood subfloor. I had to tear the original floor out all the way to the crossbeams because the dumb-shits that owned the house before us let a toilet leak for God knows how long. And it's not like you wouldn't know the toilet is leaking. Number one, it rocked back and forth when you sat on it and number two whenever you flushed it you'd have a puddle in the basement. DUH! Anyway, that's our clawfoot tub. I'm getting the feet chrome plated and I painted the outside white. We also had the inside professionally re-glazed. It looks magnificent. That's Herman on the inside. We had just moved the tub into the bathroom and of course he had to see what it was. That was about two months ago, at least. But VOILA, our new floor (not yet grouted).... I wanted to get the 1" hexgonal mosaic tiles to go for that real "turn of the 20th century" look, since the house was built in 1909. But that stuff was almost $7 per sq. ft!!!! The 2" octagon/1"square stuff you see was only $2.49 per sq ft at the local Home Depot. Can't beat that. On the walls we originally wanted to do subway tile but again, it's expensive as all hell (why, I don't know. White tile should be cheap.) So we're going with white squares and we're trying to come up with an interesting pattern. WOO HOO! So anyway, that's what I was doing Tuesday while the board was down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Looks great , Jim! Nice work- do you still have all your fingers? Omigod! Where's Herman???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted February 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 OH NO! He's been tiled in!!!! My fingers and hands were shot both Tuesday and yesterday. I had a blood blister on one finger and multiple cuts on others. It sucked playing the gig that night. But I am proud of the floor. I hope to grout it this Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Looks nice, Jim. Herman no doubt approves as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Hey, at the very least, you have the one thing with which no home is complete! I'm talking about Herman, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randissimo Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Hey, at the very least, you have the one thing with which no home is complete! I'm talking about Herman, of course. Nice job Jim! I'm sure it meets Herman's approval.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 The only tiling I ever did was cluttering my apartment's walls with LP covers (every inch). That was, hm, 25 years ago. But Herman, which I assume is the cat, I like. Would that be "Herman, ze German?" Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted February 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Actually when I first got him, he was a stray so he was "Hermie the Wormie" because the poor fellow had worms pretty bad. Now he prefers his Latin name: Hermius Bermisius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 (edited) I wouldn't mind seeing a pic. Got one? Cheers! [Edit: I mean in all his glory. Cat lovers have tons of photographs of their lovbed ones around. I know ...] Edited February 27, 2004 by deus62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 (edited) Muffin (left) and Basil (right) Edited February 27, 2004 by deus62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 So we're getting into that, eh? I know most here have already seen my main man Moose, AKA Mooster, AKA Moo', AKA the food pit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 So we're getting into that, eh? I know most here have already seen my main man Moose, AKA Mooster, AKA Moo', AKA the food pit... So is that his James Brown impression? Or maybe Steven Tyler? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted March 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 "What a difference some grout makes..." Did the grout today. That was the most enjoyable part! We chose a nice "pewter" shade of grout. I am very proud of my floor and this gives me confidence to tackle the walls and then the kitchen floor and counter-top (in due time of course!). I think the house appreciates it too! Everything needs to be loved. Say hi to Hermie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Hi, Hermie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Good to see Hermie is on the job; proper supervision of the workers makes all the difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Damn, that tile looks great, Jim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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