Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Rating [On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the easiest]
5: Requires both skill and patience.
Installing ceramic tile is a multi-step job that requires both skill and patience and is best left to a professional or a very handy DIYer. Ceramic tile should be installed on a structurally stable subfloor. Lay the tile pattern out, starting in the center of the room, working in a straight and consistent grid. Mark the grid with a chalk line. Then, spread mortar or adhesive on the floor using a notched trowel. Next, lay the tile in small sections using special spacers that keep the space between the tiles even. After the tile is set in mortar, apply grout to fill the joints.
Keep In Mind:
- The multi-step process is time consuming, requires skill, and requires a lot of installation aids and materials.
- Ceramic tile is thick, heavy and breakable.
- Ceramic tiles require special tools for cutting.
- Tile will crack or chip if hit with a heavy object, so it pays to set aside some extra tiles at the time of installation.
- Replacing a tile is a relatively simple job for a professional installer.
