Tips for Homeowners Considering a Ceramic Tile Project

Ceramic tile is a popular choice for many different types of remodeling projects, because of its versatility and durability in various environments.

Ceramic tile is known for its durability, particularly in high traffic areas, its fire resistance, and ease of maintenance. Ceramic tile is designed to prevent the accumulation of moisture, making it an ideal choice for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any area that may be exposed to moisture. Ceramic tile is made for long-term performance. It is easy to clean, dent-resistant, scratch-resistant, fade-resistant, waterproof, fire-proof, hygienic and, most importantly, affordable.

Ceramic tile is made from ceramic materials such as porcelain and earthenware. These tiles are made by mixing sand, clay, and other natural products. The manufacturing process involves combining raw materials and molding them into desired shapes, followed by firing at high temperatures in a kiln. Because of this process, and the finished product that it creates, ceramic tiles are versatile. They are popular as wall and flooring tiles and can be used in any house or commercial space, for an array of decors and styles.  Ceramic tiles are available in a wide range of patterns, colors, and sizes.

The best part of ceramic tile is that it is easy to install and ceramic tile projects, particularly one related to do-it-yourself home remodeling projects, are easy to do. In fact, the only real challenge to the job is cutting the ceramic tiles to fit into tricky spaces. 

Here are a few tips for tackling the tricky part of a ceramic tile project:

• When buying ceramic tiles for your next remodeling project, be sure to purchase a few extra tiles, particularly if you need to make a lot of cuts, because there is always the chance that some tiles might break.
• Always wear safety glasses and gloves when cutting ceramic tile. Ceramic tile can fracture easily and damage the eyes. Also, freshly-cut ceramic tile edges can be quite sharp.
• Manual tile cutters are available and the key to cutting ceramic tile is to go slow and be sure to make practice cuts whenever you can.
• For straight cuts, a powered wet saw or tile saw is your best bet. There are many companies that rent these types of tools if you do not own one yourself.
• Use tile nippers to manually bite off small pieces. Tile nippers are usually quite accurate.
• Rotary and other hand-held detail cutting tools can also be used, particularly for shaped cuts. Practice makes perfect when creating ceramic tile shapes. 
• You can drill a hole into a tile with a wet-drill stand and a diamond-core bit. Place masking tape over the right spot for drilling to keep the bit from skating around.
• For some cuts, you may need to use several of these methods on the same cut. After your cuts have been made, make sure you file or grind down the sharp edges.

It may sound like a lot of work, to cut and install ceramic tile on your own, but if you have the time to invest and the will to do it, a ceramic tile home improvement project can be within your reach.