DIY Instructions for Ceramic Tile Installation

Installing your  tile in your home can be a satisfing process.  We recommend those who are patient and willing to do research on quality tile installation with guidelines form the Tile Council of North America you will have great success. We have developed a standard guide for home owners to follow these Steps to create a beautifully tiled kitchen backsplash, bathroom, fireplace, or floor. Here are the materials and tools you will need. Good luck and have fun!

1. VERIFY YOUR ORDER

Please verify that your order is correct and complete as soon as it arrives. Make sure no tiles have broken in transport or that any tiles are missing. Contact us at 612-781-6409 if there are any issues.

2. SELECT A SURFACE

The best surface to put tile on is poured concrete or concrete board (Durock or Hardibacker).

Kitchens: Use DensShield or Hardibacker concrete board.

Fireplaces: Use concrete board for the walls. For the hearth use self leveling concrete or concrete board, 3/8”-5/8” thickness minimum.

Floors: Use poured concrete, self leveling concrete or concrete board, 3/8”-5/8” thickness minimum. Make sure there is no sealer on the concrete.

Bathrooms: Use concrete board for the walls. For the floors use self leveling concrete or concrete board, 3/8”-5/8” thickness minimum. Make sure there is no sealer on the concrete.

 

3. LAYOUT YOUR PROJECT

Please do not pull directly from the box and set tiles. For better results and less confusion consider making a cardboard or wood template of your space.

Layout the tiles for your project. Make sure they fit your measurements, and arrange them to enhance the variation. Making guideline on the wall using a laser guide or chalk line will help you keep the tiles straight and level.

4. LOCATE CUTS

Cutting tile is a common part of any tile job. Find a the tiles you need to cut and mark them on the back with a pencil. We recommend using a wet saw with the glazed side down. If any chips occur it will be on the back not the glazed side.

 

5. PREPARE  YOUR SURFACE

To successfully apply tile the surface needs to be clean of oil, grease, dust, paint, sealers, and loose or peeling paint.

6. MIX MORTAR

We recommend a thinnest Mortar. Wear rubber gloves, and follow manufacturer instructions on box. Only mix as much mortar as you can use in 20-30 minutes. After mixing it should have a peanut-butter consistency. We do not recommend premixes.

7. SPREAD MORTAR

Use a notched trowel to spread mortar mixture across the prepared surface, creating combed rows. To guarantee full coverage “back butter” the tiles (thinly apply mortar to the tile back). When pressed into the combed rows it will suction to the wall or floor making it very secure from movement or sliding.

Mortar

8. SPACERS

For spacing out tiles we recommend wedge spacers. They come in many different sizes to accommodate both historic and handmade tile. They also help prevent tile slippage on vertical surfaces

Handmade Tile: All our tile is nominal (sized to accommodate grout line) in size and is meant to be used with a 1/4” grout line.

Mid-Century Tile: These tiles are meant to be used with a 1/8” grout line. They have built in spacers on the edges of each field tile.

Flat Edge Tile: They are made to have very tight grout joints between 1/16 - 1/8. You will need a rubber float to push the grout deep into the joints

LET TILES SET FOR 48 HOURS

 

 

9. Relief/Matte Tile

Apply masking tape to the face of relief tiles prior to grouting. This speeds cleanup, preventing grout from sticking to grooves. Remove tape after the grout has been cleaned.

Relief Tiles: Medieval Floral Tiles, Stamped Tiles

Before grouting, matte tiles should be treated with Grout Release to avoid a hazing effect.

Matte Tiles: Avocado, Blueberry, Coco Moon, Coffee Cake, Copper Patina, Gingersnaps, Jade Moss, Northshore, Pesto, Quail's Egg, Tomato Bisque 

 

10. CHOOSE GROUT

Grout is the concrete filler between the joints. It is not an adhesive. It is the finishing product to make your installation look great. We recommend Prism Grout by Custom Building Products or Power Grout by TEC.

Color: You also want to consider if your tile is warm or cool and choose grout with the same tone. For Prism Grout we recommend Natural Grey #09 for cool colors and DeLorean Grey #165 for warm ones. For Power Grout we recommend Standard Grey for cool colors and Light Pewter for warm ones.

Sanded: Used for joints 1/8” and larger. It should be used with our Handmade Tile.

Unsanded: Used for joints 1/8” and smaller. It should be used with our Mid-Century Tile and Flat Edge Tile.

Epoxy: A special case. It is used for wet surfaces and where two different surfaces meet up so there is flexibility as they expand and contract with weather.

11. FILL GROUT JOINTS

Wear rubber gloves. Force grout diagonally into joints with a rubber grout float. Ensure joints are completely filled. Wipe clean with a towel until grout haze is entirely gone. Use very minimal or no water to clean grout.

Clean-Up

DO NOT DUMP any mortar or grout water IN THE SINK  it destroys plumbing. ALWAYS clean your hands, tools and buckets with a SEPARATE BUCKET of clean water.

How to Install
Handmade Tile


Installation Instructions for Clay Squared Art Tiles and Accessories

Diy Switchplate 200

Installing Switch Plates

Our ceramic switch plates come supplied with color matching plastic screws. Use a screw driver to tighten screws by hand. Do not use power tools to install switch plates.?Ceramic switch plates do not bend. They will break if screws are overtightened.

DO NOT overtighten screws.

DO NOT use power tools.

Diy House Number Installation

Installing House Numbers

Hold your house numbers up to the side of your house and mark the hole location with a pencil. Pre-drill holes. Use a masonry bit to drill holes into any stucco exterior. Ceramic house numbers do not bend and will break if screws are overtightened.

DO NOT overtighten screws.

DO NOT use power tools.

Diy Medieval Install

Installing Medieval Floral Tiles

To Hang: Use the impressions on the back of the tile to hang either horizontally or at a 45 degree angle. It is recommended the tile be hung from a screw in the wall.

Every Medieval Floral tile is a one of a kind, hand carved, bas relief tile made by Josh Blanc. Each tile is individually hand glazed and fired.

Diy Cosmic Install

Installing Cosmic Spot Art Tile

To Hang: Use either a gallery hanger or install a screw in the wall.

Every Cosmic Spot is a one of a kind, handmade tile created by Josh Blanc.

Claysquared sample tiles

See our tile in your space and lighting