Before going for a DIY floor tiling project you need to get some essential tools handy. The list is a bit lengthy, but each one of them is inevitable and important. In most of the cases people go for ceramic tiles or concrete tiles for their flooring. It is not about having a lot of expensive gadgets. You just have to choose the appropriate materials and tools for your tiling project. In the following article, you will get to know about the utility of some essential tools required for installing ceramic tiles on your concrete floor.
Essential tools required for floor tiling
1. Measuring tape
This is a primary requirement. The tape will help you to take measurements of your floor and make an estimate of the number of tiles required to cover it.
2. Safety goggles, hand gloves, ear plugs and knee guards
Tile dust, grout, etc., may generate irritation to people who are prone to allergy. While tiling, you will have to work by kneeling down most of the times. Thus, you are suggested to use knee cap, knee guard or other precautionary accessories to avoid any mishaps while working.
3. A chalk line
You will need this to mark straight lines on the preexisting concrete floor, for proper alignment of the tiles.
4. A wax pencil marker
This pencil marker serves useful to mark the ceramic tiles before cutting them into shape. The main advantage of using a wax marker is that you can wipe off the lines with a cloth after placing the tile.
5. A water cooled diamond saw cutter
This is a rotary shearing (cutting) tool driven by electrical power. It has a circular, toothed and diamond tipped cutting wheel by which you can adjust the dimensions of the tiles while placing and aligning them on your floor. This machine tool also has a continuous water cooling system which directs a thin flow of cooling water on the cutting area. Be very careful while cutting the tiles and always wear gloves and safety goggles before starting. This tool makes a high pitched sound while cutting. You must use ear plugs while doing the cutting work.
6. An electrical socket
You need this in order to run the saw cutter.
7. A screwdriver
This tool comes in handy to add or remove the electrical connections.
8. A grouting float
This tool will be used to place the grout in the gap between two adjacent tiles.
9. A trowel
This helps in making parallel notches on the wet grout to make them equal in height. Once you put the adhesive mixture on the concrete before placing the tile, you can draw the trowel on the wet grouting mixture and spread it uniformly throughout the space.
10. A jar of ceramic tiling adhesive or setting compound (may be resin or epoxy based)
This is the main fixing agent which holds your tiles to the concrete floor. You can easily buy this from a shop which deals in constructional goods.
11. A pack of powdered or premixed grouting mixture
Grout is generally applied to fill in the gaps between two adjacent tiles.
12. A bucket full of water and a sponge
You will need water if you have to make the grouting mixture yourself. Use the sponge to wipe off any excess grout or stains on the surface of the tiles.
13. Tile spacers
These are used to place the tiles with equally sized gaps between them. You can choose them according to the width of the grout line.
14. A spirit level
This will be useful to check if the height of all the tiles is the same. You can also use a laser level for this purpose. It is very important to place all the tiles at the same height from the concrete floor or else you can stumble over them anytime.
15. A rubber headed hammer
You can use it to tap and adjust the position of the tiles even after fixing them with the setting compound. However, this can be done only till the setting compound is soft. You can also use the hammer to tap down a corner of a tile which is a bit out of place.
16. A right angle stencil
You will need this to determine and check perfect right angles while placing the tiles.
17. Sucking pad
A sucking pad is required to lift and place bigger tiles without breaking them.
18. Ceramic tiles
Lastly, you need the ceramic flooring tiles according to your choice. Opt for smaller tiles as they will make it easier for you to carry out the work at home.
Conclusion
It is said that even a good craftsman is helpless without proper tools. With the aid of the tools described above, you can easily carry out the tiling project for your home floors without any hassle.
