![]() Pre-mixed is great for small jobs like a fireplace, but either route is fine. Tile adhesive comes either pre-mixed or in powder form. How to Tile a Fireplace: adhering the tile Place the trimmed end to the outside, where it will be covered with molding. You may have to trim off ends if you tile is staggered, as ours was. Use your fence to make sure your cuts are straight. Too fast and the corner of your tile will likely chip off. You can avoid chipped ends by pushing the piece through very, very slowly as you reach the end, being careful not to force the blade. Water should be flowing around the blade constantly as you gently push the piece through. The first rule, is to keep those fingers away from the blade. It can be intimidating at first, but go slow, use caution, and follow some basic rules to ensure a professional looking, safe job. I recommend using a tile saw rather than a snap cutter (which just doesn’t work very well). You can see in the photo below the tile does not fit snuggly, or uniformly along the far sides. This is also useful if you run into issues with things being out of square (which happens frequently). You will be covering the edges where the tile runs into the wood mantle surround with some sort of trim, so it’s not important that you are dead on with every cut fitting perfectly against that edge. Some tile saws can be hooked up to a water source via a hose. Keep a pail of water on hand to refill the saw as needed. A tile saw (or wet saw) cuts much like a table saw, but it needs a constant source of water to keep the blade cool and the dust down. Once you have a game plan it’s time to make your first cut. We tested the waters here and found that the damage to the existing tile was superficial, albeit highly unattractive. Get to work:įor this project we chose to tile over existing tile, which was far simpler than removing what was there (even with the poor shape it was in.) If your tile doesn’t have adhesion issues this may be a great route for you. Where will a row have to be ripped to fit? Where will the pattern repeat? What order will the tile need to be applied? For this project my husband and I spent just as much time making the plan as actually installing the tile. Once you have the tile you will need to plan your layout. ![]() It’s a good rule of thumb to always get 10 – 15% more tile than you need. Chances are you’ll have a number of small pieces to cut which will render some part of each tile unusable. ![]() Example: In this fireplace I would have loved to use a cement tile look, but the tiles I found were 8″ and the sides of the firebox only allowed for 6 ½” (which would have looked awkward with the designs I liked.)Ī second thing to keep in mind is that knowing the square feet to be covered is only half the battle. Bear in mind that a patterned tile will require more work when laying out, as the pattern needs to be visible and centered in the space. * spacers (depending on tile choice and look)Įntire tutorials can be written about how to choose and plan out your tile.tile adhesive/mortar – mix or ready made.You can read more about affiliate links here. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. (I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. To learn how to grout, read Brittany’s tutorial on grouting and sealing tile. ![]() I’ll cover that in more detail in just a bit. The tile I chose for this project was close together and did not require grout. Note: This tutorial will not cover the grouting step. Read the manual for your tile saw and make some test cuts to get the feel for using it. Use ear and eye protection when you are using a tile saw. You may even find that you really enjoy it!Īs with any DIY, especially one you are new to, you will need to read all the way through to make sure you are familiar with the process and always take proper safety precautions. Don’t be intimidated, tiling is actually quite accessible for DIYers, and once you get the hang of it you’ll be unstoppable. Today I’m sharing how you can update and customize your fireplace by doing your own tile work. Hello Pretty Handy Girl Readers! Sarah here from The Created Home. ![]()
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