Tools for laying tiles

Last week we gave you an introduction to the basic equipment for DIY enthusiasts. Today we would like to be a little more specific and focus on laying tiles. For tilers in particular, it's important to protect their health. Working on your knees is demanding, so you should place great value on safe and high-quality work clothing. Besides the appropriate protective clothing, good ergonomics of the tools when laying tiles is also very important. Step by step, we would now like to introduce you to the right tools for laying tiles.

The preparation

Good preparation will make your later work much easier. Therefore, first take a look at the substrate on which the tiles are to be laid. If there are any cracks or holes, you must repair them first. This can be done, for example, with a... Painter's spatula , which is super suitable for applying filler.

Once the substrate has been repaired, we recommend a tile primer. A primer increases the effectiveness of the tile adhesive and ensures that the tiles retain their flawless appearance for many years.

Next, mix the tile adhesive and grout. Besides a sturdy bucket, you'll need... Spiral agitators , so that a homogeneous mass is created from the water and the adhesive or mortar. We offer the spiral agitator with a diameter of 90 mm and 120 mm.

A tool that should also be in every DIY kit is the measuring stick or tape measure. With the measuring stick, you can easily measure the room where you want to lay the tiles and determine the center of the area.

To best check your work in between, you should have a Spirit level should not be missing in your toolbox.

The relocation

You can use a tile trowel to apply the tile adhesive to the wall or floor. Then, spread the adhesive using a notched trowel. Trowels with notches . We offer different trowels with different notches. How small or large you should choose the notches depends on which tiles you want to lay.

Now apply the adhesive to the substrate and the back of the tiles. For this task, it is best to use two notched trowels with differently sized notches. Once you have applied the adhesive, you can press the tiles into the adhesive bed with your hands. A rubber mallet is also an alternative here. For a perfect end result, we recommend placing black tile spacers between the tiles when laying them, so that all the joints have the same width.

Cutting & Drilling

It's rather unlikely that all tiles will fit perfectly. Therefore, it's usually necessary to cut some tiles. What tool is needed for this? The most important is a tile cutter. As the name suggests, it's suitable for cutting or breaking various types of tiles. For absolutely effortless cutting, a diamond cutting disc is well-suited. In two different versions, it can cut porcelain stoneware as well as granite or marble.

If you don't want to cut but drill, then various utensils will help you with that. Let's start with the Diamond drill crowns suitable for when the holes need to be perfectly round. You can find these hole saws in a wide variety of sizes here. We have everything from small to large. Precise drilling is possible with the Drill guide for hole saws quite easily possible.

What also shouldn't be missing when laying tiles is a Tile hammer and a Tile hole punch with spring . While the tile hole punch is excellent for processing pre-drilled holes in tiles and for shaping edges, the tile hammer with its 2-K handle ensures safe, precise work.

Grouting

With a joint board, a smoothing trowel or a Grout sealant Spread the grout into the joints. For grouting floor tiles, we recommend using a grout rubber; for wall tiles, use a smoothing trowel. This makes it easier to get the viscous grout into the joints. Unfortunately, it is unavoidable that some of the grout will end up on the tiles. With a Water slider Remove any coarse residue from the tiles.

Once the grout has hardened, you can begin the actual cleaning. For this, we recommend the following: Roller cleaning set . This consists of a hydro-sponge board, a grout board with cell rubber, and a bucket with three rollers attached to the top. With such a set, you first dip the sponge board into the water and then wipe it over the rollers. This prevents too much water from getting onto the tiles and thus into the grout. This could lead to the grout mortar detaching.

Finally, you should take a close look at the floor again. Has every joint, crack and gap been sealed with silicone? The silicone, which you applied to the joints with a cartridge gun, protects against penetrating water and steam.

Besides the tools, think about yourself and protect yourself with good work clothes. Good gloves and a Safety glasses should definitely not be missing when cutting and drilling tiles. Furthermore, we recommend our Knee pads . To make working on the floor easier, it makes sense to equip your knees with ergonomic protection.

Lost track of things?

Don't worry, here's a quick list of the essentials that you definitely shouldn't be without when laying tiles:

• Painter's putty
• Spiral stirrer
• Measuring stick
• Spirit level
• Senklot
• Smooth trowel with serrations
• Tile adhesive
• Rubber hammer
• Joint crosses
• Tile cutter
• Glass cutter
• Diamond cutting disc
• Diamond drill crowns
• Drilling aid
• Tile hammer
• Parrot pliers
• Smoothing trowel
• Grout sealant
• Silicone
• Water slider
• Roller washing set
• Protective clothing

If you should have any further questions, we will gladly help you!

Best of luck!

the team from Everything for Tiles