Anyone install their own ceramic tile?

[thelionqueen]

we aren't all as inept as you at handywork

At what point did my post seem inept? My DH has been in the business for over 20 years and is very good at what he does.

I have personally helped him on over 15 jobs and have worked in the business myself for over 10 years.

Do you do major repairs on your car or do you take it to a professional? Do you do major repairs or replacement on your furnace/plumbing or do you call a professional?

The point of my post is that some things (especially major remodels) should be left to professionals. More than 35% of our business is fixing others mistakes, especially homeowners mistakes. By attempting it themselves 1st, then hiring someone to fix what they did wrong, jumps the cost up even more.

I am not saying that everyone will do a bad job. Obviously, some homeowners do a great job as others have posted. I am only saying, that being in the business, the majority of "self builds" are very below standard, below quality and usually need to be redone within 5 years. That is our experience and my opinion.

 

[yeahdisney]

In response to thelionqueen. Our house was new 12 years ago. We JUST finished the basement, well almost. So while the professionals where here, we had them remove the cream berber? from under the kitchen table and put in tile. Labor $1140 the area probably 14 ft by 10 ft. Tile happened to be on sale when they bought it so around $300 for the tile. The day they started to lie it I had to run to the store 50 minutes away with a 4 yr old to get the underlay, needed thinner due to french door over it, allowing it to open and oops they didn't get the gout, cost I think $225 that day, (earned $2 disney dollars). Two guys $60 an hour, hey I can drive my DH truck, no no really I insist you keep working! So our cost 2X adding the material as well. We did not have the job bidded. NEXT TIME WE WILL. DH asked If I gave you $1000 what would you do with it? I said, Tile under the table, he said "Ouch" I thought you would say Disney, and then I would say "Nope". So the house got the money. Really what is his problem with my obsession with the mouse?

 

[kkmcan]

We tiled out entire house except for the bedrooms. It was a HUGE job. I guess we ended up doing about 1200 sq feet and it took 6 months. Of course we didn't work on it everyday as my dh is a firefighter and he works every other day 24 hr shifts. It came out really nice but getting the grout the correct thickness and then making sure it is pushed into the crevices really well is key! We had so many air bubble holes in the grout in one area of the house that we kept having to repair because we didn't do such a great job that day.

Good luck.

 

[DisneyTarheel]

We are wanting to have ceramic tile floors put down in our kitchen, laundry room and both baths. I have found tile that I like at a good price but the labor is outrageous...I was wondering if anyone had done their own and how hard was it to do, any tips, etc... We thought we would start with the smallest bathroom and see how that goes and then go from there....are we crazy to even try it

Depending on your house, you may want to consult with a structural engineer prior to putting that kind of weight down. Cement backer board/hardiplank, base adhesive and the tiles can add quite a bit of weight. Do you sit over a crawl space? Do you have granite countertops already?

The rage in my area now is to add granite countertops and tile in the kitchen. That combo can add a *lot* of extra weight and can cause issues if the house was not designed to support it.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Do you do major repairs on your car or do you take it to a professional? Do you do major repairs or replacement on your furnace/plumbing or do you call a professional?

The point of my post is that some things (especially major remodels) should be left to professionals.

Well, you're "in the business", so that explains your advocacy of hiring a professional. I'm of the school of thought that says "Why pay a professional when you can do it yourself?".

I guess I'm fortunate in that my husband is *extremely* handy and has done all the tasks you listed above, and done them very well! And he did an exceptionally beautiful job of laying the ceramic tile in our new bathroom (on the floor and in the shower). UNLIKE the people who previously owned our home and did an absolutely horrible job when they laid the tile in our kitchen/dining room. Almost half of them are cracked. THEY should've hired a professional, LOL!!

 

[thelionqueen]

Count us as the lucky ones!! My husband also does the plumbing and car repairs as well..too funny. I consider myself very lucky. As tarheel says, and is very important, the weight problem is very important. Thanks for posting. Happy Holidays all..happy tiling!!

 

[Lorikr65]

I did my bathroom with my sister's help. I bought a $50 wet saw at Lowe's and it worked perfectly. Make sure it's a wet saw or the tiles will break. For did it yourself jobs you don't need a $1000 saw. The sales person told me this and I really didn't believe him but he was corrent. Wen't through the tiles like butter.