A tool for laying tiles. List of main instruments

Finishing surfaces in the premises of your house can take a lot of time and effort, if you do not use the available tools. Speech in this case is about laying the tiles. Before carrying out such work, there is sometimes no need to purchase expensive tools. Experts argue that without a number of specific elements, and at all you can do without.

Basic Tools

The tool for laying the tiles today is prepared almost in the same way as a few years ago. However, some modern devices have been added to the generally accepted list. If you want to prepare for the installation of the tile thoroughly, then you should stock up:

• Level;
• Crosses for seams;
• A mixer;
• Spatula;
• Kiyankoy;
• Tools for cutting tiles.

The process is recommended to be divided into several stages, it will allow to structure the work and determine which tools to purchase, and from which use it is better to refuse. Surface preparation may involve dismantling the old coating and leveling the surfaces of the substrate. Remove the old tile can be using a perforator or a manual chisel. The first is complemented by a chisel. From the layer of mortar can be disposed of with an angle grinder, after concrete is primed, and then the master should begin to putty. In this case, tools for preparing the plaster mix are used, including spatulas and a level for tiling.

Before installing the concrete screed, you should prepare a needle roller, with which you can rid the layer of solution from air bubbles. Laying the tile is done with glue, but if you decide to use the finished mixture, then you can type it with a spatula. Dry powders are previously diluted with water and mixed with a construction mixer.

When carrying out the work on laying the tiles, there is no way to do without a tool with which you could cut the material, while a manual tile cutter is usually used, prices start from 225 rubles. Sometimes on sale you can find tile cutters and for 900 rubles., Such a tool is suitable for cutting tiles in everyday life, and it will last much longer compared to a cheap analog. Installation of the tile is also carried out with the help of a comb spatula, which can be leveled with a solution, ensuring its better adhesion to the surface. But when forming joints, crosses should be used.

Tools for leveling

Tiling usually involves alignment work. If this step is neglected, then you will spend too much glue. For this stage, you need a spatula for laying the tile, which the master will apply to the walls of the plaster, leveling the surface.

Check the evenness of the floor and walls can be using a level, but the plumb bob will detect and exclude vertical deviations. Align concrete when laying a concrete mortar with the help of the rule.

How to choose a comb

It would seem that the comb for laying tiles is a simple tool, but it can have teeth of different shapes, which puts some consumers at a dead end. For example, to obtain ridges, the size of which can vary from 6 to 12 mm, a tool with square teeth should be used. But if you want to get ridges no more than 12 mm on the assembly cement mix, then you should choose a device with semicircular teeth. On such an impressive thickness, the track will be made more even, it will not fall off if there is a semicircle in the section, and not a square. Such a comb is used to apply synthetic glues with high spreadability, in this case the thickness of the layer does not matter.

The described tool for laying tiles can also have semicircular denticles. This device is recommended to use for the application of elastic adhesives, the thickness of the layer which will not exceed 4 mm. Suitable is a comb for PVC-tiles.

Selection of spatula

When preparing a tile laying tool, you should take care of the presence of a set of trowels. Them the master should have several, namely:

• straight;
• Cogged;
• rubber.

The first variety has a compact size and is intended for the removal of glue from the container. A straight trowel allows you to apply the composition to the edge of the tile, floor or wall. A notched trowel is needed to form grooves on the surface of the tile, this will improve the quality of the masonry and level the layer of the mixture. At the final stage of the application of grout on the seams you will need a rubber spatula, which is soft and compact in size.

Tools for cutting tiles

Manual tile cutter, the prices for which were mentioned above, will be needed for cutting tiles. In addition, you can prepare the Bulgarian and the glass cutter, which are available in the arsenal of almost every home master. Using manual models of tile cutters, you will be able to cut the material with a diamond cutter on the bearing or rollers.

The electric models have more extended possibilities, after all they cut a tile with the help of a diamond disk. To form holes, you can use a conventional drill, which is supplemented with nozzles suitable for working with concrete, glass and ceramics. Among them, it is necessary to allocate a crown, which will allow making recesses for switches and sockets. Glazed pottery will succumb to the so-called balerinka, which is designed to work with glass.

Tile fitting

When assembling the tile laying tool, you must prepare a rubber kijan, as well as an alignment system. Adjust the position of the products can be with a rubber kiyanka, which is complemented by a wooden bar. With their help, the elements are tapping on the sides and from above. The solution is distributed throughout the product area. At the stage of leveling the surface can not do without a level, and also an alignment system, the latter of which is designed for large elements. The system consists of a set of wedges and struts, and is used for horizontal planes.

Preparation of tools for grouting

Sponge for grouting tiles is not the only thing that will be needed at the final stage of the work. It is important to prepare:

• Rubber spatula;
• Paint roller;
• bucket;
• Clean rags;
• Embroidery;
• Plywood.

The work can be divided into several stages. To begin with, the grout is mixed, the solution is left to saturate, re-mixed and applied. In conclusion, you can delete the surplus. When mixing the solution, it is best to act manually, because when using a stirrer, it is possible that oxygen bubbles enter the solution. As a result, the mixture will weaken.

If the amount of work is sufficiently large, the drill is recommended to be set at 300 rpm, leaving the solution after mixing for 9 minutes. The application of grout is carried out with the help of a special grater, to which the master should rub the composition into the seams. Repeat this procedure several times to achieve the density of application.

What a curiosity: a bag for grouting

If the hammer for laying the tile is a completely traditional tool, like all the others described above, only a few have heard of the trowel bag. This device is a bag that looks like a confectioner's. A tip is attached to it, the diameter of which should be equal to the width of the seam. Use this approach to grouting joints in the case when the lining is difficult to manual approach and requires great effort. To begin with, it is necessary to treat horizontal, and after vertical seams, leaving the mortar for 30 minutes, so that the grout is seized. Only then you can proceed to remove the surplus. For cleaning in this case, use a stiff brush, because any other will not be so effective. With some jewelry works can not do without such a bag, which saves a huge amount of time.

Removal of excess grouting

Now you know what you need to lay the tiles, but it's also important to take care of the availability of tools that will be useful to remove the surplus. For this, a damp sponge and a container of water are usually used. From surpluses should be disposed of in circular motions, while it is important to monitor the cleanliness of the sponge, more often washing it in water. Dry method involves the use of a special bar or a small stick with a sharpened end. The cleaned seam should not be convex, it should be made straight.

Conclusion

The modern market offers the consumer a lot of finishing materials for every taste and purse, however, ceramic tiles are still one of the most popular among alternative solutions. Over time, it does not lose its appearance and is amenable to renovation by grouting.

If you want to do installation work yourself, then you need to prepare all the tools and materials. After all, only in this case you will not encounter difficulties if, for example, you need to drill a hole in the tile for an outlet or switch.