Lindaloo Things To Do!: Tiling the 1/2 Bath and More

This project was tiling on a budget! I happened to visit the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and they had their open box tiles 10 cents a tile. WOW!!! How could I resist. I chose several tiles I felt would look good in a mosaic pattern. Some where bigger than the 12 X 12 I was shooting for but easy enough to cut down to fit. This is the side entry to the house. You might remember the bench from

One Little Corner . I finally got to finish off the bench with

quarter round now that the new flooring is in.

And the view into the 1/2 Bath. I had refinished the vanity and saved the quarter round and finally got to reinstall that as well. I am so happy with the end result and so glad this corner of the house is done!

This is how you can tile a room of your own. First remove baseboards and old vinyl.

I also removed the transition to the side door as I want the new transition to set on top of the new tile.

I played with the tiles to see how I wanted them to be laid.

Cut and install cement board with the appropriate screws.

Sweep up any dust and dirt, mix your mortar per the directions on the bag. I could have used the premixed mortar but really like using the other. Don't paint yourself into a corner so to speak. My layout was odd and I wanted to make sure I had two full tiles to the entry into the kitchen as well as the side entry, so I marked center on the floor and worked out from there. Blob some mortar on the floor use a notched trowel to spread it making sure you cover it well and evenly. Lay your tile giving it a little wiggle, lay the next one close to the first, wiggle it pressing into place and using a level each time a new tile is laid. Use spacers of your choice, mine are 1/4 inch. I have a wet saw which makes it easy to cut the tile. I know the stores sell tools that you can score and snap tiles but really the way to do it is with a wet saw. You can also rent them. And would be well worth it. Measure and cut tiles as needed. Let them dry 24 hours before laying the grout. Most of the grout bags have instructions on them. Mix according to instructions and use a float to spread the grout into the seams. Spreading at a 45 degree angle to the grout lines. Only spread as much as you can keep up with the cleaning it off the tile before it dries. Continue until all grout lines are filled. Over the next few days continue to wipe up any haze left behind. Once completely dry apply a grout sealer. Two coats should do it. Maybe more if you have a child that tends to soak the floor during his evening bath. :)

I saved the old baseboard, sanded it and re-stained. I couldn't remember the stain I had used on previous trim so I tested the board that went behind the toilet. Once I found the winner I stained and polyurethaned all the baseboards. I also bought new quarter round and stained it the same color and installed the quarter round once the baseboards were in. I mitered the corners and used a finish nailer to secure them.

I really lucked out because I had leftover transition from the dining room floor that I cut down and used some liquid nails to secure it. This transition will come up if we ever get to the kitchen remodel so I just tacked it in place.

This is the transition to the outside door. I bought three different transitions but ended up taking the 2 metal ones back to the store. They looked so industrial. I chose an oak transition. I cut to fit. Now that the height of the floor is raised I had to cut and install a 1x2 and place it under the oak transition piece on the screen door side. I screwed them into place, stained and polyurethaned.