Kathy and Dave mix just enough for a section about six feet squared. This will allow us to grout the floor after only a two-hour wait. Just tuck the mixer down in there and I'll start to mix it.įor today's job, we'll be using a quick-setting thin-set mortar. To mark the edges of the center island, we attach strips of wood with hot melt glue, just in case the mortar covers up some of our lines. Then we use a little hairspray to seal the fragile line, making sure it won't rub off as we continue working. Once we position the island where we want it, we extend the edges with a chalk line, creating guidelines for the rest of the room. The island of green tile we're putting in the center will go down first and dictate the layout of the remaining tiles. I think I like the idea of using the tub, centering it on the tub rather than the entire room. So in order to help us make that decision, we've made up this cardboard template. Now Kathy's decided she wants a rectangular field of green tile somewhere in the middle of this room. But there is some adhesive left behind, so we scrape it off with putty knives, leaving a clean, smooth surface. And this comes off a lot easier than many I've encountered.
We start by prying off the shoe molding, removing the toilet and then peeling up the old vinyl flooring.
We'll lift that out and tile up underneath and then put it back again. So what were you thinking? More vinyl on top of this?Īctually, I think the tile, ceramic tile.
I've stripped it twice to clean it and it just doesn't get any better than that. Now the floor doesn't look in that, in that bad a shape. Now I'm not really sure whether or not stock car racing is a high priority for them but tiling their bathroom floor certainly is. I'm on my way to the unofficial birthplace of NASCAR, Charlotte, North Carolina for a visit with Kathy and Dave Shue.