Finishing surfaces in the interiors of your home can take a lot of effort and time if you do not use the available tools. In this case we are talking about laying tiles. Before carrying out such work, there is sometimes no need to purchase expensive tools. Experts say that you can do without a number of specific elements.
Basic Tools
Tools for today are prepared in almost the same way as several years ago. However, some have been added to the generally accepted list modern devices. If you want to thoroughly prepare for the installation of tiles, then you should stock up on:
- level;
- crosses for seams;
- mixer;
- spatula;
- mallet;
- tools for cutting tiles.
It is recommended to divide the process into several stages, this will allow you to structure the work and decide which tools to purchase and which ones it is better not to use. Surface preparation may involve dismantling the old coating and leveling the base surfaces. Delete old tiles You can use a hammer drill or a hand chisel. The first is complemented by a chisel. The layer of mortar can be removed using an angle grinder, after which the concrete is coated with a primer, and then the craftsman should begin puttying. In this case, cooking tools come into play. plaster mixture, this should include spatulas and a level for laying tiles.
In front of the device concrete screed You should prepare a needle roller with which you can remove air bubbles from the solution layer. This is done using glue, but if you decide to use a ready-made mixture, you can scoop it out with a spatula. Dry powders are pre-diluted with water and stirred with a construction mixer.
When carrying out tile laying work, you cannot do without a tool with which you could cut the material; in this case, a manual tile cutter is usually used, prices for which start from 225 rubles. Sometimes you can find tile cutters on sale for 900 rubles; such a tool is suitable for cutting tiles at home, and it will last much longer compared to a cheap analogue. The tiles are also installed using a comb spatula, which can be used to level the mortar, ensuring its better adhesion to the surface. But when forming seams it is necessary to use crosses.
Leveling Tools
Laying tiles usually involves leveling work. If you neglect this step, you will waste too much glue. For this stage, you will need a spatula for laying tiles, with which the master will apply plaster to the walls and level the surface.
You can check the evenness of the floor and walls using a level, but a plumb line will allow you to identify and eliminate vertical deviations. Level the concrete when laying concrete mortar you can use a rule.
How to choose a comb
It would seem that a comb for laying tiles is simple tool, however, it can have teeth of different shapes, which confuses some consumers. For example, to obtain ridges, the size of which can vary from 6 to 12 mm, you should use a tool with square teeth. But if you need to get ridges no more than 12 mm on the installation cement mixture, then you should choose a device with semicircular teeth. With such an impressive thickness, the path will turn out smoother, it will not fall off if the cross-section is a semicircle rather than a square. This comb is used for applying synthetic adhesives with high spreadability; in this case, the thickness of the layer does not matter.
The described tool for laying tiles may also have semicircular teeth. This device is recommended to be used for applying elastic adhesives, the layer thickness of which will not exceed 4 mm. This comb is suitable for PVC tiles.
Spatula selection
When preparing tools for laying tiles, you should ensure that you have a set of spatulas. The master should have several of them, namely:
- direct;
- toothed;
- rubber.
The first type has compact dimensions and is intended for collecting glue from a container. A straight spatula allows you to apply the composition to the edge of the tile, floor or wall. A notched trowel will be 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. On final stage To apply grout to the seams, you will need a rubber spatula, which is soft and compact in size.
Tile cutting tool
The prices for which were mentioned above will be needed for cutting tiles. Additionally, you can prepare a grinder and a glass cutter, which are available in almost everyone’s arsenal. home handyman. With manual tile cutter models, you will cut the material using a diamond cutter on a bearing or rollers.
Electric models have more advanced capabilities, because they cut tiles using a conventional drill, which is supplemented with attachments suitable for working with concrete, glass and ceramics. Among them, it is necessary to highlight a crown, which will allow making recesses for switches and sockets. Glazed ceramics will lend themselves to the so-called ballerina, which is intended for working with glass.
Tile fitting
When assembling tools for laying tiles, you must prepare a leveling system. You can adjust the position of the products using a rubber mallet, which is complemented by a wooden block. With their help, the elements are tapped on the sides and top. The solution is distributed over the entire area of the product. At the surface leveling stage, you cannot do without a level, as well as a leveling system, the latter of which is intended for large elements. The system consists of a set of wedges and spacers and is used for horizontal planes.
Preparing tools for grouting
A sponge for grouting tiles is not the only thing you will need at the final stage of work. It is important to prepare:
- rubber spatula;
- paint roller;
- bucket;
- clean rags;
- jointing;
- plywood
The work can be divided into several stages. First, the grout is mixed, the solution is left to saturate, mixed again and applied. Finally, you can remove the excess. When mixing the solution, it is best to do it manually, because when using a stirrer there is a possibility of oxygen bubbles getting into the solution. Eventually the mixture will weaken.
If the volume of work is large enough, then it is recommended to set the drill at 300 rpm, leaving the solution after mixing for 9 minutes. The grout is applied using a special grater, with which the technician should rub the compound into the seams. This procedure must be repeated several times to achieve a dense application.
What a curiosity: a grout bag
If a hammer for laying tiles is a completely traditional tool, like all the others described above, then only a few have heard of a grout bag. This device is a bag resembling a pastry bag. A tip is attached to it, the diameter of which should be equal to the width of the seam. This approach to grouting can be used in cases where the cladding is difficult to handle manually and requires enormous effort. First, you need to process the horizontal and then vertical seams, leaving the solution for 30 minutes so that the grout sets. Only then can you begin to remove the excess. For cleaning in this case, use a hard brush, because any other will not be as effective. For some jewelry work, you can’t do without such a bag, which saves a huge amount of time.
Removing excess grout
Now you know what you need to lay tiles, but it is also important to make sure you have the tools that will be useful for removing excess. To do this, you usually use a damp sponge and a container of water. Excess should be removed using circular movements, and it is important to keep the sponge clean by rinsing it in water more often. The dry method involves the use of a special joint 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 consumers a variety of finishing materials for every taste and budget, however, ceramic tiles are still one of the most popular alternative solutions. Over time she doesn't lose appearance and can be updated by grouting.
If you want to do installation work yourself, 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.
Covering floor surfaces is an activity that requires skills and a lot of work ability. Therefore, this work is one of the highest paid specialties. It is necessary to undergo a long course of training under the guidance of an experienced master, then sweat yourself, achieving high quality and the required results.
But in addition to the mentioned criteria for fulfillment on high level One more element is required - the availability of a professional set of tools.
The efficiency, quality, volume and speed of laying the floor depend no less on it ceramic coating. But with all the variety of instruments and tools, the main thing is not to get lost in it, but to choose the most necessary. Otherwise, a lot of things may be superfluous, and yes, it’s not easy to wear. Let's consider the most rational set of tools for a tiler.
Mixer (mixer)
What is the difference between a mixer and conventional drill with a nozzle? The mixer is a special one that has optimal ratio rotation speed of the working body and electric motor power, in contrast to a drill. The mixer creates the desired consistency of the solution without causing excessive load on the motor, like a drill. If used intensively, the drill may soon fail. When choosing, it is not necessary to give preference to the imported version of the mixer. In terms of reliability, domestic ones are not inferior to foreign ones, and their cost is several times less. Another advantage of the mixer is the ability to install a drill using a special chuck, a “ballerina” or a small glue mixer.
For small quantities of mortar, the mixer completely replaces a concrete mixer for preparing mortar for plaster or screed. All this can be prepared in special containers.
The next important tool for a tiler is a tile cutter. Existing types can be divided into three groups. The tool is not for professionals, which is used rarely and not when mounting large areas. He has many shortcomings. For example, the tile cut is no more than 40 cm, the guide tubes are fragile, often break and rust. The cutting edge has play, so it will not be possible to get perfectly identical tiles. The only advantage of such a cutter is its cost, which during operation easily turns into a disadvantage.
A special tile cutter is five times more expensive than the first option. Its price varies between $400. But if you do laying tiles, you can pay for it within one year. Leading companies producing such tools are located in Austria and Italy. A special element of a tile cutter is a cutting part in the form of a wheel. Typically, manufacturers provide a guarantee for the impeccable operation of the wheel, designed for 800 sq. meters of material. And in terms of time, this is equal to a year of work, provided that up to 100 square meters are accommodated per month. meters of tiles. In the future, such a product can be used for cutting usual for walls. For example, a Chinese-made tile cutter should work efficiently for no more than two weeks. While the branded tool does an excellent job with tiles for steps up to 12 mm thick.
The grinder is included in the tiler's package as one of the important mechanisms when performing construction work for laying tile materials, after the tile cutter and mixer. These three tools occupy the leading positions in terms of value, accounting for almost 90% of costs.
An additional production tool for tiling is nippers. When cutting tool If you can’t cope with scorched tiles, then wire cutters are very helpful. They must be powerful, with pobedite teeth, and not necessarily with a metal cutting surface. Their task is to break the tile along the cut made by the cutter. For fine work, when it is necessary to make openings for switches, sockets or holes for pipes, narrow nippers are used, which are called “parrots” in tiler slang. They can also come in handy when finishing tiles when large nippers are no longer useful.
Tools for filling joints with mortar
When the tile material is laid, it is necessary to fill the space between the tiles, that is, the seams. In this case, additional tools are used to fill the seams. It is necessary to have: a two-liter plastic tank, a spatula for grouting, a rubber hammer, rubber and felt gloves, a grater (washcloth), foam rubber (polyurethane foam).
Thus, rubber gloves protect the skin of the hands from the effects of chemical additives included in the solution. The same cement, for example, dries out the skin very much, so hand protection will obviously not be superfluous. For small volumes of tiles, you can use gloves or do without them - this is at your own discretion.
Most best option rubber spatula has a size of 11x25 cm. When offered a tool with a smaller work surface– it’s better to refuse – the grouting time increases. A quality spatula can last up to 10 years.
A plastic one is also produced, which can even be used to adjust the level of the tiles being laid. But there is a nuance here. When pressing on one edge of the product, the opposite one inevitably rises. This can lead to a general disruption of the smooth surface. Therefore, the use of such a tool is controversial.
The rubber hammer should not be very heavy, its weight should not exceed 1 kg. It is necessary for tapping tiles. This causes more reliable adhesion to the solution and removal of air.
A sponge or grater is used to remove excess grout when the grout has thoroughly dried. It is especially needed in the warm season - the solution dries instantly and, so that it does not harden, it must be quickly removed. Sponge used for removal cement mortar should have dimensions of 14x11x6 cm. If it is not possible to purchase rubber, use foam rubber, but its dimensions can fluctuate within 20x15 cm. The most suitable form foam rubber is coarse-grained. It makes it possible to efficiently remove solution residues when washing the material.
The following set of tools includes the use of trays made of durable plastic, two wear-resistant rollers, a sponge with a handle and a tray with a capacity of up to 13 liters. This rather voluminous kit can be simplified, since transporting it takes up a lot of space. Therefore, only a roller may be most necessary, and instead of baths, a wide bucket is purchased. especially important when laying mosaics. Polyurethane foam or foam rubber is used for finishing and sanding seams. A bucket of water will come in handy here.
Felt gloves are used at the final stage of work. After the grout dries and general cleaning, a thin layer of plaque remains on the tiles. To eliminate it, felt gloves are used.
For a final and quick cleaning of a new ceramic tile floor, you will need a factory mop with dual and replaceable rubber rollers. Its length is at least 50 cm.
Other tools of a master tiler can be called additional and auxiliary, but without which it is also impossible to obtain an acceptable result. These include, first of all, measuring instruments: bubble level and tape measure. A high-quality bubble level is the main condition for a perfectly flat surface.
To obtain right angles, you need to have two carbon rulers - a large and a small one. Square larger size used when marking material on the floor. If it is absent, you have to carry out arithmetic calculations using the Pythagorean theorem and roulette. The smaller square is needed to mark the holes on the tile. It is desirable that it be made of chrome-plated steel and have a scale with embossed numbers. Painted rulers are short-lived, the paint will soon peel off, and the numbers will be invisible. In extreme cases, when there is no square, you can use the tile itself to create a right angle.
Painting or beating line
This tool is extremely necessary when the surface of the floor being laid with tiles is quite significant. It is with the help of the fishing line that the first row is beaten off and the first tile is laid. Modern technologies allow us to abandon such archaic, but, nevertheless, important element like a cord. Today masters use laser.
The water level is also an irreplaceable success among builders. It is a regular transparent medical hose into which water is poured. But the above-mentioned laser also replaces the water level, which allows marking to be carried out quickly and efficiently. Convenience is also one of the advantages high technology, the only problem is the cost.
The rules, with emphasis on the letter “i,” are of great importance when laying tiles. They play the role of elements that level the base for laying and final control of the tiles after they are installed.
Wedges. Large - up to 2.5 m. It is necessary for screeding and plastering along beacons, as well as for final leveling of uneven surfaces with glue. cement base. Medium – up to 1.5 m. This wedge is a tool for controlling the level of masonry, both on the walls and on the floor.
Tools for installing tiles
Trowel. A notched trowel (10 mm) is required when installing tiles with a side of 300 mm or more. It (4-5 mm) is used when mounting products with dimensions less than 200 mm. Shaulsky's ladle is convenient for plastering walls and laying tiles on a larger surface area. rubber can be replaced with wood, but you must work with it extremely carefully.
The scraper is used to remove dried building materials from tiles. And also, if necessary, remove the installed tiles by blasting.
An ordinary broom is used when priming the floor. To reduce primer consumption, it can be diluted with water in a ratio that is 20% greater than when diluting the concentrate. In this case, the working time is significantly reduced, and there is no need to wash the brush.
Set of plastic crosses and wedges. Their width is up to 3 mm, but if the seams need to be made invisible, then the width of the crosses should not exceed 1.5 mm. A portable tee 30 m long - this size is designed for an outlet that is located far away. The carrier has several 500-watt light bulbs. Good lighting necessary to see everything small details while working. This helps to perform styling more efficiently. After all, this light will be needed during cladding.
An electric tee, special construction pencils, felt-tip pens, a knife, a hand brush, and a priming roller will come in handy. It is also necessary to use a brush to remove any remaining glue from the tool. Often this tool is given little importance. But it is a very serious element in the work. After all, if you do not clean it, then soon all the equipment that interacts with the glue will become unusable.
Protective materials
First of all, you need safety glasses. They are especially useful when working with the turbine and when cutting tile products. This type of work is a very dangerous operation. After all, parts of the tile can be so small that if they get into the eye unnoticed, they can seriously damage it. Therefore, you simply cannot do without glasses here. If you feel pain in your eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor. Glasses also require careful care. Store them in a special case. Otherwise, upon contact with sand, the glass will quickly deteriorate.
For fast and high-quality work, you will need a respirator. Without it, laying tiles will be very difficult. After all, sweeping the floor is prohibited, especially if insulation was used when installing drywall. You should pay attention to filters. They must be of high quality. But they need to be changed in time. Working in old filters will only cause harm to the human body.
Gloves. Of course, it is not entirely convenient to carry out work operations while wearing gloves. Thus, labor efficiency is noticeably reduced. And this is not good for the master. But modern specialists have found a way out of this situation - they work in gloves with cut off fingers. In winter, this still protects from the cold, and in summer it reduces the area of interaction between glue and skin.
Installation of cladding takes a lot of effort and time if you do not use the devices available today. You don't have to use expensive tools. There is a list of what you will definitely need, and some specific elements that are not required.
The minimum set required for laying tiles
List of tools
- spatulas;
- level;
- mallet;
- crosses;
- device for cutting tiles;
- mixer.
Basic set for laying tiles
We will divide the whole process into several parts:
- Surface preparation. At this stage, it becomes necessary to dismantle the old covering and level the walls or floor. To remove tiles, use a hammer drill with a chisel or a hand chisel. The solution is cleaned off with a grinder, and then the concrete is covered with a layer of primer. Afterwards they begin puttying, if necessary. Here we use tools for mixing plaster, spatulas of different sizes and levels. When pouring a concrete screed onto the floor, a needle roller is used, which removes air from the liquid solution.
- Preparation of materials. When laying tiles, you first need glue. WITH ready-made mixtures A spatula is enough to remove the mass. Pre-dilute dry powders with water and mix thoroughly with a mixer. Tiles almost always need to be cut. A number of tools are used for this purpose.
- Installation. You will need a comb spatula for installation. Make sure that you can accurately position the trim elements and secure them with glue using crosses.
- Grout. Fugu is used to eliminate voids at joints.
- Spatulas. With their help, plaster is applied and leveled to perfect condition.
- Level. Checks evenness.
- Plumb. Detects deviations on vertical surfaces.
- Rule. Levels concrete when pouring the floor in a thick layer.
- Needle roller. It is used to disperse liquid self-leveling composition and eliminate air bubbles.
Main devices for leveling the surface
- Direct. The small one is used to take glue from a container and apply it to the wall, floor or edge of the tile. With a larger one, the mass is leveled to a more or less equal layer.
- Serrated. In other words, it is a comb spatula. It comes in different sizes, depending on the height of the teeth and their frequency. With its help, grooves are made on the surface of the glue, which improves the quality of the masonry and finally levels out the layer of the mixture.
- Rubber. Used on final stage to apply grout to the seams.
Required set of spatulas
Tile cutting
To get smooth edges, use a glass cutter and a grinder. These tools are available in almost every home, so they are adapted for various purposes.
Tile cutters are specialized. Manual models work on the principle of a glass cutter and incorporate a diamond roller. Great opportunities They have electric models; they cut tiles using a disc.
Holes are drilled with a simple drill with additional attachments suitable for working with ceramics, glass and concrete. Among these, it is worth noting the crown, which is used to cut out recesses for sockets and switches, as well as the glass ballerina, which can cope with glazed ceramics.
Tools for cutting and drilling tiles
Adjusting the tile position
One of the main stages is the actual laying and leveling of the material. To fully cope with this task, a number of tools are used:
- Rubber mallet. Once you have secured the tile to the mortar, adjust it to its exact position and embed it into the adhesive mixture. For this purpose they use wooden block or a rubber mallet. Using them, tap the element on the sides and top. This will distribute the solution over the entire area and get rid of air bubbles.
- Level. It is important to maintain the same height from the floor.
- Tile leveling system. With dimensional finishing elements it is difficult to maintain an ideal position: the corners become skewed even with a slight difference in the thickness of the adhesive layer. To correct the coating and set the same distance between the elements, they came up with. It is represented by a set of wedges and spacers and is intended mainly for horizontal planes.
- Crosses. They happen different sizes, one- and two-sided. Plastic also differs in quality. This indicator is not fundamentally important, but it makes itself felt when trying to remove crosses from a hardening solution.
Tools for leveling tiles
Applying grout
The final stage – decorative finishing seams between cladding elements. Here they are used different instruments. Basically we are talking about a rubber spatula. With its help, mastic is placed into the joints, and then leveled and compacted. To give the seams a concave shape, a special tool is used. It looks like a plastic tube and is pressed against the slightly frozen applied mass.
A simple wire will replace such a device.
Basically, the grout mixture is applied using a rubber spatula.
Use a construction syringe with embossed tiles, artificial stone, with some types of grout, for example, viscous epoxy resin. With their help, the mass is carefully applied inside the seam. This method has some advantages:
- rational use of grout;
- creating a uniform layer in the crack;
- eliminates the need for lengthy cleaning of the finish after drying;
- absence of mastic clogged into the pores of the coating, protection of volumetric elements from contamination;
- quick and convenient application of the mass.
All the tools described can speed up the process. repair work. In addition, with their help you reduce the risk of making serious mistakes.
To decorate the interior with tiles and porcelain stoneware, you cannot do without a special one. Professional installers spend not only time on installation, but also significant resources to prepare for it. For example, construction teams specializing in laying large-format tiles are forced to spend at least 200,000 rubles to complete the work to purchase specialized equipment. Now it is quite clear that the instrumental training of a specialist determines the cost of his work on laying tiles. And if a master comes to you with one comb and a manual tile cutter, then this is most likely an amateur than a professional. We can say that craftsmen are greeted by their tile-laying tools, and only then by their suit.
Tools for laying tiles are divided into the following groups:
- Manual
- Electric
By stages of working with tiles:
- Preliminary (this includes tools that are not used for installation itself; a tile cutter, for example, is needed to cut tiles, but it itself is not used in the process of gluing the material to the surface)
- Laying tools (for example, a hammer and trowel, these are typical tools for laying tiles)
- Auxiliary (for example, sponges, buckets, gloves, that is, those that are needed for laying, but do not themselves participate in the process of laying tiles).
These devices make installation work easier and more reliable. Craftsmen have been working on their tools, looking for something reliable, convenient and helpful in laying tiles for more than one day. In this environment, advice from other craftsmen is valued and certain brands and manufacturers are taken into account. This tool market is a large field of income for many, from those who produce and sell tools, to those who perform work.
You should not trust everyone’s opinion about the tool, maybe he bought a spatula and dug the ground with it, evaluate the opinion only of those who have really proven their professionalism, either by objects in which they took part, as a paver, or finished work. And never look at the cost, for example, a spatula from Soviet times still serves reliably, but it cost a penny, and foreign options, even expensive, even reliable in appearance, can fall apart after 2 installations.
In secret! All tile installers have their own unique set of tile tools. You can do without a mallet, using the edge of your palm for this, but this is unlikely to ensure high-quality styling. But all this comes to the master through experience. Of course, you need to get used to the tool, because to work with each one you need, you need to get used to it.
Detailed information about each instrument
Gloves (rubber or rubberized)
Your hands are the most valuable tool in tile laying work. They need to be protected first. When gluing tiles with epoxy adhesive or mastic, gloves must be worn.
Roulette
Measurements must be taken during any installation work, also for marking both indoors and cutting tiles.
On at the moment can be used:
- Mechanical
- Laser
As strange as it may seem, measurement with a mechanical tape measure is often more accurate, especially in a small room.
Construction square
This tool is necessary for marking at an angle, as well as for determining the correctness (perpendicularity) of the corners of the room.
Chalk and pencil
Visualization – determines the simplicity and correctness of installation. Both chalk and pencil will help you with this; they are used to make markings, apply marks, and even write down calculations on the surface. All these markings will then be hidden under the glue and tiles.
Mooring cord and pins
The strange name should not mislead you, since a mooring cord is just a twisted cord or rope, with a thickness of 3 mm. It is stretched to create even rows and is used as a guide. The pins are used to tension the mooring cord and are initially driven into the base when work begins.
Tile cutter
Cut tiles using of this instrument. If you do not plan to become a professional tiler, you can buy a manual tile cutter, just pay attention to its size and the size of the tiles you purchased for installation. It is important that this tool cuts the material both in length and width. one of the most expensive devices in the tile business.
Glass cutter
Used for cutting thin tiles (shards). Service life is limited by the sharpness of the blade.
Bulgarian
Where you cannot cut the tiles with a glass cutter or tile cutter, a grinder with a dry cutter will help. A circle or rectangle is the easiest to create using this tool.
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This is the standard version of the grinder
Hacksaw
Craftsmen quite often use a hacksaw with a diamond or tungsten wire. Using a hacksaw takes a lot of time, but at the same time, in critical cutting areas, one rarely does without it. Even plumbers use a hacksaw to carefully approach pipes for inspection. After such cutting, the easiest way is to glue the tiles in the same place.
Ballerina on tiles
A ballerina is a special device for cutting round holes in tiles or porcelain stoneware.
Pliers/cutters
Level
Using a level, check the evenness of the surface and correct installation. In your work you will need levels of different lengths, up to two 2 meters, and from 20 cm. But you can check the work of the master using mobile phone and a special application - level.
Drill with attachments
The mixer attachment is a special device for mixing glue.
In hot weather, mixing glue using this tool is very convenient. After all, you need to mix in small batches due to the fact that the glue dries quickly. Doing this by hand takes a very long time, but with the help of a mixer it’s easy, just take it, mix it, lay it down small area and repeat the operation again.
Plumb
A plumb line is a tool that represents a cone on a rope or cord. It is used to determine the accuracy of vertical laying. These days, this tool is more often replaced by a laser level.
Bucket
A bucket is a container for mixing the adhesive. It should be deep and wide, for ease of mixing the glue and scooping it up with a trowel. Specialized containers for laying tiles are now on sale.
Brushes
Paint brushes are used to apply primer or dust off a surface, or for cleaning or moisturizing back side tiles
Spatulas
Spatulas are the main tool for applying glue. Spatulas, like a wall, allow you to apply glue very carefully, onto required thickness, thus increasing the adhesion of the adhesive between the tile and the base.
The types of spatulas are the following:
- A smooth spatula is used for initial application of glue or leveling;
- Toothed, for corrugating glue. The thicker the tile, the larger the teeth;
- Rubber, for grouting. Available in various configurations depending on the location of application. By the way, no one knows how it was invented and when it began to be used. But this device is really very important in the work of a master stacker.
Trowel
A trowel is used to apply and distribute glue solution, especially useful for applying glue in corners and other hard-to-reach places.
Crosses
Special crosses made of plastic are inserted between the tiles and thus they create the same distance between the tiles. Recommended for today special systems for laying, which have the same thickness of the seam and the strength of the laying when the glue dries.
Mallet or hammer with a rubberized handle
To better secure the tile, it should be set in glue. These tile tools will help you do just that.
Cloth or rags
An integral assistant in work, wiping hands, removing excess glue, washing the surface of glue and wiping cutting tools ceramic tiles, as well as final surface cleaning.
Now you know the most important one? Of course, at each stage different things are important in their own way.
Availability of quality and convenient tool for laying tiles allows you to do the job faster, easier and get a good result. In this article we will look at the tiler's tool and try to determine the minimum set for high-quality execution work.
Quick navigation through the article
Tile laying tools
The rest of the tool can be called auxiliary, but you can’t do without it either.
Mixer
If you are doing a one-time job, you can get by with a hammer drill with a special whisk attachment, or even mix everything by hand. But when professionally laying tiles, you need to buy a separate mixer.
Since rotation in the mixer is transmitted through a gearbox, this allows for a low load on the electric motor and optimal mixing speed. In addition, the larger and heavier mixer is securely attached to the mixer. No drill can withstand the abuse that a mixer can easily handle - it can easily mix large-volume buckets.
Mixers Russian manufacturers They are not inferior to foreign analogues, but are several times cheaper.
The second advantage of the mixer is that you can use it for drilling tiles. You can put a clamping chuck on it with a drill bit for tiles or a ballerina drill, or with a small mixer for glue.
For small volumes, you can use a mixer to prepare mortar for screed or plaster in 20-liter buckets or a metal box.
Tile cutter
The next tool you can’t do without when cutting tiles is a tile cutter.
Relatively speaking, they can be divided into 2 categories:
- Amateur manual tile cutters.
- Professional manual tile cutters.
Disadvantages of amateur models:
- Suitable for maximum tiles 40 cm wide.
- The weak structure bends when cutting thick ceramic tiles and it is not always possible to break them. Over time, the guides rust and make it difficult for the cutter to move.
- The cutting wheel may have large play (up to 4 mm). This will prevent you from cutting exactly two identical tiles.
Professional tile cutters cost 5 times more, and the price for some models reaches 15,000 rubles. But if you do professional styling, it can pay for itself in 1 year. As a rule, such tile cutters are produced in Austria and Italy.
An important part is the cutting wheel. Its approximate service life is 800 square meters tiles. This resource is enough for about a year of work by a master tiler, when laying at a rate of 100 square meters per month. After this, it can no longer cope with floor tiles or porcelain stoneware, but is still suitable for cutting soft wall tiles. But the Chinese analogues will last a couple of weeks at most.
Bulgarian
This is one of the most important tools tiler, along with a tile cutter and mixer. 90% of the costs will go towards their purchase.
Good for cutting tiles grinder Makita 9554 (costs about 2.5-3 thousand rubles) - it has a narrow, comfortable handle, but due to this, reduced power. 
Among the more expensive models is the Hilti AG 125-A22 cordless angle grinder (the full set costs about 26 thousand). Its weight, good balance and comfortable handle allow you to work even with one hand, and the power is not inferior to network analogues.
Circles for the grinder need to be purchased special for tiles with diamond coating. Many store sellers do not know what kind of discs are needed for ceramic tiles and try to sell you discs for cutting stone or concrete. They can be distinguished by the absence of holes and notches on the cutting part. The tile discs are completely smooth and without holes, this helps reduce the number of chips.
Wire cutters
An auxiliary tool for cutting tiles is nippers. They help out when the tile cannot be broken off along the cut. They are especially often needed when cutting durable floor tiles or if the tile cutter wheel is worn out.
There are several types of tile nippers.
Grouting tools
Minimum set of tools for filling seams:
Litokol has special tools for grouting joints.
This is a convenient set, but it is very bulky. Therefore, you can only use the wringer rollers from it if you somehow attach it to a regular bucket. You can also squeeze out the scourer with a roller, which is especially useful when laying mosaics.
Protective equipment
When performing any construction work, safety precautions must be observed. Just look at the pictures for the queries “injuries from an angle grinder” and you will immediately understand the need for protection.
- Safety glasses. Wear them when doing any work with an angle grinder, especially when cutting tiles. Store them in a case (you can even make a homemade case from a Domestos bottle) and wash them regularly under water.
- Respirator. Often there is a large layer of dust on the floor before installation and construction waste(including remnants of insulation), so you can’t do without it.
- Gloves. If you are not a mutant with increased cell regeneration, then you cannot do without them.
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