A question for you handy OTTers. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A question for you handy OTTers.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
homicidal_squirrel
Jan 15, 2012 16:15:26 O.k. a few questions:

1) how do you remove carpet?
2) What eqipment do I need to remove the carpet?

3)How do you install tile flooring?
4) What equipment do I need?
#2
warghoul
Jan 15, 2012 18:04:27 A razor blade and some elbow grease to remove the carpet. If its glued down good luck. Going to need a claw hammer
or crowbar to remove the tack strips that hold the carpet if it wasent glued.

What type of tile?
#3
homicidal_squirrel
Jan 15, 2012 21:01:02
A razor blade and some elbow grease to remove the carpet. If its glued down good luck. Going to need a claw hammer
or crowbar to remove the tack strips that hold the carpet if it wasent glued.

What type of tile?

I think it might be glued down. It's a small carpet. It's probably 2 and a half feet by 2 and a half feet. I just wanted to get some cheap tile. Nothing flashy. The carpet is in the one of the hall closets.

Any suggestions on the tile? Or should I use something else?
#4
homicidal_squirrel
Jan 15, 2012 21:02:09
My name is not Andy and the answer is you call a professional.

Normally I would, but I want to try and do it myself. Every once in a while I grow a mustache and want to do manly stuff.

#5
Ragnar_Lodbrok
Jan 15, 2012 21:06:55
My name is not Andy and the answer is you call a professional.

And pay a rather large amount. Cheaper to do it yourself. Especially if you have friends/lackeys to help.
#6
EscherEnigma
Jan 15, 2012 21:26:14
My name is not Andy and the answer is you call a professional.

And pay a rather large amount. Cheaper to do it yourself. Especially if you have friends/lackeys to help.

/shrug

It's a question of time/expertise.

I know just enough about laying tile that I can do it (and do a damn fine job of it, if I may flatter myself), but not enough to do it quickly. As such, by the time I get the job done (and rent some of the equipment that I don't have on hand, like a good mixer for the what-cha-ma-call-it and a tile cutter) I'll have "spent" more then I would have paid a professional to do it, at my hourly salary.

Sure, it doesn't quite work out that way in practice (I'd be doing the project on the weekend/after hours, so it's not like I'd be taking time off to do it) but the end result is still me working for less then I'm worth.
#7
zombie_babies
Jan 16, 2012 8:43:00 A small section like that shouldn't be too much trouble. Thing is, you will (as EE mentioned) need a tile cutter. So, if you can rent one on the cheap it won't be too bad. Lowe's an' Home Depot usually rent stuff like that but I don't know if they have those for rent or not. Anyhoo, all you'll need is tile, a tile cutter, mortar, a bucket, a trowel (get a tile trowel - they have cut edges that make getting the proper amount of mortar on the tile easier), a level, grout, sealer, time and a plan. Find the center of the area and put a tile there - or however your design is gonna be. Build out from there. Once you've got the layout, put some mortar on the center tile (or whatever) and another layer on the floor. Lay it in place and verify it's where you want it. Then do the same for the surrounding tile. Make sure you check the level of the tile with the floor and with each other. Put the level across a couple of tiles and make sure it's all good. If you need to push an end down a bit you can tap it with your palm heel or the wooden shaft of a hammer. Don't get too crazy, though. Oh yeah, also make sure you have even spaces between the tile - they make plastic spacers if you don't trust your eyes to guage it. Once it's all laid and mortared, you wait. Usually like 24 hours to make sure the mortar is set. Then you grout. You may need different trowels for this and it pays to remember that they do make grout that's put into tubes you can use a caulk gun to applly for those difficult to reach edges and the like. Once your gaps are filled evenly with grout, you wait some more. Like another day. Then you seal the grout. And then you're done.
#8
homicidal_squirrel
Jan 16, 2012 9:33:48 Sounds easy enough. One more thing. What's a cutter?
#9
zombie_babies
Jan 16, 2012 10:26:57 Tile saw. Ususally a mini-table saw with a water reservoir. I think you can get 'em in different styles, though. Like I think Dremel makes a saw that can use tyle cuttin' blades. No idea how they work, though. My wife's step dad has a mini-table saw one and that's what we used when we did the tyle by the front door.
#10
homicidal_squirrel
Jan 16, 2012 15:56:43 That actually sounds pretty cool. Now I want to buy one just to have one. How much space do they take up?
#11
Cpt_Micha
Jan 16, 2012 16:36:17 Well if it's a Dremel style it won't take up much space. From there it goes up. I've seen some that come with their own metal saw horses, and sliding rack.
#12
homicidal_squirrel
Jan 16, 2012 16:44:38 I almost want to buy a warehouse just to put all types of manly work equipment. Hmmm... maybe I should.
#13
warghoul
Jan 16, 2012 16:57:02 Just make sure you have a nice smooth surface to lay your tile on. Maybe even add a layer to your subfloor.
#14
LFK
Jan 16, 2012 18:48:45 Because of how thick floor tile is you can technically cut it with the Dremel diamond wheel (bit #545) but the actual dremel tile cutting bit (bit #562) won't properly cut it. You'll barely have scratched the tile before the bit gets glowing red hot and snaps on you. I wouldn't really recommend the diamond bit either for a job that big. It'd be handy for getting the fine details of corner pieces, but not cutting a tile in half. Floor tiles really should be cut with a wet saw.

That said: yes, you should get a Dremel, and you should get the Dremel 4000. It's only 20-30$ more than the 3000, has a wider range of speeds, and supports every rotary bit they make. It's not cordless, but that just means you won't have to worry about the stupid battery acting up a year from now.
#15
zombie_babies
Jan 17, 2012 8:13:30
That actually sounds pretty cool. Now I want to buy one just to have one. How much space do they take up?

My wife's step dad's saw is about 24"x20" or so and only a little over a foot tall. It cut through standard thickness kitchen/bathroom porceline tile with no issues at all. So they can be plenty small and do the job well.

Oh yeah, you'll also wanna sand the tile edges after ya cut 'em. There's a block for that, I think.

I almost want to buy a warehouse just to put all types of manly work equipment. Hmmm... maybe I should.

That's my garage. Whenever we move I'll need a U-Haul for just my power tools. ;)
#16
Mad_Jack
Jan 17, 2012 19:41:04

That's my garage. Whenever we move I'll need a U-Haul for just my power tools. ;)

Same here - my old man is a harcore do-it-yourself-er. Geez, let's see... drill press, lathe, table saw, two different jigsaws (one regular, one hobby/craft-sized), welder, acetylene torch, some other stuff I'm forgetting about or don't even know the name of...
And then there's all the crap he invented himself. The table saw looks like Tim the Tool Time guy got his hands on it: it's got a shopvac and an exhaust fan attached to it to collect dust while cutting and a foot switch to turn it on and off without having to take your hands off the wood. Pretty much all of the upgrades on it are cobbled together from stuff he dragged home from the local dump.

Back when all the other kids growing up in the '70's were banging on their wooden alphabet blocks with the plastic hammer from that red plastic tool bench that we all had, I had an actual half-sized hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, hand saw and screwdriver set, and helped the old man put a new deck on the house when I was four - I measured and marked all the dimensions and drew the lines using a big metal t-square I had to drag on the ground because it was half as big as I was, lol. At least every two years or so, I got a tool set for Christmas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 homicidal_squirrel Jan 15, 2012 16:15:26	O.k. a few questions: 1) how do you remove carpet? 2) What eqipment do I need to remove the carpet? 3)How do you install tile flooring? 4) What equipment do I need?
#2 warghoul Jan 15, 2012 18:04:27	A razor blade and some elbow grease to remove the carpet. If its glued down good luck. Going to need a claw hammer or crowbar to remove the tack strips that hold the carpet if it wasent glued. What type of tile?
#3 homicidal_squirrel Jan 15, 2012 21:01:02	A razor blade and some elbow grease to remove the carpet. If its glued down good luck. Going to need a claw hammer or crowbar to remove the tack strips that hold the carpet if it wasent glued. What type of tile? I think it might be glued down. It's a small carpet. It's probably 2 and a half feet by 2 and a half feet. I just wanted to get some cheap tile. Nothing flashy. The carpet is in the one of the hall closets. Any suggestions on the tile? Or should I use something else?
#4 homicidal_squirrel Jan 15, 2012 21:02:09	My name is not Andy and the answer is you call a professional. Normally I would, but I want to try and do it myself. Every once in a while I grow a mustache and want to do manly stuff.
#5 Ragnar_Lodbrok Jan 15, 2012 21:06:55	My name is not Andy and the answer is you call a professional. And pay a rather large amount. Cheaper to do it yourself. Especially if you have friends/lackeys to help.
#6 EscherEnigma Jan 15, 2012 21:26:14	My name is not Andy and the answer is you call a professional. And pay a rather large amount. Cheaper to do it yourself. Especially if you have friends/lackeys to help. /shrug It's a question of time/expertise. I know just enough about laying tile that I can do it (and do a damn fine job of it, if I may flatter myself), but not enough to do it quickly. As such, by the time I get the job done (and rent some of the equipment that I don't have on hand, like a good mixer for the what-cha-ma-call-it and a tile cutter) I'll have "spent" more then I would have paid a professional to do it, at my hourly salary. Sure, it doesn't quite work out that way in practice (I'd be doing the project on the weekend/after hours, so it's not like I'd be taking time off to do it) but the end result is still me working for less then I'm worth.
#7 zombie_babies Jan 16, 2012 8:43:00	A small section like that shouldn't be too much trouble. Thing is, you will (as EE mentioned) need a tile cutter. So, if you can rent one on the cheap it won't be too bad. Lowe's an' Home Depot usually rent stuff like that but I don't know if they have those for rent or not. Anyhoo, all you'll need is tile, a tile cutter, mortar, a bucket, a trowel (get a tile trowel - they have cut edges that make getting the proper amount of mortar on the tile easier), a level, grout, sealer, time and a plan. Find the center of the area and put a tile there - or however your design is gonna be. Build out from there. Once you've got the layout, put some mortar on the center tile (or whatever) and another layer on the floor. Lay it in place and verify it's where you want it. Then do the same for the surrounding tile. Make sure you check the level of the tile with the floor and with each other. Put the level across a couple of tiles and make sure it's all good. If you need to push an end down a bit you can tap it with your palm heel or the wooden shaft of a hammer. Don't get too crazy, though. Oh yeah, also make sure you have even spaces between the tile - they make plastic spacers if you don't trust your eyes to guage it. Once it's all laid and mortared, you wait. Usually like 24 hours to make sure the mortar is set. Then you grout. You may need different trowels for this and it pays to remember that they do make grout that's put into tubes you can use a caulk gun to applly for those difficult to reach edges and the like. Once your gaps are filled evenly with grout, you wait some more. Like another day. Then you seal the grout. And then you're done.
#8 homicidal_squirrel Jan 16, 2012 9:33:48	Sounds easy enough. One more thing. What's a cutter?
#9 zombie_babies Jan 16, 2012 10:26:57	Tile saw. Ususally a mini-table saw with a water reservoir. I think you can get 'em in different styles, though. Like I think Dremel makes a saw that can use tyle cuttin' blades. No idea how they work, though. My wife's step dad has a mini-table saw one and that's what we used when we did the tyle by the front door.
#10 homicidal_squirrel Jan 16, 2012 15:56:43	That actually sounds pretty cool. Now I want to buy one just to have one. How much space do they take up?
#11 Cpt_Micha Jan 16, 2012 16:36:17	Well if it's a Dremel style it won't take up much space. From there it goes up. I've seen some that come with their own metal saw horses, and sliding rack.
#12 homicidal_squirrel Jan 16, 2012 16:44:38	I almost want to buy a warehouse just to put all types of manly work equipment. Hmmm... maybe I should.
#13 warghoul Jan 16, 2012 16:57:02	Just make sure you have a nice smooth surface to lay your tile on. Maybe even add a layer to your subfloor.
#14 LFK Jan 16, 2012 18:48:45	Because of how thick floor tile is you can technically cut it with the Dremel diamond wheel (bit #545) but the actual dremel tile cutting bit (bit #562) won't properly cut it. You'll barely have scratched the tile before the bit gets glowing red hot and snaps on you. I wouldn't really recommend the diamond bit either for a job that big. It'd be handy for getting the fine details of corner pieces, but not cutting a tile in half. Floor tiles really should be cut with a wet saw. That said: yes, you should get a Dremel, and you should get the Dremel 4000. It's only 20-30$ more than the 3000, has a wider range of speeds, and supports every rotary bit they make. It's not cordless, but that just means you won't have to worry about the stupid battery acting up a year from now.
#15 zombie_babies Jan 17, 2012 8:13:30	That actually sounds pretty cool. Now I want to buy one just to have one. How much space do they take up? My wife's step dad's saw is about 24"x20" or so and only a little over a foot tall. It cut through standard thickness kitchen/bathroom porceline tile with no issues at all. So they can be plenty small and do the job well. Oh yeah, you'll also wanna sand the tile edges after ya cut 'em. There's a block for that, I think. I almost want to buy a warehouse just to put all types of manly work equipment. Hmmm... maybe I should. That's my garage. Whenever we move I'll need a U-Haul for just my power tools. ;)
#16 Mad_Jack Jan 17, 2012 19:41:04	That's my garage. Whenever we move I'll need a U-Haul for just my power tools. ;) Same here - my old man is a harcore do-it-yourself-er. Geez, let's see... drill press, lathe, table saw, two different jigsaws (one regular, one hobby/craft-sized), welder, acetylene torch, some other stuff I'm forgetting about or don't even know the name of... And then there's all the crap he invented himself. The table saw looks like Tim the Tool Time guy got his hands on it: it's got a shopvac and an exhaust fan attached to it to collect dust while cutting and a foot switch to turn it on and off without having to take your hands off the wood. Pretty much all of the upgrades on it are cobbled together from stuff he dragged home from the local dump. Back when all the other kids growing up in the '70's were banging on their wooden alphabet blocks with the plastic hammer from that red plastic tool bench that we all had, I had an actual half-sized hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, hand saw and screwdriver set, and helped the old man put a new deck on the house when I was four - I measured and marked all the dimensions and drew the lines using a big metal t-square I had to drag on the ground because it was half as big as I was, lol. At least every two years or so, I got a tool set for Christmas.