Ceramic tiles are one of the most durable, long lasting flooring materials that you can use. But, even ceramic tiles are only as good as the floor they’re laid on. If you’re going to install ceramic floor tiles, you’ll need to make some preparations to your flooring first.

Never use ceramic tiles that are made for walls on your floor, they won’t hold up to the traffic. Ceramic tiles that are made specifically for floors are generally thicker than wall tiles and will have a texture that makes them safer. Wall tiles are glazed to be slick and shiny and not appropriate for floors.

Your sub-floor has to be sturdy and level and they shouldn’t be more than an inch thick. You should also remove any existing flooring has a cushioned layer underneath it. If you have a single layer of existing flooring that is not padded or cushioned, you can apply tiles directly on top of it.

Ceramic tiles are best applied to a solid, bare floor. But, if you’re going to apply them on top of another flooring, make sure that you remove any shine that the floor has. You can do this by using sand paper block to scuff the shine.

Any type of existng flooring will also need to be thoroughly cleaned. Debris, wax or grease will keep the ceramic tiles from adhering properly and they’ll pop up and come loose very quickly. Use a good detergent that will cut grease or a good quality wax remover to completely clean the floor.

Removing ceramic tiles can be quite a job, older tiles are usually set in a mortar bed and can be stuck really good. The best way to remove them is with a chisel and a hammer. Break them and then remove them in pieces.

If the tiles aren’t real old and have been laid with an adhesive, heat can help you remove them easier. You can even try using a regular household iron. Lay a piece of material over the tiles, turn the iron to the hottest setting and go over the tiles in a circular motion. The heat usually helps loosen the adhesive so you can remove the tiles.

If you notice any bouncing when you walk across the floor, you’ll need to secure the flooring with more nails or screws. If the under side of the floor is open, you can add bridges between joists for more support. You can also add wood shims to fill any gaps.

If you floors have damaged areas or uneven spots, cement fiber board can be used on top of the floor. Cement fiber board is recommended for use in areas that have a lot of moisture such as kitchens and baths. If you have a cement floor you should check it for cracks or holes and they should be repaired.

Uneven places in cement need to be sanded with a disc sander. For minor knots or bumps in the cement, you can try using a chisel to remove them. Make sure that anytime you sand anything you wear safety goggles to prevent anything from getting into your eyes.

Once your ceramic tiles have been laid, it’s going to be hard to fix any problems that the floor may have. It’s a good idea to lay the tiles down and check them for any areas that aren’t level before actually applying them with the adhesive.

Just remember that ceramic floor tiles aren’t flexible at all. If you’re floor isn’t properly prepared, the tiles won’t stand up and it will cause you more work to repair them. You’ll could also be out a lot of money trying to repair the floor.

Have you been hopping across your floor in the middle of the night trying to avoid squeaky areas? They’re always annoying, but at night when it’s quieter they seem so much louder and can wake a sleeping family if they’re bad enough.

You don’t have to put up with squeaky floors, they can be easily repaired and you and your family won’t have to sneak around at night. The first place to start is finding the exact area of the squeak.

If you have a basement and the ceiling is open or have a crawl space under your home, you’ll need to watch from below while someone walks across the floor. Watch for any boards that give or sway causing the squeak. Once you’ve found the spot, use a level to determine if the floor board has bowed up or if the floor frame has began to sag.

If there is a gap between the sub flooring and the frame board, insert a wood shim into the area to provide the floor with support. Apply glue to the shim and gently tap it into place, don’t tap it too hard or it will cause squeaks in other areas of the flooring.

If the joist, or frame board is sagging, cut a piece of 2X4 longer than the sagging area and screw it into place. You can use a long piece of board to prop the spot up before securing the piece of 2X4 to the joist. You should cut the board to reach at least ten inches past the sag on each side and use screws that are at least three inches long.

If the squeak is coming from a floor board that isn’t abut with a joist, you can add a piece of board cross wise of the two joists. Measure the space, cut the board and secure it with screws on the outside of the joists. You can add as many pieces as you need to cover the entire spot of sub-flooring that is loose.

Sometimes years of walking on your flooring can cause the screws to loosen and your finished floor will rise just enough to create a squeak. To fix this from underneath the floor, you’ll need to find the spot and use screws to secure it back down to the sub-floor.

Use a drill to make pilot holes so it will be easier to insert the screws. The screws need to be at least 1 1/4″ long and adding a washer to the screw will keep the heads of the screw from pulling up through the flooring. The screws will pull the finished floor back down flush with the sub-flooring.

If you can’t get to the under side of your floor, you can still fix it from the top. If you’ve got a hard wood floor, you’ll want to be sure to drill pilot holes for the nails so you don’t crack the flooring. Hammer the nails into the flooring at a diagonal direction and use a nail set to sink the heads of the nails into the flooring. The holes can be filled up with some wood filler and sanded.

Sometimes floor squeaks aren’t caused by the flooring at all, they’re caused by duct work or pipes that are touching the floor or joists. As the floor gives any at all, it rubs against the pipes and creates the squeak. Hangars can be used to secure both the duct work and pipes in place so that they won’t be touching your flooring.