Ceramic tile is probably not the first project for a homeowner do-it-yourselfer to attempt. I’ve spent the last two weeks investigating the feasibility of such a project. I had to figure out:
How to remove our old, beat up vinyl flooring (oscillating multi-tool)
How to calculate subfloor deflection based on truss span and composition, and subfloor thickness
The best (cut off and replace the closet flange) and second best (use stacked wax rings, the bottom one of normal thickness and the top of greater thickness, with a horn) way to reconnect the toilet once the floor is raised in height
Underlayments: Schluter Ditra is a decoupling underlayment and a great alternative to the weight of cement board
How to attach Ditra to the floor (with a modified thinset, preferably spread with the 11/64 (~4.5mm) square notch Ditra trowel — using their alternate recommendation results in poor coverage and using a larger trowel gives you ridges in the underlayment
How to attach tile to Ditra (with an unmodified thinset)
The thinsets to use (VersaBond for modified, TEC Uncoupling Membrane Mortar for unmodified)
How to plan your tile setting so you don’t get slivers at the wall
Trowel size for larger tiles (1/2”)
What trowel sizes even mean
How to snap a grid to set your tile
How to cut tile
How to measure tile cuts (hint, you don’t use a tape measure)
Expansion joints
Rectified versus unrectified tile
The challenges of large format, unrectified tile and the recommended grout lines for the latter (3/16”)
How to avoid lippage (Tuscan Leveling System or LASH system)
Whether to cut all your tiles at once or cut them as you set
