How to Clean Up After Installation of Ceramic Tile
Installing new flooring in your home is an exciting change in your home design. While the final product is what people have in mind when selecting the ceramic tile's color and style, most forget that it will not always look so pretty, especially during and just after installation. Whether you choose to have it professionally installed or do it yourself, you will still have clean up to deal with. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Dispose of your old flooring and ceramic tile remnants. If done professionally, this will be done for a fee due to health and safety regulations. If you are doing it yourself, you must contact your state or county department of health for information on how to dispose of the flooring safely and legally. The Centers for Disease Control website lists contact information for state health departments across the country (see Resources). Some people prefer to keep the ceramic tile remnants for future projects or repairs, but they can also be tossed if you prefer.
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Wash all the tools used with warm water thoroughly if you did the job yourself. Contractors will clean their own tools and equipment.
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Open all windows and doors, ensuring a well-ventilated area for at least 48 hours. The dust and debris kicked up from installation can be irritating to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
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Ensure all doors open and close in the area that was tiled. If they do not, hire a carpenter to adjust to the door height for you. Check the baseboards, doors and lower walls for any damage that will need repair.
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Mop the ceramic tile with a moist but not sopping wet mop once a day for a few days after installation. This aids in removing grout haze on the tile but also prevents the grout from drying out and cracking or unevenly curing, according to the World Floor Covering Association.
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Replace any furniture that belongs in the freshly tiled area 24 to 48 hours after installation as advised by your contractor or grout/sealant manufacturer.
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References
Resources
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