Best ceramic tile pros near Bessemer, MI

You can, in theory, tile your fireplace hearth with most tiles. However just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. For example, it’s much better to use unglazed tiles because glazed tiles are more resistant to cracking under extreme heat. Porcelain is more heat-resistant than ceramic, but you can still design the hearth as you like by putting the most heat-resistant tiles directly under the fire and, if it matches your style, add more decorative tiles further from the center of the fire. 

Different types of tile cutters may work best depending on the type of tile you are cutting and the size of your project. There are two main types of tile cutters: manual and electric. Manual tile cutters are quick and easy to use for small projects and softer tile materials, but they can only make straight cuts. Electric tile cutters make light work of big projects and can cut through harder materials.

The tile spacing you should use will depend on the tile and where you’re installing it. Choosing the right tile spacers to maintain a consistent gap between your tiles is tricky. Generally, tile spacing shouldn’t be less than 2 millimeters on walls and 3 millimeters on floors because of stress relief requirements. Getting it wrong can result in uneven tiles and early repairs.

Yes. You can tile over tile if the old tile is in good shape, but this will also create a thicker floor. As a result, you may have to remove and readjust baseboards and other room trimmings and potentially even raise door heights to work with the higher floors. In most projects, it’s best to remove the old tile before installing a new tile floor.