Setting Tile

by: Michael Byrne

Topics include: cutting diamond blade, sloped subfloor, old tilework, tile being set, cutting backer board, handmade pavers, latex thinset, deck mud, regular thinset, nonvitreous tile, surface bullnose, crack isolation, grout trowel, epoxy thinsets, thinset powder, modified thinset mortar, margin trowel, asphalt roofing cement, jury stick, bullnose tiles, square reference lines, grout residue, cove tile, square notched trowel, snap cutter

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All tile was once made of pure clay from the bed of a stream or river.

Michael Byrne's Setting Tile is packed with more than enough information for those thinking of taking on a tile job in their home. It is so detailed and thorough that it serves as a Tile 101 introduction for those interested in entering the trade full-time or simply improving their skills and knowledge. Byrne opens this revised and updated version of his previous effort with a brief description of how tile was made 6,000 years ago. Granted, the history lesson may not help someone who's planning to tile a kitchen counter, but Byrne's passion and interest for the subject pay off for the reader in other ways. He advises his readers, for example, that even after they've found the right tile for the bathroom floor or kitchen counter--the one that is just the right color and that the manufacturer recommends--to take those tiles and put them through a few of their own tests. Rub it with your favorite frying pan to see how easily it's marked up and, in turn, cleaned off. Scuff it with junior's hiking boots to see how it endures a day in the life. "I tell my customers in the end that, no matter what grade of tile they select, they can be the best judge of a tile's suitability." Byrne devotes chapters to materials, tools and safety, troubleshooting and repairs, and surface preparation. And in his chapter stressing the importance of doing a proper layout long before setting that first tile, Byrne also gives the reader a few clever ways to check levels, straightedges, and carpenter's squares for accuracy. This is a highly detailed book loaded with technical information that relies equally on photos and illustrations. It's also more about materials and tile samples than completed jobs. Don't buy this book if you're looking for glossy color photos of pristine tile jobs; buy it if you want to learn how to correctly install such jobs. --John Russell

Must buy. Doing tile right takes a bit of time and a bit of money. Most "do-it-yourself" books will give short shrift to tile laying, put in some pretty pictures and make it look easy. And they your tile will pop up or crack five years later. Tile should last decades. And sometimes it can take a lot of work to prepare a surface, and some surfaces shouldn't even be tiled at all. With that in mind, finding good information and digesting it is a must before taking any steps. Michael Byrne's book is very thurough and detailed. It'll pretty much cover almost any tiling situation. One reviewer complained that it doesn't offer enough specifics or details on certain applications. I think the issue here is that there are so many possible substrates, tile types, adhesives, etc. etc. that unless you want an unreadable 1000 page book you'll have to use a little bit of common sense. Bottom line, you'll get more specific details in this text than anywhere else. For a specific nagging question there are always online forums. Do yourself a favor, get this book and John Bridge's "Tile Your World" before doing a thing. A 15-minute Home Depot "how-to" seminar can be a dangerous thing - get real useful info instead.

Reviews:

Nice but...... I've read several reviews of this book that are much less than glowing since purchasing this book. I agree with every one of them. I would not consider this book a good reference for inexperienced tile setters. After having tackled my own bathroom job and now having the benefit of experience with tile, my opinioin is this book fell short in revealing crucial detail at every turn. examples: The book fails to describe in any detail how tile is set over the transition between backerboard and the tub lip. CRITICAL! The book fails to descibe in any detail the variety of adhesives that may be used. What's the difference between thin set and mastic adhesive? Why would you choose one over the other? - Hint: it's more than just bond strength. How about all the hinden problems you will encounter with a retrofit job? LACKING! What about the transition from cement backer to drywall! Not even addressed. When installing cement board, rough side up or down? If it doesn't matter SAY SO! My opinion: This book is LACKING! LACKING! LACKING!

If you're gonna tile, you need this book. Probably the best do it yourself book I've ever used. I was able to do a complex bathroom job (walls, counters, surrounds, patterns, multiple tile sizes) over an inferior floor surface (low grade particle board) by using the advice in this book, and several years later -- not a single problem with the installation. If you're providing the labor, you can afford the essential tools, and this is the #1 essential tool.

A valuable resource for the first timer: I bought this book because I have never set tile before and I wanted to unlock some of the mysteries that I had concerning tile installations. The book is full of wonderful full color photographs and great advice. If you are a do it yourself type of person, this book will take you start to finish. I like the thorough discussion of the proper way to do a layout so you never end up with tile slivers on the margin of your installation. There is a thorough discussion of how to make your installs waterproof, long lasting, and pleasing to the eye. After reading this book I came to realize that what you have under the tile is almost as important as the finished product. There's a lot more that goes into that sandwich than you think.

Best book/clear details/very well written: This is best book of tile installing I've found. It's very complete. I used it's information to install over 600 sq ft of tile in my home. Although it is very detailed, which some people may not care for, it's sort of an "everything you need to know about installing tile, but didn't know you needed to know". The installation was our first and came out well. We were able to talk to tile people on their level and knew more than many people in stores. He points how how critical preparation is to a good installation. Even if you don't plan on installing tile yourself, you should go through this book to learn how it should be done right. I understand he also has a video out.

Weekend Handyman and Scubaman: After flipping through all the tile books at the big bookstores and the big home improvement stores, I chose this one and was certainly not disappointed. More detailed and covers a wider range of issues than any other tile book, including the Bridge book, which I bought as well. I figured if I'm spending [a small fortune]on a tile job, what's another [few dollars] to get a few more ideas. I especially liked the chapter where he takes you through a real job, with many of the real world problems one may encounter.