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What level is needed to lay tiles? Tools and accessories for laying tiles. Plastic crosses and others

The OBI hypermarket catalog includes over 220 items of tools and consumables for laying ceramic tiles. Products are sold individually and in convenient sets at prices ranging from 15 to 2000 rubles per item.

Features of choice

• . Crosses and crayons.
• . Spatulas and trowels.
• . Chisels and wedges.
• . Drill sponges and attachments.
• . Plumb lines and cords.
• . Cleaners and wedges.

Crosses for laying tile products are made of transparent polypropylene. Consumables are available for sale standard thickness and shapes.

Spatulas differ in several parameters:

• . Dimensions (width).
• . Material of manufacture.
• . The shape of the working surface.

Rubber products are used for thorough grouting of joints. Devices with a serrated base are indispensable when applying glue to the lower surface of the facing material.

Plumb lines and rules are used to level the cladding during installation operations. Drill attachments are designed for thorough mixing glue mixture before use.

Order products for exterior and interior painting in the OBI store finishing works using phone.

Payment and delivery methods

1. Buy goods online with delivery

• . You can pay for your order in cash or by bank transfer.
• . You will agree on the date and time of delivery with the operator by phone when confirming the order.
• . Conditions free provision services depend on the city, amount and weight of the product.
• . Unloading of goods, lifting and carrying are considered additional services and may be paid separately, check with the store operator.

Detailed information about intervals and zones by city, conditions for unloading and picking up orders is available, where you can independently calculate the cost of your delivery in advance, indicating the postal address and parameters for unloading.

1. Order and pick up where you want

• . When filling out the order form, indicate the date and time convenient for you to visit the hypermarket.
• . You can pay for your purchase in cash or by bank transfer at the store's cash desks.

Purchased goods can be picked up independently at any of the OBI stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ryazan, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Krasnodar, Surgut, Bryansk, Tula and Volzhsky.

Finishing surfaces in the interiors of your home can take a lot of effort and time if you do not use the available tools. In this case we are talking about laying tiles. Before carrying out such work, there is sometimes no need to purchase expensive tools. Experts say that you can do without a number of specific elements.

Basic Tools

Tools for today are prepared in almost the same way as several years ago. However, some modern devices have been added to the generally accepted list. If you want to thoroughly prepare for the installation of tiles, then you should stock up on:

• level;
• crosses for seams;
• mixer;
• spatula;
• mallet;
• tools for cutting tiles.

It is recommended to divide the process into several stages; this will allow you to structure the work and decide which tools to purchase and which ones it is better not to use. Surface preparation may involve dismantling the old coating and leveling the base surfaces. Delete old tiles You can use a hammer drill or a hand chisel. The first is complemented by a chisel. The layer of mortar can be removed using an angle grinder, after which the concrete is coated with a primer, and then the craftsman should begin puttingtying. In this case, cooking tools come into play. plaster mixture, this should include spatulas and a level for laying tiles.

In front of the device concrete screed You should prepare a needle roller with which you can remove air bubbles from the solution layer. is done using glue, but if you decide to use ready mixture, then you can scoop it up with a spatula. Dry powders are pre-diluted with water and stirred with a construction mixer.

When carrying out tile laying work, you cannot do without a tool with which you could cut the material; in this case, a manual tile cutter is usually used, prices for which start from 225 rubles. Sometimes you can find tile cutters on sale for 900 rubles; such a tool is suitable for cutting tiles at home, and it will last much longer compared to a cheap analogue. The tiles are also installed using a comb spatula, which can be used to level the mortar, ensuring its better adhesion to the surface. But when forming seams it is necessary to use crosses.

Leveling Tools

Laying tiles usually involves leveling work. If you neglect this step, you will waste too much glue. For this stage, you will need a spatula for laying tiles, with which the master will apply plaster to the walls and level the surface.

You can check the evenness of the floor and walls using a level, but a plumb line will allow you to identify and eliminate vertical deviations. Level the concrete when laying concrete mortar you can use a rule.

How to choose a comb

A tile comb may seem like a simple tool, but it can have teeth of different shapes, which confuses some consumers. For example, to obtain ridges, the size of which can vary from 6 to 12 mm, you should use a tool with square teeth. But if you want to get ridges of no more than 12 mm on the mounting cement mixture, then you should choose a device with semicircular teeth. With such an impressive thickness, the path will turn out smoother, it will not fall off if the cross-section is a semicircle rather than a square. This comb is used for applying synthetic adhesives with high spreadability; in this case, the thickness of the layer does not matter.

The described tool for laying tiles may also have semicircular teeth. This device is recommended to be used for applying elastic adhesives, the layer thickness of which will not exceed 4 mm. This comb is suitable for PVC tiles.

Choosing a spatula

When preparing tools for laying tiles, you should ensure that you have a set of spatulas. The master should have several of them, namely:

• straight;
• toothed;
• rubber.

The first type has compact dimensions and is intended for collecting glue from a container. A straight spatula allows you to apply the compound to the edge of the tile, floor or wall. A notched trowel will be needed to form grooves on the surface of the tile, this will improve the quality of the masonry and level the layer of the mixture. On final stage To apply grout to the seams, you will need a rubber spatula, which is soft and compact in size.

Tile cutting tool

The prices for which were mentioned above will be needed for cutting tiles. Additionally, you can prepare a grinder and a glass cutter, which are available in almost everyone’s arsenal. home handyman. With manual tile cutter models, you will cut the material using a diamond cutter on a bearing or rollers.

Have more advanced capabilities electric models, because they cut the tiles with the help of To form holes, you can use a regular drill, which is supplemented with attachments suitable for working with concrete, glass and ceramics. Among them, it is necessary to highlight a crown, which will allow making recesses for switches and sockets. Glazed ceramics will lend themselves to the so-called ballerina, which is intended for working with glass.

Tile fitting

When assembling tools for laying tiles, you must also prepare a leveling system. You can adjust the position of the products using a rubber mallet, which is complemented by a wooden block. With their help, the elements are tapped on the sides and top. The solution is distributed over the entire area of ​​the product. At the surface leveling stage, you cannot do without a level, as well as a leveling system, the latter of which is intended for large elements. The system consists of a set of wedges and spacers and is used for horizontal planes.

Preparing tools for grouting

A sponge for grouting tiles is not the only thing you will need at the final stage of work. It is important to prepare:

• rubber spatula;
• paint roller;
• bucket;
• clean rags;
• jointing;
• plywood

The work can be divided into several stages. First, the grout is mixed, the solution is left to saturate, mixed again and applied. Finally, you can remove the excess. When mixing the solution, it is best to do it manually, because when using a stirrer, there is a possibility of oxygen bubbles getting into the solution. Eventually the mixture will weaken.

If the volume of work is large enough, then it is recommended to set the drill at 300 rpm, leaving the solution after mixing for 9 minutes. The grout is applied using a special grater, with which the technician should rub the compound into the seams. This procedure must be repeated several times to achieve a dense application.

What a curiosity: a grout bag

If a hammer for laying tiles is a completely traditional tool, like all the others described above, then only a few have heard of a grout bag. This device is a bag resembling a pastry bag. A tip is attached to it, the diameter of which should be equal to the width of the seam. This approach to grouting can be used in cases where the cladding is difficult to handle manually and requires enormous effort. First, you need to process the horizontal and then vertical seams, leaving the solution for 30 minutes so that the grout sets. Only then can you begin to remove the excess. For cleaning in this case, use a hard brush, because any other will not be as effective. For some jewelry work, you can’t do without such a bag, which saves a huge amount of time.

Removing excess grout

Now you know what you need to lay tiles, but it is also important to make sure you have the tools that will be useful for removing excess. To do this, you usually use a damp sponge and a container of water. Excess should be removed using circular movements, and it is important to keep the sponge clean by rinsing it in water more often. The dry method involves the use of a special joint or a small stick with a sharpened end. The cleaned seam should not be convex, it should be made straight.

Conclusion

The modern market offers consumers a variety of finishing materials for every taste and budget, however, ceramic tiles are still one of the most popular alternative solutions. Over time she doesn't lose appearance and can be updated by grouting.

If you want to do installation work yourself, you need to prepare all the tools and materials. After all, only in this case you will not encounter difficulties if, for example, you need to drill a hole in the tile for an outlet or switch.

Ceramic cladding is one of the most popular types of finishing for bathrooms, hallways, stairs and kitchens. When laying on floors and walls, it is often necessary to trim individual elements, cut out holes for pipes, socket boxes or communication channels. The industry offers a good selection of tools and aids, which we will discuss below.

When working with tiles, you need to take into account the fact that tools are divided into two series: household and professional. The first category is inexpensive products for one-time or rare use at home, working on standard tiles of small dimensions. The second is units for constant or frequent work on medium- and large-area objects, used for ceramics, stone, glass, metal of any size or density.

Devices for cutting tiles are divided into two types:

Hand tool

Glass cutter is a product for applying a scratch or notch to the surface of ceramics, porcelain or glass, followed by controlled breaking of the product. They produce diamond, oil, roller, pobedit or circular glass cutters. Used in combination with wire cutters to break off cut pieces and straighten the cutting line.

Hacksaw for metal manually with a blade for tiles - this is one of the types of saws consisting of a frame and a cutting edge. For ceramics and porcelain stoneware, special strings are produced, either carbide or coated (diamond, tungsten carbide, etc.). This tool allows you to cut tiles as standard in a straight line or make curly and even circular cuts.

– this is a mechanism for even cutting of ceramic, agglomerated, porcelain tiles, porcelain tiles. Inexpensive household models and more complex professional ones are produced. The first ones are as simple as possible; they can only cut tiles. small sizes– up to 40 cm in length. The products are not too heavy (up to 10 kg), do not require lubrication, and are short-lived; the roller play can reach 4 mm. The latter have more robust construction, quality cutting discs, are equipped with additional devices (circular cutters, consoles for embedding at an angle of 45°, limiters, movable rulers, etc.). Professional units are very convenient for cutting floor tiles, since they are stronger and thicker than wall tiles.

Electrical units

Drill or screwdriver with a variety of drills and crowns for ceramics and porcelain stoneware. Using this tool, holes are cut for fasteners and various communications (pipelines, socket boxes, etc.), and cuts of straight and complex shapes are made.

Crowns for ceramics.

Angle grinder or grinder with discs that allow you to form straight or shaped cuts, make a bevel (bevel cut at 45°) or trim off excess when fitting. Typically used with universal or special nozzles: diamond wheels or cups on stone, grinding discs"Turtle" series, etc.

Diamond disc.

Jigsaw with a blade for ceramics and porcelain tiles - a convenient tool for accurately cutting tiles, as well as for forming shaped cutouts for sockets and switches, for bypassing sewer and water pipes.

File for ceramics.

Electric tile cutter mobile is a kind of electric saw, similar in principle to an angle grinder. The main difference is that the mechanism has an optimal design for working on ceramics and stone, is equipped with an ergonomic handle, comfortable support, the ability to vary the depth of immersion of the disk, the angle of inclination, as well as special “sockets” for connecting a vacuum cleaner and containers with water for cooling. With this tool you can cut tiles exactly to specified sizes or make curly cuts, slightly sharpen or make a bevel.

Tile cutting machine water-cooled or wet cutter - this is a complex device professional series, consisting of a main platform, a cutting element, a motor and a system. Its purpose is to cut ceramic or stone products of any thickness in large volumes.

is a special unit with which you can not only cut tiles in a perfectly straight line, but also work according to complex patterns, including drawings with big amount curves or geometric shapes.

The choice of tool depends on:

• volume of work,
• the cost of the purchased unit,
• thickness and quality of ceramic or porcelain tiles,
• availability difficult areas(corners, bends, pipes).

Of course, tiling the bathroom floor with your own hands does not require a professional stone-cutting power machine for 20,000 rubles. You can rent a unit, but in our opinion, it is more advisable to purchase simple or universal tools that will be useful in the future for other work. For example, a good glass cutter, jigsaw, drill or grinder with a set of appropriate attachments.

An experienced tiler's arsenal is usually rich in various hand and power tools. And this is justified, because the presence of a variety of equipment speaks of the professionalism and broad specialization of the master.

Cutting technology

Before starting work with any selected device, prepare. You must have:

• Tape measure and metal ruler or square;
• Marker or pencil for marking;
• Personal protective equipment (goggles, gloves, respirator, headphones). This is especially important when working with power tools; after all, ceramics are fragile products and produce multiple fragments that can easily injure the skin or eyes.
• A stable and clean work surface: a table, a sheet of plasterboard or plywood on a strong support, etc.

Pay special attention to safety precautions:

It is easiest to work with red clay tiles. It is characterized by low strength and is used for walls. Ceramic or porcelain tile flooring is more durable, so don’t skimp, even the most simple tools, such as a hacksaw and glass cutter, buy high-quality ones with a good margin of safety.

Let's take a closer look at how to work on tiles with the above tools.

Glass cutter

This small but functional unit can make both straight and circular cuts (if you have patterns or a “steady” hand). The minimum width of the cut piece is 1-1.5 cm.

Sawing tiles with a glass cutter.

The algorithm of actions is simple and unpretentious. Place the ceramic piece on a clean base and mark the line of the future cut with a pencil or marker. Apply a metal ruler and run the cutting edge along the surface, making a deep cut.

Place a drill or nail under the tile or move it to the edge of the table. Press down on the part to be cut and break it off. If any irregularities remain, remove them with pliers or sand them a little with sandpaper or a file.

Since the principle of operation of a glass cutter is only to apply a scratch to the front side of the tile, some craftsmen recommend using improvised cutting tools as analogues: metal screws, ordinary drills with a Pobedit tip, a construction knife.

For the tool, you need to purchase a coated or carbide string blade. If you need to make a small number of cuts, you can take a cheap component.

Prepare a clean base and tiles. Mark the surface of the ceramic with a marker or pencil and move it to the edge of the table. Fix the tile with your hand and make a cut with clear movements.

You can also make a circular cutout for the pipe. Using a marker, draw a circle and drill a hole at the marked point. Thread the string unscrewed from the frame into it and fix the canvas back. Saw off the required area and remove what is unnecessary.

Mechanical tile cutter

Household tools are designed to form straight cuts, and on professional units, experienced craftsmen make and figure cutting. Manual tile cutters are produced in a huge assortment, of different sizes and types: with one or two guides, with a “pull” or “pull” cutting system, etc.

Tile cutters for home use They are inexpensive, but at the same time short-lived and work with tiles no more than 1 cm thick. Over time, the guides develop play and deflections, which is why the quality of the cut is significantly reduced.

Professional mechanisms are much more expensive, process slabs up to 150 cm long and up to 20 mm thick (and some more), have a long service life (with proper care) and are free from the disadvantages inherent in household products.

The operation of the tile cutter is simple: you need to fix the tile on the frame, mark it once with the cutting element, and use a separator to separate one part from the other. Due to the mechanical component, the cut is smooth, precise, with a minimum of dust or fragments (unlike electric models).

Drill with attachments

The most important thing when working with this tool is to choose the right attachment. Let us immediately note that based on recommendations you should not buy any brand or a widely advertised brand. In order for everything to work out perfectly, you need to get used to the instrument or find your suitable tool by trial and error.

The following attachments are available for drills on tiles:

Rules for working with a drill with an attachment: fix it, check for any play, mark a point on the tile and start drilling. If the surface is glazed, the drill slides, you can stick it on smooth side masking tape or apply a small notch by pressing into the marked area with the nozzle.

angle grinder

This is perhaps the most useful tool in any household. To work on tiles you will need:

• Diamond blades for precise cutting of tiles, straight or curved;
• Cup attachments for stones of different grain sizes for fitting and bevelling ceramics;
• Grinding cutters.

The work follows the already known principle: apply markings, fix the tiles, smoothly make the first cut, gradually deepening the groove. You need to move the tool away from you, without jerking or sudden movements.

But you need to be very careful when using this tool. In addition to the noise and large amounts of dust, serious injuries can occur. Therefore, first of all – safety precautions, as well as constant monitoring of the condition of the grinder and attachments.

Jigsaw

The industry produces absolutely all types of files for this tool, including those for ceramics and stone. The material is a blade without teeth, but with a cutting edge made of diamond or tungsten carbide coating. The nozzle can have a length from 70 to 150 mm; the choice of this parameter is determined by the thickness and density of the material.

Canvas on ceramics.

The principle is the same as when working with a hand saw:

1. Mark the tiles.
2. Check that the file is properly fixed.
3. Move the tool to the ceramic and start cutting at a strictly 90° angle. The jigsaw should not be pulled or pushed forward with force, as this can lead to breakage of either the tile or the attachment.

Electric tile cutter

Power tools for cutting tiles can be divided into two categories:

• Mobile, designed for dry and wet cutting.

These are compact and easy-to-use devices, sometimes called hand-held power saws. The power can reach 1000 W, and the rotation speed can be 12,000 rpm. Some models allow you to change attachments, for example, diamond discs for crowns, etc.

They are easy to work with: the tiles are fixed on a frame or guides, and the craftsman carefully, without pressing, cuts a furrow along the markings in the direction “away from you.”

• Stationary, with lower or top position motor and cutting disc.

These are professional wet-cutting machines that work as follows: tiles are installed on the bed and sawed according to the markings. These units can cut ceramics of any type, size, density and thickness. The water cooling system not only protects the cutting part from overheating, but also prevents the spread of dust.

The tiles on the frame of inexpensive models are “carried out” manually. Stone-cutting machines with software do all the work independently, but this is very expensive and complex equipment that only large companies can afford.

Waterjet cutting is used to cut ceramic products along complex contours. This is an expensive system that can only be affordable by specialized enterprises.

The bottom line is that water is supplied to a special container, which is mixed with micron-sized abrasive particles. The solution is “driven” through a nozzle under high pressure, and software control cuts out patterns specified by the technologist. The thickness and dimensions of the tiles do not matter.

Waterjet machine - operating principle.

We have covered almost all the ways to cut wall and floor tiles. There are, of course, very extreme ones, like assembling homemade tile cutter from improvised means, etc. The choice of tool depends on the specific situation, the amount of work and the skills of the master. It is these three factors that should determine your purchase.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just submit in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and offers will be sent to your email with prices ranging from construction crews and companies. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

You can find a large number of tools on the building materials market. And if you can’t do without some tools, others simply serve as functional variety.

What tools do you need to lay tiles? Details in our article.

Construction mixer

Tiling work is accompanied by the need to prepare tile adhesive for laying tiles. If we are talking about large volumes, a construction mixer will save time and allow you to prepare a well-mixed and homogeneous mixture without lumps.

In mixers, rotation is transmitted through a gearbox, so the motor does not overheat. The optimal speed of rotation of the whisk is set, which allows you to stir a homogeneous mixture. A construction mixer is suitable for large volumes of work, for mixing full buckets of mortar.

Highly specialized mixers operate at low speeds - up to 500 per minute. There are two spindle models equipped with two shafts with mixers. This ensures high mixing quality and fast work. These models are designed for mixing high-viscosity mixtures, including concrete.

What to look for when buying a mixer:

1. Engine power. For a household class, 0.5 -1 kW is an excellent result, but for mixing high-viscosity mixtures, it is better to buy a tool with a power of 1-1.5 kW or more.
2. Torque. A high-quality tool should have a good torque element: 50-80 N m.
3. Weight. A quality tool cannot be light, but weight should be taken into account when choosing. It will be difficult to work with a heavy tool for a long time.

Replacement construction mixer can become a drill with a whisk. The drill is multifunctional because you can insert drills and jackhammers into the chuck, so you can drill, knock down, and dismantle.

A drill with a whisk will serve for stirring building mixtures, for example, putties, tile adhesives, etc. But a drill is not as durable as a mixer in this regard because the tool is not designed to last long as a mixer.

Tile cutter

Professional tilers spare no expense in purchasing a high-quality tile cutter.

The tile cutter has its advantages:

• fast cutting of material, allows you to save a lot of time;
• Thanks to a neat and even cut, you can achieve high aesthetics of the cladding.

Buy instruments from German, Austrian or Italian manufacturers. Professional tile cutters are several times more expensive than amateur options, but the quality and long term operation explains the high cost.

Amateur tile cutters:

• the pipes in them can quickly rust, and the wheel can quickly wear off.

  Cutting wheel service life – 800 square meters tiles, after which it should be replaced.

• the structure is shaky and unreliable;
• Suitable for cutting tiles no more than 40 cm wide.
• will not cope with porcelain stoneware or floor tiles.

These negative points speak clearly in favor professional equipment, which will soon pay for itself.

How to choose a quality tile cutter:

• Frame strength. The structure must be rigid; a lightweight tile cutter cannot be of high quality and reliable.
• Tool length. Buy a more expensive tile cutter, but one that is universal in length so that it fits wall and floor tiles. This will definitely be useful to you in the future.

Set of spatulas

Spatulas are a tool that it will be difficult for a tiler to do without.

• A notched tile trowel or “comb” is necessary to control the thickness of the tile adhesive under the tiles. Depending on the size of the spatula and the height of the teeth, it will be possible to apply a larger layer of glue. Usually they buy a spatula that is slightly wider than the intended tile.
• A small spatula plays a supporting role. They are convenient for applying glue to the tiles or removing excess.
• Rubber spatulas - needed for grouting joints. The rubber tool is safe to use; it will not leave scratches or other noticeable marks on the ceramic.
• Trowel or trowel - for mixing the solution and applying the mixture to the tiles.

Bulgarian

Correctly the grinder is called ushm - angular Sander. The tool has many uses; tilers use a grinder to cut tiles into shapes.

If you need to cut a small strip, cut a hole for an socket or switch, an angle grinder will cope with such tasks perfectly. Required metal disk with diamond coating.

The disc for ceramics differs from the discs for stone and granite. The tile discs are smooth and have notches and holes, so that the number of chips and cracks is minimized.

Laser level

Do you need a laser level for laying tiles? He will help you make the correct markings and determine how best to lay the tiles. It’s impossible to create beautiful and correct geometry by eye, so you can’t do without a laser level.

It guarantees straight lines and, unlike conventional metal levels, it never cheats.

Wire cutters

Nippers are a cheap replacement for other tile cutting tools. If you need to bite off a small fragment or “bite out” some kind of curly cutting, you can use wire cutters. Excess parts of ceramics are removed with gentle movements.

A popular option are parrot cutters, which allow you to adjust a hole or create a circular cutout in a tile.

Related Tools

Beyond the basic tile laying tools that a tiler needs, there are things that every builder needs.

Roulette

You will need to measure the area of ​​the room, lay out the tiles, and calculate different installation options. Marks are made on the tile for drilling holes. All these manipulations cannot be done without a tape measure.

Rubber hammer

For tapping ceramic tiles flat.

It will help to attach the tiles so that all the voids are filled with glue. When working with rubber mallet Avoid strong impacts to avoid breaking the tiles.

Marker

A simple pencil doesn't draw well on tiles, so get yourself a marker. The color of the marker should be different from the color of the tile so that the marks are clearly visible.

Plastic crosses and others

Needed to adjust the thickness of the seam and fix the tiles level. Without crosses, it is difficult to guess the thickness of the seam, and the cost of crosses is low, so everything speaks in favor of the purchase.

• Fiber or piece of foam: for quick removal adhesive composition or ceramic grout. If you do not remove the mixture from the surface in time, there will be problems later.
• Lace: needed to mark a straight line and mark the level at which you need to start laying tiles, for example.
• Water level, rule: tools will help you control the beautiful laying geometry and flat laying.

Individual protection means

When working with tiles, we must not forget about health, so you need to buy personal protective equipment.

These include:

1. Protective glasses. When cutting tiles, small particles break off from the ceramic. They can get into your eyes, so protect yourself.
2. Gloves. Tile adhesives belong to construction chemicals, so their effect on human skin is always negative. Cut tiles have sharp edges, so you can involuntarily get hurt.
3. Respirator. If you cut tiles with a grinder, a large amount of dust is generated. Do not forget to ventilate the room, use a respirator.

Bottom line
Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary tools for laying tiles. The lack of the necessary tool at the right time is another delay, so even a small repair can take a long time.

Think about it in advance the necessary tool. Do not buy disposable tools; it is better to purchase quality products from reputable manufacturers.

Coating floor surfaces is a type of activity that requires skills and great ability to work. That's why this work belongs to one of the highest paid specialties. It is necessary to undergo a long course of training under the guidance of an experienced master, then sweat yourself, achieving High Quality and the required results.

But in addition to the mentioned criteria for fulfillment on high level One more element is required - the availability of a professional set of tools.

The efficiency, quality, volume and speed of laying the floor depend no less on it ceramic coating. But with all the variety of instruments and tools, the main thing is not to get lost in it, but to choose the most necessary. Otherwise, a lot of things may be superfluous, and it’s not easy to wear. Let's consider the most rational set of tools for a tiler.

Mixer (mixer)

What is the difference between a mixer and conventional drill with a nozzle? The mixer is a special one that has optimal ratio rotation speed of the working body and electric motor power, in contrast to a drill. The mixer creates the desired consistency of the solution without causing excessive load on the motor, like a drill. If used intensively, the drill may soon fail. When choosing, it is not necessary to give preference to the imported version of the mixer. In terms of reliability, domestic ones are not inferior to foreign ones, and their cost is several times less. Another advantage of the mixer is the ability to install a drill using a special chuck, a “ballerina” or a small glue mixer.

For small quantities of mortar, the mixer completely replaces a concrete mixer for preparing mortar for plaster or screed. All this can be prepared in special containers.

The next important tool for a tiler is a tile cutter. Existing types can be divided into three groups. The tool is not for professionals, which is used rarely and not when mounting large areas. He has many shortcomings. For example, the tile cut is no more than 40 cm, the guide tubes are fragile, often break and rust. Cutting edge has a backlash, so it will not be possible to get perfectly identical tiles. The only advantage of such a cutter is its cost, which during operation easily turns into a disadvantage.

A special tile cutter is five times more expensive than the first option. Its price varies between $400. But if you do laying tiles, you can pay for it within one year. Leading companies producing such tools are located in Austria and Italy. A special element of a tile cutter is a cutting part in the form of a wheel. Typically, manufacturers provide a guarantee for the impeccable operation of the wheel, designed for 800 square meters. meters of material. And in terms of time, this is equal to a year of work, provided that up to 100 square meters are accommodated per month. meters of tiles. In the future, such a product can be used for cutting usual for walls. For example, tile cutter made in China

must perform high-quality work for no more than two weeks. While the branded tool does an excellent job with tiles for steps up to 12 mm thick. The grinder is included in the tiler's package as one of the important mechanisms when performing construction work

for laying tile materials, after the tile cutter and mixer. These three tools occupy the leading positions in terms of value, accounting for almost 90% of costs. An additional production tool for tiling is nippers. When cutting tool

If you can’t cope with scorched tiles, then wire cutters are a big help. They must be powerful, with pobedite teeth, and not necessarily with a metal cutting surface. Their task is to break the tile along the cut made by the cutter. For fine work, when it is necessary to make openings for switches, sockets or holes for pipes, narrow nippers are used, which are called “parrots” in tiler slang. They can also come in handy when refinishing tiles when large nippers are no longer useful.

Tools for filling joints with mortar When the tile material is laid, it is necessary to fill the space between the tiles, that is, the seams. In this case, use for filling seams. You must have: a two-liter plastic tank, a spatula for grouting, a rubber hammer, rubber and felt gloves, a grater (washcloth), foam rubber (polyurethane foam).

Thus, rubber gloves protect the skin of the hands from the effects of chemical additives included in the solution. The same cement, for example, dries out the skin very much, so hand protection will obviously not be superfluous. For small volumes of tiles, you can use gloves or do without them - this is at your own discretion.

Most best option rubber spatula has a size of 11x25 cm. When offered a tool with a smaller work surface– it’s better to refuse – the grouting time increases. A quality spatula can last up to 10 years.

A plastic one is also produced, which can even be used to adjust the level of the tiles being laid. But there is a nuance here. When pressing on one edge of the product, the opposite one inevitably rises. This can lead to a general disruption of the smooth surface. Therefore, the use of such a tool is controversial.

The rubber hammer should not be very heavy, its weight should not exceed 1 kg. It is necessary for tapping tiles.

This causes more reliable adhesion to the solution and removal of air. A sponge or grater is used to remove excess grout when the grout has thoroughly dried. It is especially needed in the warm season - the solution dries instantly and, so that it does not harden, it must be quickly removed. Sponge used for removal cement mortar

should have dimensions of 14x11x6 cm. If it is not possible to purchase rubber, use foam rubber, but its dimensions can vary within 20x15 cm. The most suitable type of foam rubber is coarse-grained. It makes it possible to efficiently remove solution residues when washing the material.

The following set of tools includes the use of trays made of durable plastic, two wear-resistant rollers, a sponge with a handle and a tray with a capacity of up to 13 liters. This rather voluminous kit can be simplified, since transporting it takes up a lot of space. Therefore, only a roller may be most necessary, and instead of baths, a wide bucket is purchased. especially important when laying mosaics. Polyurethane foam or foam rubber is used for finishing and sanding seams. A bucket of water will come in handy here. Felt gloves are used at the final stage of work. After the grout has dried and general cleaning

a thin layer of plaque remains on the tile. To eliminate it, felt gloves are used. For final and A new ceramic tile floor will need a factory mop with double and replaceable rubber rollers. Its length is at least 50 cm.

Other tools of a master tiler can be called additional and auxiliary, but without which it is also impossible to obtain an acceptable result. These include, first of all, measuring instruments: bubble level and tape measure. A high-quality bubble level is the main condition for a perfectly flat surface.

To obtain right angles, you need to have two carbon rulers - a large and a small one. Square bigger size used when marking material on the floor. If it is absent, you have to carry out arithmetic calculations using the Pythagorean theorem and roulette. The smaller square is needed to mark the holes on the tile. It is desirable that it be made of chrome-plated steel and have a scale with embossed numbers. Painted rulers are short-lived, the paint will soon peel off, and the numbers will be invisible. As a last resort, when there is no square, to create right angle, you can use the tile itself.

Painting or beating line

This tool is extremely necessary when the surface of the floor being laid with tiles is quite significant. It is with the help of the fishing line that the first row is beaten off and the first tile is laid. Modern technologies allow us to abandon such archaic, but, nevertheless, important element like a cord. Today masters use laser.

The water level is also an irreplaceable success among builders. It is a regular transparent medical hose into which water is poured. But the above-mentioned laser also replaces the water level, which allows marking to be carried out quickly and efficiently. Convenience is also one of the advantages of high technology, the only problem is the cost.

The rules, with emphasis on the letter “i,” are of great importance when laying tiles. They play the role of elements that level the base for laying and final control of the tiles after they are installed.

Wedges. Large - up to 2.5 m. It is necessary for screeding and plastering along beacons, as well as for final leveling of an uneven cement base with glue. Medium – up to 1.5 m. This wedge is a tool for controlling the level of masonry, both on the walls and on the floor.

Tools for installing tiles

Master OK. A notched trowel (10 mm) is required when installing tiles with a side of 300 mm or more. It (4-5 mm) is used when mounting products with dimensions less than 200 mm. Shaulsky's ladle is convenient for plastering walls and laying tiles on a larger surface area. rubber can also be replaced with wood, but you must work with it extremely carefully.

The scraper is used to remove dried building materials from tiles. And also, if necessary, remove the installed tiles by blasting.

An ordinary broom is used when priming the floor. To reduce primer consumption, it can be diluted with water in a ratio that is 20% greater than when diluting the concentrate. In this case, the working time is significantly reduced, and there is no need to wash the brush.

Set of plastic crosses and wedges. Their width is up to 3 mm, but if the seams need to be made invisible, then the width of the crosses should not exceed 1.5 mm. A portable tee 30 m long - this size is designed for an outlet that is located far away. The carrier has several 500-watt light bulbs. Good lighting necessary in order to see all the small details while working. This helps to perform styling more efficiently. After all, this light will be needed during cladding.

An electric tee, special construction pencils, felt-tip pens, a knife, a hand brush, and a priming roller will come in handy. It is also necessary to use a brush to remove any remaining glue from the tool. Often this tool is given little importance. But it is a very serious element in the work. After all, if you do not clean it, then soon all the equipment that interacts with the glue will become unusable.

Protective materials

First of all, you need safety glasses. They are especially useful when working with the turbine and when cutting tile products. This type of work is a very dangerous operation. After all, parts of the tile can be so small that if they get into the eye unnoticed, they can seriously damage it. Therefore, you simply cannot do without glasses here. If you feel pain in your eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor. Glasses also require careful care. Store them in a special case. Otherwise, upon contact with sand, the glass will quickly deteriorate.

For quick and quality work you will need a respirator. Without it, laying tiles will be very difficult. After all, sweeping the floor is prohibited, especially if insulation was used when installing drywall. You should pay attention to filters. They must be of high quality. But they need to be changed in time. Working in old filters will only cause harm to the human body.

Gloves. Of course, it is not entirely convenient to carry out work operations while wearing gloves. Thus, labor efficiency is noticeably reduced. And this is not good for the master. But modern specialists have found a way out of this situation - they work in gloves with cut off fingers. In winter, this still protects from the cold, and in summer it reduces the area of ​​interaction between glue and skin.