Project: Tile II

It's begun! I'm so excited. I know it's going to look so good when it's done! I would say that it's 75% prep work and 25% tiling. It's always the little things that are the most time consuming and a pain in the behind. Keith and I spent two nights after work just clearing out the kitchen and removing everything. Our friend Tom is helping us tile and teaching us how it's done in exchange for a lifetime of on- call babysitting.

The prep work went something like this:
Time: 7 hours (in 2-3 hr intervals)

1. Remove EVERYTHING from the kitchen floor - counter tops, cabinets, etc.
   
2. Turn off the water in the basement.
3. Remove sink - cut (because we're putting in a dishwasher) and cap pipes.
4. Shut off the gas line in the basement.
5. Remove flex gas pipe from stove using monkey wrench.
6. Peel up linoleum (not always necessary).
7. Remove all the molding and trim work along floor including around doors.
   
8. Sweep and vacuum thoroughly.

Removing everything. It was heartbreaking after we spent the time putting it in. It was worth moving it out to tile under the cabinets since we're talking about a 1/2"+ increase above the original floor height.


Sink and cabinet are gone. Stuff some paper towel into the drain to plug up smells.


This took all the energy out of us for the night. The tiny 1/4" thick rubber grip on the fridge door kept the fridge from going through the doorway.


So we took the door off. I did my part and held the door while they moved the door-less fridge into the living room.


I know you're jealous. Everyone wants a fridge full of beer in their living room.


After shutting off the gas line, using a monkey wrench, remove the gas line pressure fitting behind the stove. If you don't know what you're doing, get a professional.


Removing the linoleum flooring. Original, the plan was to leave it and nail over it, but the top layer of the linoleum was so flaky, it was so easy to peel right up. Think of it like peeling the top part of a price tag sticker leaving the tacky layer of the sticker still on the box.


Then sweep and vacuum THOROUGHLY. My husband is so great at vacuuming ;)


Up Next: Installing the backer board.