A Guide to Tile Installation Tools

Installing tile seems like a simple task: get the tile, lay it out, add an adhesive, set it down, grout it, and you're done—right? However, the reality of an installation is hardly a simple, few-step process. Installing tile is a task that requires planning and precision. A bad install can result in uneven edges, messy results, or an installation that just won’t last over time. In order to ensure an installation looks good and is built for longevity (as well as saves time and energy), there are a few tile installation tools every installer should know.

Tile Installation Tools

The tools needed for an installation aren’t all highly advanced, they can range from a simple piece of measuring tape to a highly specialized tile cart. Here are all the tile tools (simple and heavy-duty) needed for a successful installation:

• Measuring & Layout:
  • Tape measure - For exact room dimensions and ensuring a centered layout.
  • Leveler tool - Essential for ensuring surfaces of walls or floors are completely flat.
• Cutting & Shaping
  
• Wet tile saw - Crucial for making straight, angled, and plunging cuts through tile pieces.
• Manual snap cutter - Ideal for quick, dust-free straight cuts on softer tile pieces.
  • Tile nippers - To easily break off small pieces of tile around irregular edges (like pipes and fixtures).
  • Angle grinder (with diamond blades) - Ideal for custom curves and shapes, or polishing rougher tile edges.
  • Diamond hole saw - To guarantee perfect circular holes in tiles (best for fitting around showerheads or other features).

• Transportation & Handling:
  • Tile Carts & Dollies - Essential for transporting large and fragile tile pieces that can’t be carried by hand.
  • Support Frames - Critical for guaranteeing tile stability when moving around the jobsite and throughout installation.
    • It’s important to choose an appropriately sized support frame for the tile. Omni Cubed carries support frames for both large tile and extra-large tile pieces.
  • Tile Carry Clamps & Cups - Crucial for ensuring a safe, strong grip on tile pieces throughout transport and installation.
  • Tile Tables - Ideal for protecting large tile pieces during preparation and assembly.
• Mixing & Setting:
  • Mixing paddle & low-speed drill - For a well-mixed thin set mortar, it’s important to mix it well without introducing too much air.
  • Notched trowel - To ensure even mortar application.
  • Rubber mallet - To gently tap the tiles into the mortar to even them out and remove air pockets.
  • Tile spacers & leveling system - Spacers maintain the consistent grout joint widths, and the leveling system prevents any tile lippage.
  • Margin trowel: For more precise mortar applications (like on corners).
• Grouting & Cleaning
  • Rubber grout float - Crucial to guarantee grout is packed firmly in the tile joints without scratching the surface.
  • Large grout sponge - To wipe away excess grout and to ensure a gentle tile surface cleaning.
  • Microfiber cloths - To gently buff any grout haze after cleaning tiles.
  • Grout saw - To scrape out any dried grout stuck in the joints before it cures.
• Safety Gear
  • It’s important for any installer or installer team to have the proper protection, including utility gloves, dust masks, safety glasses, and knee pads.

Why High-Quality Tools Matter

While important, the truth is technique can only take you so far. While some tile is small enough to easily be carried by hand, an installation done without the right tools is prone to costly and rookie mistakes even for seasoned installers.

Having the proper tile tools is critical for every tile installation. Not only for the overall look of the finished installation, but also for preventing unexpected costs and potential hazards. “Cheap” tools aren’t always cheap in the long run. If a tool breaks or fails, it could result in broken tiles and unexpected costs.

Why the tools matter:

• Preventing Tile “Lippage”: Without the proper tile leveling systems, the surface of the tile may not be perfectly flat, resulting in uneven transitions between tiles, which could even be a trip hazard.
• Preventing Tile Breakage: When it comes to dealing with larger tile, hand-carrying is no longer a reasonable possibility. Having handling tools (like suction cups or carts) is essential for preventing costly mistakes like broken tile pieces.
• Ensuring Longevity: From proper handling tools, proper mortar mixing, to specialized trowels, tile installation tools ensure an installation is done well, and will last for the long haul.

Omni Cubed carries a variety of tile installation tools, specially designed for safe transport, and precise installation.

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