The time had finally come and I was ready to tile the kitchen and hallway floors at our Vilgale apartment.
A year ago I would say - no way I'm going to do it myself, but here you go, I did it all on my own, with some research on Youtube and a lot of encouragement from friends who have done it.
As it is in our Tbilisi apartment - I decided to go with large 60cmx60cm tiles, which I bought at the local DEPO store (in Liepaja) In total I purchased tiles to cover 21m2, which turned out too much, but I did put my margin of error as I didn't know how well it will go. Surprisingly it went very well, and I did break just one tile, which I still managed to reuse. Awesome. My biggest concern was the tile cutter, but again thank you YouTube it went very smoothly.
![Buying tiles and tools at DEPO store in Liepaja](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_140928.jpg)
Here I bought tiles, tile cutter, a level, glue for tiles (dry mixture), distancers (3mm). As the tiles vere pretty heavy I decided to buy them in two attempts, or I purchased jus the half at my first visit to the store
![Trying out different tile positions on floor](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_161031.jpg)
Thansk to the YouTube tutorials I understood its better not to start from the corner but instead lay out tiles to find the optional placement
![Making glue mixture for tiles](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_170239.jpg)
The other day we bought another apartment and I got a free drill there. Was very happy to use it for tiling glue.
![Applying glue on the floor](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_171005.jpg)
After a few hours of thinking I figured it out to strat from this place, to save on tiles and have the best look at the end.
As you can see I have a laminate floor already installed, it will be somehow tough tash to connect them together at the end.
![Tilling kitchen floor](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_180130.jpg)
It is very important to use distancers to make tiles straight
![Tiling Vilgāle apartment](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_193908.jpg)
Unbelievable. I'm actually tiling and the work is not hard at all. For today I decided to tile only full tiles, no cutting. Leaving the cutting for another day.
![Tilling hallway](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_202245.jpg)
The end feels so close already.
![tilling kitchen and hallway](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220621_203924.jpg)
I stopped here today, and returned to tile the rest next day
![Tilling kitchen floor](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220622_104143.jpg)
On the second day I come for the tile cutting, I must admit it was both easy and hard. It was easier than I thought to cut the tiles, but it took much more time I expected and i ddin't finish all the tiling works today.
![Tilling apartment](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220622_143727.jpg)
There are still some tilling job left, but before that I will need to buy special transition from tile to laminate, and it seems i will need to clip a bit our front door.
Once the tiling will be finished in the kitchen and halway I will move to the bathroom.
Cost so far:
- Water plumbing: EUR 60
- Sadales Tīkls: EUR 60
- Electrician: EUR 155
- Architect: EUR 800
- Removing walls and floor: EUR 775
- Chalk removing, / wiring: EUR 500
- Wall plastering/frame for drywall ceiling (bedroom): EUR 875
- New windows: EUR 1,252
- Window replacement: EUR 200
- Estrich floor with an underfloor heating system and all plumbing: EUR 1,916
- Rock wool for the ceiling, drywall constructions, drywall, and some wiring: EUR 866
- Plastering bedroom and living room: EUR 1,200
- Chimneysweep: EUR 30
- More drywall, rock wool, electric cables, plumbing, and others: EUR 1094
- Doors for bedroom and bathroom: EUR 291.58
- More sauna, more drywall, more plumbing, more wiring EUR 1,992.56
- More sauna, more drywall, more electricity: EUR 370
- more plastering: EUR 340
- Paint and tools (paintbrush, rolls, gloves, scotch): EUR 74.86
- 27 Liter of ready-made plaster, dozen of electricity plugs, rolls, screwdrivers: EUR 45
- Paint for walls, additional electricity plugs and switches: EUR 50
- Laminate flooring and tools: EUR 378
- Tiles and tools for kithcen and hallway: EUR 400
TOTAL: EUR 13,725