Ceramic Tile Setting [Paperback]

John P. Bridge (Author), Robert A. Bedient (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1992

Given the high prices that contractors charge for ceramic tile jobs, many homeowners would undoubtedly consider installing it themselves, if they had the proper guidance. Also in the last ten to fifteen years, tile used in new homes is often glued to nothing more than plasterboard. The life expectancy of this type of installation is generally less than two or three years, which means that homeowners must pay to have the tile torn out and redone-an expensive proposition. Now, John P. Bridge comes to the rescue, providing do-it-yourselfers with all of the information they need to complete ceramic tile projects with long lasting, professional results. Bridge begins with a brief discussion of the tools of the trade, materials required, and various types of masonry tile. Readers will then find easy-to-follow instructions for installing floors, tub surrounds, walls, and counter tops. Bridge takes readers step-by-step through the entire process, from surface preparation, layout, and design to setting the tile, grouting, and finishing

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1st edition (March 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830625720
• ISBN-13: 978-0830625727
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #899,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been writing since I was a kid. I was first published at age 15 -- a poem called The Wanderer was published in the National Anthology of High School Poetry, 1956. I've been at it ever since.

I've been in the ceramic tile business for 35 years, and I've written three books on the subject -- currently working on number four. Ceramic Tile Setting, McGraw-Hill, 1992; Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book, Mistflower Press, 2003; The Kerdi Shower Book (ebook), Mistflower Press, 2005.

Since 2000 I have operated the John Bridge Ceramic Tile Forums on the Internet http://www.johnbridge.com/forum The forums are geared toward both DIYers and professional tile setters. Want to know everything and anything about tile and stone setting, give us a try.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confidence Builder, November 25, 2000

By 

Randall Black (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ceramic Tile Setting (Paperback)

I just finished tiling a bathroom floor using this book as my guide. Written clearly, concisely, and with humor, Bridge's book gave me the confidence to complete a beautiful job. Because I laid the tile in a diagonal layout, I would have liked more on how to cut tile at a weird angle but I got around that using cardboard templates. Also, some photos make it out as though you can start laying tile and cut on the fly (while the thinset is wet). Don't do this! Do a dry layout with every tile cut and in place (something Bridge actually recommends in the text). Heed his words on layout lines; don't count on spacers to determine where to lay tile (although they come in handy for holding tiles from gliding into one another). Also, be very careful about keeping tiles level with one another as you lay them. I found the look of the floor much more sensitive to relative elevation than careful gapping (at a distance the grout lines look much bigger or smaller when tiles are even 1/32 of an inch out of level). The author says to use mud instead of backerboard, and my use of that contributed to my battle to keep things on the level (and may have been almost as much work!). Because of his professional experience, I think Bridge makes tile setting sound a little *too* easy. It's very hard work, along with being quite unforgiving when your every mistake is literally set in concrete. A helper is a must, not only to speed things up, but also for moral support and someone to blame things on! I know it sounds as though I made a lot of mistakes, but really the floor looks beautiful. And it may sound as though my comments are criticisms, but I owe this likeable author a debt of gratitude. He gave me the confidence to start and keep going. Don't worry about the age of the book and materials being outdated-I found that a good tile supply store can tell you exactly which bags of thinset and grout to use. It's not rocket science, and even though the chemicals may have improved a little over the years, the technique is what really counts and Bridge is a master of both tile and writing. In fact, as I read and re-read the book, I found myself saying, "For being a professional tile contractor this guy is an amazing writer!"

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, July 22, 2000

By 

David Owens (La Mirada, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ceramic Tile Setting (Paperback)

There are really very few books on tile setting on the market. There are lots of table books, most of which I have, but few on how to do it. I gave John Bridge's book 5 stars because, while he doesn't have color drawings like the Micheal Byrne book, it was written by a skilled contractor who teaches the reader how to lay tile, step by step. As both an amateur tile setter and an inspector who watches professionals, I know from experience that everything he says is accurate and reasonable. From laying out the floor and mixing mortar to doing a countertop, the reader feels like Mr. Bridges is right by his side, guiding his/her steps. His anectdotes about his wife are funny. But don't restrict yourself to just one book. Buy two: this one and Micheal Byrne's. You won't go wrong.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Guide For Do-It-Yourself Tile Setters, October 1, 2001

By 

"phoenix45" (Huntington Beach, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ceramic Tile Setting (Paperback)

I can't believe this book! I have learned more about tiling in the 3-4 hours it took me to read the book, than in the previous tile projects I have done. Mr. Bridge covers it all. I found the section on laying out a project worth the entire price of the book. By following his layout method, I have saved considerable time. Mr. Bridge uses humor, simple explanations, and a great knowledge of tiling to make a do-it-yourselfer feel comfortable about taking on a large project.

I am a Maintenance Superintendent for the largest publicly owned utility in the Nation. I have read way more manuals than I care to think about. Very seldom do I actually learn anything. This book covers not only the very basics, but also some of the more complex projects of tiling. It not only tells you what to do; it also explains why you want to do it. An excellent book I highly recommend to anyone. Just don't ask to borrow my book, BUY your own!