Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book [Paperback]

John P. Bridge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 20, 2003

As of November 2008 TILE YOUR WORLD is still the only available book that covers ceramic tile showers completely. A comprehensive and in-depth guide for amateur and professional ceramic tile setters. TILE YOUR WORLD takes the reader from the early history of the craft, all the way through to advanced residential tiling techniques. Projects range from kitchen and bathroom floors to custom tile shower installations. Kitchen counters and back splashes are also covered. TILE YOUR WORLD contains over 300 black and white photos and line drawings and 6 four-page color inserts. Eight appendices and a full index are included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you are looking for a single book [on] all aspects of tile installation and repair, this is it! -- Natural Handyman

John Bridge's book has the kind of depth and breadth of information that we are sold on. -- Builders' Booksource

Very complete coverage . . . --Cambium Books

From the Publisher

TILE YOUR WORLD by John P. Bridge is a must read for people contemplating doing their own ceramic or stone tile work. This is a comprehensive book that fully explains the preliminary steps essential to a good tile job. It then takes you on to the advanced stages of the craft and provides you the information you'll need to bring your tiling project to a satisfactory and gratifying conclusion. TILE YOUR WORLD will also be of use to people who plan to hire their tile work out. Homeowners will be in much better position to judge the qualifications of prospective contractors after having read the book. Building a new home? Buy the book before the foundation is laid. You'll be glad you did.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mistflower Press (December 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974275433
• ISBN-13: 978-0974275437
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Masonry

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

82 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real hands-on advice from an expert, December 7, 2004

By 

Greg Langdon (Louisville, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book (Paperback)

I'm midway through remodeling a 50 year old house, and I've become something of a connoiseur of these do-it-yourself books. A lot of books from this genre provide a basic description of the work involved but gloss over the details. These often seem to have been written by someone who writes for a living, and who may or may not own a hammer or a drill themselves.

Tile Your World is one of the best, perhaps THE best DIY books I've read. The author John Bridge has clearly and thoroughly documented what he's learned during his hands-on career as a tile guy.

The book contains the requisite sections on tools, types of tiles, substrates, etc. Where it excels is in its detailed discussion of the subtleties associated with tiling walls, floors, showers, outdoor surfaces, kitchen backsplashes, etc. By way of example, the section on tiling a shower spans over 100 pages and includes over 100 photos. Along the way you'll get advice on everything from plumbing updates to what to do if you discover termites during tearout of the old shower.

The text is consistently readably and often amusing as well. It's worth at least a dollar or two of the purchase price just to read John's advice on how to select fine wines, buried as it is within the discussion on how to ensure that the slope of a shower floor is correct.

Finally, I have to heap a bit more praise on the tiling discussion forums that John runs on his web page. I gather that I'm not allowed to mention the URL in this review, but it should be *painfully* obvious given the title of the book. Like the book, the quality of the advice provided on the discussion forums rises well above the (relatively low) standard for the DIY industry. Imagine novice tilers posting questions about complex issues, and actually getting timely and detailed responses from industry practitioners who seem to really know their stuff.

My hat's off to the author of Tile Your World, and if he's ever in my neck of the woods here in Kentucky, he's more than welcome drop by and use my newly-tiled bathroom.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Buy..., March 14, 2005

By 

Ken Walsh (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book (Paperback)

Doing tile right takes a bit of time and a bit of money. Most "do-it-yourself" books will give short shrift to tile laying, put in some pretty pictures and make it look easy. And they your tile will pop up or crack five years later. Tile should last decades. And sometimes it can take a lot of work to prepare a surface, and some surfaces shouldn't even be tiled at all. With that in mind, finding good information and digesting it is a must before taking any steps.

John Bridge's book does a top notch job of covering a wide variety of tiling specifics and generalities. In addition to all the gory details he has a motivating "can-do" writing style that encourages success. Furthermore, his online website and tiling forums are an amazing resource and clearly demonstrate his willingness to make a major contribution to both professional and do-it-yourself tiling laying.

Do yourself a favor, get this book and Michael Byrne's "Setting Tile" before doing a thing. A 15-minute Home Depot "how-to" seminar can be a dangerous thing - get real useful info instead.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ONLY reference needed for any tile project, April 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book (Paperback)

John's writing will not only give you the knowledge to do a first rate job on any tile project,but he will also make the learning fun in his easy Texas style of writing.
With additional information from proffessional tilesetters and tradesmen from around the country you will get more bang for your buck than any other single DIY book i have seen.Top this off with an address for th Tile Your World tile forum manned by pro's to deal with any immediate concerns or problems and the combination cannot be beat.
If you are contemplating a tile installation in your home,this is one purchase you will never regret.
From wall to floor from counters to leveling this book covers the entire spectrum.
Tile Your World even features information on differant types of membranes for waterproofing,uncoupling and antifracture and where and when to use them.In addition you will find sections on self leveling cements,backerboards,varieties of setting materials and when and where to use them.
As a pro tile contractor i cant stress enough the need for quality information and mechanically sound advice.Written in a manner friendly to the layman,Tile Your World hits the mark on all counts!!