There are plenty of ways to increase the value of your home, but none gives you the most bang for your buck as laying ceramic tile. Unfortuantely for most people, the thought of laying ceramic tile in their home imediately brings images of high installation bills to mind. But don't panic. You can install ceramic tile in your home for a fraction of the cost that most people will pay.

If you have never laid tile before, then I recommend that you do a little research first. Read a few articles and pick up how to lay tile video to watch. The easiest tile to install is floor tile. Try a countertop or small room first. The amount of tile will be small and you will get some practice before tackling a larger area, such as a kitchen. The most difficult part of the process will be taking out the plumbing fixtures.

Watch the video, decide on the room that you are going to lay tile in, and then visit the store. The tools and supplies will now seem familiar to you. Look over the tiles and the tools. Do not go overboard. In fact, you should not buy anything on your first trip. Talk to the salesman about the types of tile you are considering.

Choose your tile carefully. Make sure that you are choosing floor tile, which is skid-resistant, rather high-gloss wall tile. The salesperson at the home improvement or tile store can help you make the right choice for your room. I usually take a few sample tiles home to see how they look in the light of the room where I am going to install the tile. Just like paint and carpet, ceramic tile looks different at home than it does in the store. Consider the color of grout that will compliment your tile. Once you have decided on a tile, take careful measurements of the room and return to the store. Order your tile and prepare to get to work!

Set aside enough time to finish laying your tile within a few days. A bathroom floor should take no more than a weekend if you prep Friday night, lay the tile Saturday and grout it on Sunday. Larger rooms may take a little longer. And your first project will take longer than you think, so plan accordingly.

Once the ceramic tile floor has been laid, you will be thrilled. Your bathroom will have a whole new look and the value of your home will have increased. After a few weeks, take a very close look at your work. Make some notes about things that gave you trouble or things that you would do differently next time. Watch the video again, take some notes and get ready to tackle your next ceramic tile laying project.

About the Author

To read more about laying tile and improving the value of your home, read Tile Made Easy. Randy Davis has produced a great video that will guide you all the way through the process.