(Hardibacker? -Check!)

So Tom and I are on day three of our Tiling extravaganza. Day one included tearing up the existing floor and picking out tile. Day two consisted laying hardibacker. I think I mentioned previously, that I was really hopeful that we wouldn’t have to lay hardibacker, but everything we read suggested we did, and the last thing we wanted was a bunch of broken tile or missing grout when he go to sell this place in four years. We just wanted to “do it right.” I had been telling Tom over and over how fun laying tile was, how easy it was. . .etc. Well never in my experience of laying tile did I have to lay hardibacker. I always conveniently entered the scene after that step had taken care of, not really intentionally. However, let me tell you, if we ever have a large tiling project again, I will do my best to make myself busy until after the hardibacker has been taken care of. It’s just a pain. The sheets are large 3’x5′ and heavy- they’re cement flooring pieces. But you still have to carry them back and forth cutting them so they fit together perfectly- and we had lots of cuts since our kitchen is anything but a rectangle. I took up the job of cutting and Tom performed the job of screwing in around 500 screws- no joke. The work was tedious and exhausting, and was not the happy experience I had imagine our tiling job would be. I felt bad that I had talked Tom into this project for our “vacation” time. And I felt that my tales of fun tiling jobs with my Dad must have been highly exaggerated.

(Tom’s shop. Yes that is a HUGE mound of garbage in the foreground, oh how I am counting down the days until April 1 when we can start taking our garbage to the free drop off!)

However, by day three I am again convinced that tiling is an appropriate “vacation” activity. Today Tom and I had a blast. The subfloor was completed and we were free to tile away. Tom took up the job of doing all the cutting- which was perfect for his mathematical perfectionist mind; and I mudded the tiles and slopped them on the floor- feeling once again like a child in a sandbox. We are around 75% done. We started just laying full pieces, but when Tom realized he really enjoyed cutting we started laying all the pieces.

(One of the great things about big projects is that you realize that the fridge and stove look great in the dining room! Do you think I can leave the fridge there? We don’t really use that corner, and I sure like how is opens up the kitchen when it’s gone!)