Ceramic tile has been a premium building material for literally thousands of years. And for good reason-no material is more attractive or durable. Today, ceramic and stone tile is enjoying even greater popularity. Once the territory of skilled trade professionals, tile can now be installed with using modern thin-set adhesives, backer boards, and cutting tools that are easily usable by do-it-yourselfers of modest abilities. The Complete Guide to Ceramic & Stone Tile shows how to use these time-saving techniques and materials in virtually any tile application a homeowner is likely to encounter, both indoors and outdoors. Though installing ceramic tile can still be time consuming, it is no longer particularly difficult, which makes it an ideal project for do-it-yourselfers. Homeowners can save hundreds-or even thousands-of dollars by doing the work themselves. In addition to its practical benefit, ceramic and stone tile lends itself to creative expression. A routine countertop installation these days can become an exciting and unique design statement by including custom hand-painted tiles, which are now commonly available at specialty tile stores. Readers of this book will not only master the basics of tile installation, they will discover hundreds of purely decorative ways to use ceramic tile around the house. The Complete Guide to Ceramic & Stone Tile begins by teaching readers how to design a custom interior using tile, then presents in-depth, step-by-step information on all types of tile installation, including floors, walls, patios, countertops, backsplashes, and shower stalls. The book even includes decorative mosaic treatments that can be used to create ornamental tabletops, coffeetables, and garden planters. Readers will learn how to work with all types of tile in addition to ceramic, including quarry tile, terra cotta, and natural stone.