Installing tile may sound intimidating, but it's not that difficult providing you are prepared by having a sufficiently-equipped tool box.
Tools needed include a pencil, framing square, level and/or chalk line, two or three sponges, hacksaw with carbide blades, carbide-blade tile nippers, notched trowel, knee pads or sponge kneeling rubber (if you're installing floor tiles) tile spacer (optional), soft cloths, and tile installation instruction booklet. The reason for these tools is explained in the following paragraphs.
In addition to the tiles themselves, you will need to purchase or rent a professional tile cutter. Of course, this will not fit in a tool box, but it will make tile installation go much more quickly. Running water will be needed if you use a tile cutter. If it is not possible to obtain a professional tile cutter, you'll need a very sharp carbide hacksaw blade to saw the backs of the tiles, and a sharp-edged board over which to snap the cut tiles. However, it would be worth the cost to rent one, because it will save you hours of work and frustration trying to cut tiles without breaking them. Also, carbide tile nippers are a must for trimming off the excess edge. You will also need a large pail or receptacle in which to mix the grout. If you have large amounts of grout to mix, however, you could also rent a mortar tub.
Before you begin to apply the tiles, you'll need to layout your design, either on paper or in front of the area you plan to tile. The tiles will need to be symmetric, with the same sized tiles in each corner of the room. For floor tiles, you will start in the center of the room, after you've run chalk lines from one side to the other, finding the center of the floor. Cut the tiles that need to be resized first. Use a level to make sure the tiles are not at an angle, and a framing square to keep them perpendicular and parallel. Use a pencil to draw the straight line on which you'll lay the tiles and glue. You'll need a trowel to apply the tile glue to the surface, whether it is the floor or your walls, and a cloth to wipe the glue from your hands as well as the surface of the tiles.
If you're doing a floor, knee pads save your bones, but you could also use sponge rubber kneeling pads gardeners use for planting and weeding. If you're strapped for cash, you can use an extra tile for a spacer, but it's nice to have the 5/32" floor tile spacers so each tile is exactly the same distance apart.
After the tiles are in place and drying, you'll need a grout sponge to apply the grout over all the tiles, making sure it gets squeegee'd between the spaces properly. Then, when the grout is dry, you'll need a different sponge, or a grout haze remover, to take off any film from the tiles themselves. Finally, you'll need a soft cloth to polish the tiles when the job is complete. You should have an instruction booklet in case you run into problems, and make sure you buy extra tiles in various sizes to allow for breakage.
