5 Steps to Tiling a Floor
June 20, 2010, By Greg Hoard 0 comments
Tiling a floor can really add a new, clean look to a room but it’s really not that easy and you need to be very careful in going about the process.
Following these steps should prove helpful:
- First, clean the floor thoroughly, making sure you get up all dust and debris. You want everything to be level.
- Measure to find the center of the room, then get out your chalk line. Snap two lines that intersect exactly in the center of the floor.
- Make a dry run with the tile, laying them out along with your spacers. This helps you find out where to start the process and how wide your grout lines are going to be.
- Snap an additional chalk line the width of one tile away from the wall. This helps keep the tile placement straight. Keep on laying out the tile until the placement is correct and you are satisfied.
Greg Hoard is the senior writer and former editor of Cincinnati Profile magazine. He is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.
Directions:
Use a self-mix, thin-set mortar for installation of the tiles.
Pour an entire bag of the dry mixture into a large bucket. Add just enough water to get the mortar wet and start mixing. (This is a workout.) Continue to mix until the texture is nice and smooth. After that, let it stand until it becomes tacky – usually about 10 minutes.
When the mortar is ready to go, begin working on a section of the floor.
Start with an area about two feet by two feet. Use a notched trowel to get an even layer of mortar. (Remember, we need everything flat.) Continue to work in small areas to keep the mortar from drying before the tile is in position.
Put the tiles in place.
When you get to a wall or a place that a standard tile won’t fit, mark it and make your cuts using a standard tile cutter. Or, if you prefer, take the marked tiles to a tile supplier and have them cut before you start to place them. Continue the process, following the chalk line as a guide and placing spacers between each tile to make sure the space between each tile is the same. After all the tile work is complete, apply the tile to dry in place for several days.
Grout comes in many colors and textures.
Choose one that matches or complements the tile. Use a rubber trowel or float to spread the grout across the tile at an angle to make sure the application is complete and thorough.
When the grout is in place, wipe away the excess with a damp sponge or cloth.
Do this several times but be careful not to remove the grout lines around the tile. In a standard room and in newer homes, this is not as difficult as it sounds. Where it gets tricky is in older homes – where few things are exactly straight or plumb – or in a room that has unique angles or turns. In that case, you may have to make several cuts in the tile to get it exactly right. Given that condition, make sure you have more than enough tile.
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