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HOW TO...
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How to install ceramic floor tiles
Installing ceramic floor tiles is a job that requires precision as well as some special tools. However, though it takes some time and patience, the process is relatively straightforward. Installing ceramic floor tiles yourself instead of hiring a professional can save money and allows the homeowner to customize the job.
Things you'll need:
Tape measure, Chalk line, T-square, Tile spacers, 1-inch thick board long enough to span the room, Screw gun, Trowel, Tile adhesive, Level, Rubber mallet, Pencil, Glass cutter, Grout, Rubber float, Sponge mop. |
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| 1. |
Remove all baseboards and original flooring from the room to be tiled.
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| 2. |
Measure the tiles with a tape measure if their dimensions are unclear. Use the chalk line to lay down a line on the floor that is perpendicular to center of the door. Use the T-square to make sure that the line is straight and the angle is correct.
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| 3. |
Lay a row of tiles along the line, placing spacers between each one to ensure equal distance between them. When the final full tile is down, place a long, 1-inch thick board down perpendicularly in the space behind the final tile. Tack the board down with a screw gun. Lay a row of tiles up against the board, starting from the spaces on either side of the final tile in the first row and working out. Place spacers between the tiles. |
| 4. |
Measure the amount of empty space remaining on either side of the row up against the board and calculate how much empty space should remain on each end to make it even. Use the chalk line to mark a line on the left edge of the row based on that calculation. The spot where the chalk marking intersects with the board is the new starting point for the tiles. Pick up all of the tiles in the test rows. |
| 5. |
Use a trowel to lay down two square feet of tile adhesive, starting in the corner where the board meets the chalk line. Beginning in that corner, lay down the tiles in a straight line, using the spacers between each one and pressing the tiles firmly into the adhesive. Check the area once the tiles are down, measuring them with a level and using a rubber mallet to tamp them down if any are too high. Repeat the process until all of the full tiles have been laid. Let the tiles rest overnight. |
| 6. |
Walk lightly on the tiles when re-entering the room. Pry up the 1-inch board and place it, standing up on its narrow end, against the wall opposite the chalk line. |
| 7. |
Measure and cut the border tiles. To do this, begin in the corner starting point. Place a whole tile on top of the first tile laid, lining them up exactly. Place a third tile on top of the stack, pushing the third tile outward until it is flush with the board. Use a pencil to trace line of the the overlapping edge of the top tile onto the middle tile. Remove both the tiles. |
| 8. |
Place the tile with the line drawn on it onto a work table. Line up the edge of the T-square with the line. Using the glass cutter, make one long, quick cut along the straight edge. Move the tile out until the cut edge is hanging off the edge of the table and break it along the line. Repeat all the way around the room. |
| 9. |
Apply the tile adhesive in two-foot increments and lay the border tiles down, lining them up exactly with their corresponding rows. Allow the border tiles to set overnight. |
| 10. |
Mix the grout according to the instructions on the package and use a rubber float to apply it evenly to the surface of the tiles at a 45-degree angle. Wipe the grout off the tile surface with a sponge mop, being careful not to disturb the grout in between the tiles. Allow the grout to set, then mop up any residue. |
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