How to Lay Ceramic Floor Tiles
- 1). In this case, cover the floorboards with exterior-grade plywood, screwed down or secured with spiral flooring nails to prevent it from lifting; this will provide a stable, level base for the tiles.
Glazed ceramic floor tiles are laid with specially formulated adhesive, which should be a waterproof type in bathrooms and a flexible type if tiling on a suspended floor. Quarry and terra cotta tiles are laid on mortar over a solid concrete floor, and in thick-bed tile adhesive over plywood.
Old floor coverings should be lifted before laying ceramic or quarry tiles, but if a solid floor is covered with well-bonded vinyl or cork tiles, these can be left in place and tiled over, using tile adhesive. - 2). First remove any wax polish used on them. Set out the floor as described previously, but transfer the starting point to the corner of the room farthest from the door once the setting out has been completed.
Pin tiling guides to the floor in the corner of the room at right angles to each other, then spread some adhesive on the floor with a notched edge trowel.
Place the first tile in the angle between the tiling guides, butting it tightly against them and pressing it down firmly into the adhesive bed.
As the tiles are laid, use the spacers to ensure an even gap between them. Use a straightedge and carpenter's level to check that all the tiles are horizontal. - 3). To cut border tiles to the correct size and shape, lay a whole tile over the last whole tile laid, butt another against the skirting (baseboard) and mark where its edge overlaps the tile underneath.
Cut the marked tile and use the cut-off piece to fill the border gap. Repeat the previous step, using the same tile until it becomes too narrow to fill the border gap.
Spread grout over the tiles to fill all the joint lines. Wipe excess grout from the surface of the tiles with a damp cloth. Use a piece of dowel or similar rounded tool to smooth the grout. Polish the tile with a clean, dry cloth.
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