A Step By Step Guide To Laying A Hard Tile Floor
Like anything else, laying Floor tiles can seem like a pretty daunting task if you have never done it before
. However, it is actually very simple and once you have had a go, you will soon feel much more confident. Tiling your own floor will save paying someone else to do it for you and it can be a genuinely rewarding experience!
Here is a step by step guide to help you along
1.Before you begin laying any floor tiles you will need to know exactly where to start. Mark the centre of the floor and then place a single tile on this point. Next, lay a row of tiles on each side of this central one; dont forget to allow for grout gaps! You should now have a cross formation. Adjust each row of tiles until there is an equal space where they meet each of the walls. Now mark around your central tile.
2.Make up a 5:1 solution of water and PVA (five parts water and one part PVA) and apply this to the floor. It does not matter if you are working on concrete or plywood; this preparation will still be exactly the same.
3.Using a wooden batten, create a straight edge from your central tile. You will now see exactly where the first tile in the first outside row will need to be laid.
4.You can now begin applying tile adhesive to the floor. Use the serrated edge of a notched spreader and keep the coverage as even as possible.
5.Take the first of your floor tiles and place it into position on the adhesive bed. Gently twist and press on it as you fit it into place and make sure that it is butted up tightly against your batten
6.Put more of your floor tiles into position with spacers in between. Do not allow any excess adhesive to remain on the face of your tiles! Wipe it off straight away with a damp cloth or sponge.
7.Make a point of checking the level of your tiles every now and again. If any are not quite right, then you will need to either add or remove some adhesive.
8.Once you have laid all of your floor tiles, you should allow them to dry overnight. Leave the batten in place until the morning and then begin measuring for the edges. Again, dont forget to allow for grout!
9.Mark the cutting line on each of your floor tiles with a felt tip pen. Make sure you read any operating instructions before you begin and always wear the correct safety equipment.
10.If any of your cut tiles have rough edges, then use a proper tile file to smooth them down. Put each cut tile into position to check that it will fit before applying any adhesive! It will be far easier to put the adhesive directly onto the back of each cut tile.
11.If you need to tile around any particularly awkward shapes (such as architrave), then use a profile gauge to mark out the contours. Any tricky cuts should be made with a tile saw or an electric tile cutter as you will get far more accurate results.
12.If you are laying natural floor tiles (such as slate), then it may be necessary to treat them with a sealant before grouting. Check the manufacturers instructions and give them plenty of time to dry.
13.Once your grout is mixed, start applying it to your gaps. It should be pressed firmly into place with a float or grout spreader. It is normally a good policy to work on an area of around one square metre at a time.
14.After it has begun to dry, go over each of the gaps with a proper grout shaper. Use a damp sponge or cloth to clean away any excess grout.
15.Wooden or metal threshold strips can be used to conceal the joins in doorways. This can either be screwed or glued into place and are easily cut to size with a junior hacksaw.
16.Once that your floor tiles have all been grouted, give them a polish with a dry cloth. This will help to remove any dust or residue.
by: Jack Authors
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