How To Lay Ceramic Or Porcelain Floor Tiles – Part 1
Laying tiles on a floor can be a daunting task, even with the simpler types of tiles. Laying ceramic or porcelain floor tiles doubly so. However, if you put in the required amount of planning and preparation then there is no reason you have to spend copious amounts of money to get your floor professionally tiled. It can also be a rewarding experience, especially doing it with a family member for some quality bonding time.
What you will need:
* Ceramic or Porcelain Tile * Tile adhesive or "mastic" * A notched trowel * A tile saw or a tile scorer * A diamond hole saw to cut out radiator pipes and other holes * Grout * rubber float(a putty knife will scratch the tile face) * Tape measure (or digital laser tape) * Bucket (with warm water) * Sponge * Level * Chalk line * Pencil * Tile spacers
Now you can begin the planning (and preparing) stage of laying your floor tiles. First comes the foundation., which invariably opens up a rather unpleasant question – What is your floor made up of? Plywood is generally very good but if you have the prevalent 1/2” to 5/8” particle board on a deck of 2x8s, then you have some extra work to do. After removing the base trim, you then pull up the particle board and replace it with plywood. Pulling up the particle board can be made easier by first cutting it into 16” squares. You will need a Skil saw, though if you are laying tiles in a kitchen then a so called “toe-kick saw” will be a must. As an aside, while you have the particle boards out, it would be wise to check the deck to make sure it is solidly attached to the floor joists. Remember to only replace the particle board up to where the tile will stop.
The next step is to determine the dimensions of the room that is being tiled. Using a tape measure, first measure from one wall to another and then go on and do the opposing walls. You might want to know whether you should factor any irregularities into your calculations, but rather not. It will hamper you in finding the center of the room, which will be discussed shortly. It will also give you more tiles with which to work in case of breakage or improper cutting.
Now it is time to prep your space. First make sure the entire surface area is as smooth as can possibly be. You will most likely need to use a floor leveling compound, which can be found at any good hardware store, to float out any divots, holes or differences in subflooring heights. Floating means creating gradual transitions in the floor's surface. If you do not float out these differences, your floor tiles will crack. Once you have finished floating – you are prepared for the next step which is deciding on the pattern and size of the tiles.
