floor tile layout patterns

Floor Tile Installing
By Phil Rorrer

Floor tile installing used to be a more complicated process than it is today. Today, the tile-makers have made great strides in keeping it simple.

The first step is preparation. Once your old flooring is removed, be sure you have a clean surface to work with. Ask for a good-quality cleaner for this purpose from the hardware store. Using it with a rugged cloth, clean the entire surface to be tiled. Spend some time with this. You want to be sure to get rid of every trace of the old adhesive, oil, grease, and dirt.

Now figure out what your pattern is going to be. Most boxes of tile will contain sample patterns inside. Choose the one that suits you.

Next, determine where the exact center of the floor is. Find the center point on each well and mark it. Then run a chalk line from one wall to the one opposite it and snap it on the floor.. Do the same for the other two opposing walls. The point where the lines intersect is your center point....where you'll start the tiling process. The idea is to lay tile from the center and move outward toward the walls.

Now run a loose line of tile from one wall to the one opposite it. Then do it the opposite direction. The purpose is to see exactly how many tiles will fit in the space, and then, when you don't have room for another entire tile, figure out how many inches remain. You'll need to cut partial tiles to fill in these empty inches.

Next, apply the adhesive with a notched trowel. Remember not to put on too much at a time, lest the adhesive dry and set before you make it over that far. Usually covering about 1/4 of the floor area at a time is sufficient. Wait about 15 minutes and begin applying the tile (the adhesive should still have some stickiness, but not be runny).

As you start, make sure the first tile is completely even with all four walls. You may want to have guide lines marked to help with this. If that first tile is off, all the rest will be. Move out toward the walls with the tile. IMPORTANT: Never slide the tiles into place. Press them down with a slight twisting motion in order to avoid displacing the adhesive. After a couple hours of this, you should have a nicely tiled floor.

If you would like to learn more before you start your project so you are totally prepared. And know all of the ends and outs before you start. CLICK HERE to learn what you need to do.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Rorrer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Floor-Tile-Installing&id=973732