Laying Tile
Can I Lay My Own Tile?
You're probably interested in laying tile because you want to install a ceramic tile floor somewhere in your house. Though it's most popular in the kitchen and bathroom, ceramic tile flooring is a worthwhile home improvement for any room.
You're probably interested in laying tile because you want to install a ceramic tile floor somewhere in your house. Though it's most popular in the kitchen and bathroom, ceramic tile flooring is a worthwhile home improvement for any room.
Though the easiest way is to hire a professional tile setter, many people can't afford it or they want the challenge and experience of doing it themselves. Don't worry, you can do it yourself, and laying tile is an easy job as long as you have the patience to do it right.
The first thing to do, of course, is to decide on what kind of tile you want and estimate your budget. Don't forget to include the cost of thin set adhesive and grout as well.
The first thing to do, of course, is to decide on what kind of tile you want and estimate your budget. Don't forget to include the cost of thin set adhesive and grout as well.
A List of Tools for Laying Tile
- An average toolbox with a tape measure, hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.
- Safety goggles and gloves, especially for cutting tile.
- Knee pads. Take it from me, you don't want to spend more than five minutes laying tile on your bare knees. A lot of pros have expensive pads with shin guards, but many of them just use the plain leather kind. Leather knee pads are inexpensive and will do.
- Electric drill with a mixing paddle
- Chalk line.
- Tile saw (also called a wet saw) and/or a snap cutter (also called a tile cutter). If you're only planning on one tiling project, you can rent these.
- Notched trowel for spreading thin set adhesive. The depth of the notch will depend on the particular tile and thin set adhesive you're using.
- A lot of tile spacers to keep even lines between all the tiles.
- Thinset and a flexible additive. You'll use thin set mortar to stick the tiles to the floor. The additive will make the floor flexible and less prone to cracking or becoming loose.
- Grout and a rubber grout float to push grout between tiles.
- A bunch of sponges and a bucket. Don't underestimate the number of sponges. You'll need quite a few. If you have any left over, you can just return them.
Laying Tile Part One: Floor Prep
The first step is to prepare the subfloor for the ceramic tile installation. If you have any existing soft flooring materials like linoleum, carpet, or VCT(vinyl compostion tile) it's best to remove them. Use a utility knife (change blades often to keep it sharp) and a four inch scraper.
If you're lucky enough to have bare concrete underneath, just scrape it clean and level and sweep it clean. If you have a plywood subfloor, or your subfloor is particularily rough, it's best to cover the floor with a backer board underlayment. Laying tile over a poor subfloor is a recipe for disaster.
You may or may not need to use backer board, depending on the floor you are going to be installing your ceramic tile over. You won't need it if you're laying tile over concrete, but if your subfloor is wood it's best to use an underlayment to get a smooth foundation.
If you're lucky enough to have bare concrete underneath, just scrape it clean and level and sweep it clean. If you have a plywood subfloor, or your subfloor is particularily rough, it's best to cover the floor with a backer board underlayment. Laying tile over a poor subfloor is a recipe for disaster.
You may or may not need to use backer board, depending on the floor you are going to be installing your ceramic tile over. You won't need it if you're laying tile over concrete, but if your subfloor is wood it's best to use an underlayment to get a smooth foundation.
Laying Tile Part Two: Layout Your Tile
To keep your new floor consistently square, use a chalk line to pop a grid on the floor. Make your grid squares equal to the width of your tile plus the space you want between tiles. It's absolutely vital that you maintain good measurements so that when you're laying tile, your finished floor is square.
Decide whether you want your tile lines to run square with the walls or at a 45 degree angle.
Where you want your cut tiles? Unless you're extremely lucky, you'll have to use cut tiles along the walls. Do you want an equal cut on opposite walls? Or do you just want to cut to one wall?
Decide whether you want your tile lines to run square with the walls or at a 45 degree angle.
Where you want your cut tiles? Unless you're extremely lucky, you'll have to use cut tiles along the walls. Do you want an equal cut on opposite walls? Or do you just want to cut to one wall?
Tip:
Spray your chalk lines with cheap hairspray to keep them in place. You don't need line saver, Aquanet works just as well. Smells better, too. Spray from about six inches up so you don't blast the lines off.
Laying Tile Step Three: Finally Laying Tile
Okay, so your floor is prepped and your layout's done. Now it's time to get down to business and actually start laying tile!
The first thing to do is mix up some thinset/flexible additive with a drill. Follow the directions on the product exactly, and mix it until it's as thick as peanut butter.
Now, don't go and spread it out over the entire floor. You only want to spread as much as you can reach from your knees. Don't spread over your chalk lines.
Lay your tiles precisely using tile spacers so they're separated evenly.
Work outwards from the center of the room. Split the floor into quarters, doing one quarter at a time.
Be careful to follow the layout lines you snapped earlier.
The first thing to do is mix up some thinset/flexible additive with a drill. Follow the directions on the product exactly, and mix it until it's as thick as peanut butter.
Now, don't go and spread it out over the entire floor. You only want to spread as much as you can reach from your knees. Don't spread over your chalk lines.
Lay your tiles precisely using tile spacers so they're separated evenly.
Work outwards from the center of the room. Split the floor into quarters, doing one quarter at a time.
Be careful to follow the layout lines you snapped earlier.
Once the floor is tiled, let it cure for at least a day. You might want to take some rest, too. Laying tile is tiring.
Laying Tile Step Four: Applying Grout
You'll want to mix your grout just right. Refer to the directions on the bag and use the same exact recpipe. Also, don't mix more than a bag of grout at once.
Push the grout in between the ceramic tiles with a rubber grout float.
Don't grout your whole floor at once. Split it up, wiping the tiles off with a wet sponge quickly. You don't want any grout scum left on top of the tiles.
As a wiped-off area of ceramic tile gets close to drying, go back and wipe it off again. Do this three or four times until you're certain there isn't any extra grout hanging around where it doesn't belong.
Let the grout dry for a day before walking on the floor.
Push the grout in between the ceramic tiles with a rubber grout float.
Don't grout your whole floor at once. Split it up, wiping the tiles off with a wet sponge quickly. You don't want any grout scum left on top of the tiles.
As a wiped-off area of ceramic tile gets close to drying, go back and wipe it off again. Do this three or four times until you're certain there isn't any extra grout hanging around where it doesn't belong.
Let the grout dry for a day before walking on the floor.
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There You Have It!
If you're willing to take your time and pay attention to the process, laying tile is actually pretty easy (though it is hard work).
