Ceramic tiles are a great addition to any home. They totally transform a room into one that is spacious and modern. If you are considering buying ceramic tiles for your home, then you might also be thinking about performing the installation yourself. Ideally you should use a professional to do it for you, the same company that you buy the tiles from, can normally recommend someone if they do not carry out the service themselves.
However you may be on a budget or a keen DIY enthusiast and wish to install the tiles yourself, so take a look at this step by step guide to ceramic tile flooring installation.
Step 1 – Ceramic tile flooring installation.
Ensure that your surface is clean and free from moisture. You should belaying tiles straight onto concrete, do not lay new tiles over wood or any other tiles. To test the moisture of the floor, lay down a plastic sheet and tape the sides of it down. Leave it there for 3 days, if there is any condensation under the plastic then you need to find the source of the moisture and eliminate it. If the plastic is dry then you can begin to start work.
Step 2 – Ceramic tile flooring installation.
Decide how you will lay your tiles out. Ideally the full tiles should start at the door, as there may bean area around the edges of the room that will need half a tile. If so, the half tiles will not easily been seen by the naked eye. Lay some thin set on the floor ( obtained from any good ceramic tile manufacturer), spread the thin set out to cover four tile spaces.
Lay four tiles down and insert spacers between them. Push the tiles together so that the only gap is the spacer. Continue this process for the rest of the floor. Don’t forget when you move to the second row, you will need two spacers and so on. In the event that you have to cut a tile, use a wet saw. Once the room is completed, leave it to dry for 24 hours.
Step 3 – Ceramic tile flooring installation.
When the floor is dry, remove all the spacers between the tiles. You are now ready to grout. Mix the grout according to the instructions by the manufacturer. Once again working on a space of around four tiles, place the grout into the spaces that are now between each tile. Use a scraper at a 45% angle to push the grout down. Take a damp cloth and give it a gentle wipe. You will see the grout becoming level and pushed into all empty spaces. Continue with this method until you have completed the room. Leave the grout to dry for 24 hours.
Installation of your tiles is now complete. A through wash of the tiles with some warm water and cleaner will ensure a good shine. After cleaning you can then begin to move the rest of your furniture in, then sit back, relax and admire the rewards of your hard work.
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