A tile floor can be one of the nicest looking types of flooring around if the job is done right. On the other hand a sloppy job can end up destroying the look of your home and create a whole lot more work for you. Not to mention the cost involved will more than double if you end up having to redo it.
The first place to start is to make sure your floor is sturdy enough for a tile floor. Concrete floors are ideal as they are naturally sturdy, but will have to be checked to see if they are level. Use a self levelling concrete to get a perfect level floor.
With a wooden floor you need to be extra sure it will not move or your grout will crack. I recommend putting support under any wide spans to keep the floor from sagging over time. Go over your floor to carefully check and see if you get any creaks. I recommend adding screws every foot to make certain it will not start creaking later.
Adding another quarter inch of plywood to the floor can help sturdy it up as well. Fasten it to the sub floor with liquid nail and 1 inch deck screws every 4 to 6 inches. Again make certain the floor is level before proceeding on.
If you used self levelling cement to level your floor make certain it is cured before proceeding with the laying of the substrate. Apply a thin layer of thin set using a half inch forked trowel and lay your substrate on it. Work it in to make sure it is completely level before applying another layer of thin set for your tile.
When laying your tile you should start at the center of one wall and work out from there in small sections to avoid mixing to much material at a time. Lay your tile in place without sliding it and press down firmly to set it into the thin set so you get a solid bond between the two.
Always use the spacers to make sure that all your tiles will be evenly spaced. After you have finished laying your tile wait until the next day before you start on the grouting.
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