Ceramic tiles can be found both in interior and exterior. In interior they are most common in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, while in exterior they are usually found on terraces and around pools.
When it comes to installation of tiles, one of the most important things is, naturally, basis. It is extremely important for the basis to be well isolated and dry. Tiles can be placed on either concreted or wooden floors.
If you have wooden floors, tiles can be set directly on the wood, but only if the wooden basis is strong enough to support the extra weight of the tiles. In mass tiles can be very heavy, so consult with builder to see if your wooden floor can take the extra weight of the tiles.
- Cover the floorboards with exterior grade plywood; make sure that the plywood is well fixed to the floor. You can do this with a special adhesive that you apply and fix the plywood to the floor. If you have vinyl floor, the best thing would be to remove it to get the entire floor on equal level.
- The next step is placing the tiles you have selected. Setting the tiles requires preciseness and tidiness in order to have that professional and perfect final product.
- Have in mind that entire floor has to be leveled entirely, in order to get a perfectly tiled floor that will last for a long time.
- Once you have met all those conditions, clear the surface from eventual debris or dust. Remember, a clean working place makes the entire process easier.
- Find the center of room, and you have found your start position. Place a tile in the middle, and arrange the samples as you like. Scroll tiles to select a desired pattern.
- Once you have prepaired all that, laying out the tiles and set the spacers. this process of tiling helps determine the width of the grout lines.
- Measure the egde tiles and cut those on the very edges to be the size and shape that suits your floor. make sure to use diamond egde tile cutter.
- Mix the tile mortar and start tiling your floor. Make sure to choose the proper mortar in accordance to the tile material and the manufacturer. Bear in mind that the mortar dries very quickly, so work fast.
- Place the stoppers between each tile.
- Once you have finished with the tiling, allow it to sit for few days.
- After the mortor has dried, you can start the next step and that is grouting. You can choose the grout that suits your needs and likings, since it comes in great variety of textures and colors. Use a rubber trowel or float to spread the grout across the tiles at an angle to be certain to get it between each tile.
- Once you have finished with grouting, remove the excessive grout with a wet cloth.
But never the les, the process might seem to be easy, but it does require lot of precision especially to details. That is why it is a smart idea to have a handy man at speed dial. Good luck.