How To Put Ceramic Tile Down

Position tiles to minimize visibility of tiles that must be cut to size.

How to put ceramic tile down. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout and a lot of headaches. Installing a tile floor in any of these rooms will give you an easy to clean waterproof floor that holds up against weather and wear. Using a tape measure or digital laser tape measure the room from one wall to the opposite wall and note the distance.

Floor or wall indoors or out and tile type and size are all factors. Install ceramic tile over a subfloor that s no less than 1 1 8 inches thick. Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile. When you press a tile in place it s easy to tilt it slightly so that one corner stands higher or lower than neighboring tiles.

If you re making a design or pattern with the tile put the tiles in order so you know which ones you need at any specific time. Don t just set each tile into place. Keep in mind that floor tiles should be laid with the first tile centered in the middle of the floor working onward from that. Press down on the tile and wiggle it to embed it firmly in the thin set.

Then lay tile in a configuration that will use the most whole tiles and best fits the space. Ceramic porcelain natural stone if the variety of shapes sizes textures and colors that are available in tile has stirred your creativity you may be read. Before you start remember that using the correct trowel and mortar is critical to a successful tile project. Installing over wood.

If you end with a very small or very large space in comparison with the size of the tile you re using move everything down so the extra space is about the width of a half a piece of tile and snap new chalk lines to. Watch for tipped corners. Tile floors are an attractive functional option for kitchens bathrooms laundry rooms and entryways. When you complete a section of tile inspect it before moving on.

Once the best layout has been determined measure tiles that must be cut to complete coverage. Find the right trowel and mortar here. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.