10 Tips to Lay Tiles

Laying the tiles is a hard job to be performed but it can be made easy by just following some important tips. These tips are helpful and avoid any serious damage to the job.  Tips are the advices from senior working people who have a lot of experience in this field. Installation of tiles should be done properly otherwise the tiles will come off the floor after sometime. The following are the helpful tips which will ensure the safety of working people and the tiles, after their installation.

·        Floor should have the minimum thickness of 1 1/8 inches.

If the floor has thickness less than 1 1/8 inches, then the floor will not bear the weight of the tiles and people walking on it. It will result in the damage of tiles. This will also damage the grout and create a lot of problems.  It is therefore advised to install a cement backer board. It will reduce the chances of cracked tiles.

·        Make sure that the layout is even from side to side before placing tile with mortar.

It is advised to ensure that the layout is even from side to side in both directions before setting the tile in place. It is important that you never have less than the half of tile’s width remaining from the wall.

·        Keeping loose tiles aside.

Tiles when picked from the box van vary. So when the tiles are placed on the floor make sure the tiles are not loose and there is enough space between them for grout. Picking and keeping loose tiles away will help to adjust the tiles as needed.

·        Using appropriate trowel for thin-set mortar.

Trowels are of different types having different-sized notches, so consult it with the store associate to see whether the selected trowel is suitable or not. Use the trowel to spread the thin-set mortar carefully along the layout lines of the tiles. Always work in the small square sections, because the mortar may harden before you even put the tiles in place. Do not to cover layout lines or step on it.

·        Tapping gently with a rubber mallet.

Always start the process of laying tiles from the center of floor and tap tiles gently after placing them on the floor with mortar. Use plastic or other spacers after placing each tile to ensure equal gap between the other tiles for proper grout.

·        Cover the mortared area thoroughly.

Always place thin set mortar in small square areas to avoid hardening of mortar. When the thin-set mortar is placed on small square area of the floor; place tiles over thin-set mortar thoroughly.  Do not place tiles on hardened mortar as it will not hold the tile. Mortar should be made thin enough so it may not harden way before the placement of tile over it.

·        Keep working in the square areas to avoid hardened mortar.

Follow the process to create small square areas for the placement of tiles. Move forward to other square section when the previous section is covered. Complete setting tiles by working in the square areas, and completing them one by one.

·        Place tiles along the wall in the last phase.

Since the space available along the wall won’t be the same as the size of tile. So it requires cutting the tiles in proper size.  So first place a tile against the wall and also place a plastic spacer, for grout. Now place a new tile directly over the last tile. You will get the size of the tile needed. Mark the loose tile and cut it with the cutter according to the size of the tile needed. Keep in mind that the size of tile is kept as the space of mortar is left along the wall. To make a straight cut using a tile cutter, place the tile in cutter facing up, adjust the length according to the dimension of tile required. And then cut the tile by moving wheel of cutter through the tile.

·        Selection of the rubber grout float.

Grout float should preferably be of rubber/plastic as it will help to spread the grout and fill the space between tiles properly. Press the grout in the gaps using the sweeping motion. Grout will fill the gaps.

·        Do not make haste when using grout sponge.

Grout sponge can be used to remove extra grout, leaking out of the gaps between tiles. So do not make haste and let the grout mixture dry and remove the haze using grout sponge. Grout sponge should be used with care so that it may not damage the grout between gaps of tiles.