How To Set Tile Floors

The ideal layout buries cut tiles in the corners and edges of the room and either gives a balanced layout.

How to set tile floors.

Mark the loose tile and cut it to fit along the edge. Watch our how to install ceramic and porcelain floor tile videos and learn the steps needed for a successful installation. Lay out your tiles along these two chalk lines to see how they will lie on the floor. Then place another tile on the loose one and up against the tile on the wall.

Use this same technique to set each tile making one row along the straightedge. When installing a tile floor you will need a tile cutter a rubber mallet tile spacers a level a tile trowel and thin set mortar or another type of mortar. Place the tile to be cut directly over the last set tile set another tile the marker tile on top of it so it butts up against a tile set on edge at the wall. Watch this video to learn how a pro does it.

For tiles that are 12 inches by 12 inches or larger it s a good idea to back butter or flat coat the backs of the tiles with thinset prior to setting the tiles. Add just enough water to get the dry mixture wet and begin mixing. First set a scrap tile against the wall it allows space for grout. Next place a loose tile directly over the last full tile you laid this is the tile you ll cut to size.

Thin set is cement based but some mortars are labeled as non modified and require a latex polymer admixture. Set the tile photo by david carmack. Use a self mix thin set mortar for the tile installation. Im on the next step to my bathroom remodel how to tile a floor.

Planning the layout for a tile project is usually the hardest and most time consuming step. You ll see how to complete each step and work the required tools such as trowels manual snap cutter wet saw and tile nipper. Gently lay a tile on thinset next to the straightedge. When going from one room to another especially from tile to another type of flooring use transition strips to cover the flooring seams.

You ll see how to s. With fingertips widespread push down with a slight twist of the wrist. Trace along the marker tile to mark the cutting line on the tile below. Its a lot like tiling a shower.