How to Lay Tile Designs

Tile designs and patterns require extra time to lay.

Tile designs range from straightforward to elegant, from simple to complicated. Using different tile sizes, colors and shapes, you can create your own design or copy a design you've seen elsewhere. The most important factor in laying a specific tile design is to keep the lines straight and the tile sizes and pattern consistent. Variations stand out, making the work appear amateurish.

Things You'll Need

• Graph paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Chalk line
• Square
• Tiles to fit the design
• Tile thin-set mortar or mastic
• 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4 notched trowel
• Plastic tile spacers
• Tile saw
• Four-foot level
• Dust mask
• Safety glasses

Instructions

Preparation

1. 

   Make a drawing of the room on graph paper. Decide on a scale that fits your tile sizes. For instance, if the smallest tile is 4-by-4-inches, then 1 square on the graph paper would equal 4 inches, Use that scale to draw the floor plan of the room, measuring each dimension of the room.

2. 

   Pick a prominent starting position and lay out the tile design on the graph paper. This is the place to make mistakes or adjustments, not while you're laying the tile.

3. 

   Transfer the tile design to the floor. Measure carefully, use the square to make right angles and snap chalk lines to use as guides that enclose each section of the tile design.

4. 

   Make pattern stacks of the tiles. For example, if the design has four different tiles to make up one section of the design, then make stacks of those tiles to be used, one section at a time, while laying out the design.

Lay out the tile

1. Mix the mortar, making only the amount of mortar you can use within the set-up time.

2. Apply mortar to one tile design section at a time, staying just within the chalk lines. Scoop the mortar from the bucket onto the floor and spread it with the notched side of the trowel. Move any excess mortar to the next section to be tiled.

3. Place tiles according to the pattern and embed them in the mortar. Lay a tile in the mortar and press down to embed it. Use plastic spacers to keep the tiles an equal distance apart, according to the design.

4. Consult the floor plan layout and the tile design layout frequently to make sure you are staying on track. Move along according to the plan, doing one section at a time.

5. Cut tiles for the edges of the room with a tile saw before spreading the mortar.

6. Barricade the room from foot traffic until the mortar has had time to cure. Although mortar and mastic begin to set up after a short period of time, they usually require 24 hours to cure.

7. Mix and apply grout after the mortar has cured. The tile can be walked on in as little as two to four hours; follow the directions on the grout package.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a rag handy to wipe any mortar from the finished tile surface and also from your hands. If the pattern calls for cutting tiles to specific sizes, you'll want to be precise and cut these tiles ahead of time. Set up the tile saw and cut enough tiles for the entire floor. Tile saws are messy and best set up in a garage or outdoors. Use the level as you move along to ensure your tile surface is smooth and even. You are using it more or less as a straight edge, not a level. If your floor is level, then the tiles will be if you embed each tile the same as the last.

• Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while mixing mortar. Always wear safety glasses when cutting tile or using any power tool. Get up off the floor often to check that your lines remain straight and the spaces between tiles are even.

References

• Videos of basic tile laying techniques
• Video on creating tile designs
• Good advice on balancing installations