How to Install a Diagonal Tile Layout
Laying floor tile diagonally is similar to laying it in a grid, except the grid is turned at 45 degrees. In both cases, you start tiling from the center, but in a diagonal layout, the starting lines are an "X" across the floor, instead of a plus-sign. A diagonal layout looks best in a square room (as opposed to rectangular). A diagonal layout entails more wasted cutoffs, so get tile to cover the square footage of the room plus 20 percent, instead of the usual 10 percent. (Example: A 100-square-foot room needs 120 square feet of tile.) Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Chalk snapline
- Square
- Thinset mortar
- Notched trowel
- Floor tiles
- Tile spacers
- Tile cutter
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
Instructions
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1
Stretch your chalk snapline from one corner of the room to the opposite corner. Snap the string to lay the line, which should divide the floor diagonally.
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2
Stretch the chalk snapline between the other two corners so it combines with the previous line to form an "X" across the floor. Don't snap the second line yet. Lay a square at the intersection of the string and the first line, then adjust the string, if needed, so it's square with the first line. Snap the second line.
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3
Apply thinset mortar over the middle of the "X" with your notched trowel, covering a few square feet. Set four tiles into place at the four corners where the two lines meet, putting spacers between them.
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4
Spread more mortar and continue setting tiles in place, first along the lines that you snapped, then building off the lines. Put spacers between all the tiles. Lay all the full tiles that will fit, then go back and cut the pieces as needed for the ends on your tile cutter. (The cut pieces will be triangular, which will require you to cut the corners off of the square tiles.)
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5
Let the tiles set for 12 hours. Remove the spacers. Spread the grout over the surface with a grout float so the grout is forced into the spaces between the tiles. Wipe down the surface with a damp sponge to clean up the excess grout.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective goggles when cutting your tiles.
