Installation of Edge Tile Flooring

Installing edge tile flooring yourself can save a lot of money.

Edge flooring tile is a popular type of ceramic tile. Installing or replacing floor tile can be a relatively simple do-it-yourself project if you have the right materials and the know-how to accomplish it. Over time, doing so can save money and the headache of hiring a third party to do the work. Following simple instructions will help you successfully install new tile flooring.

Things You'll Need

• Chalk
• Mastic (tile adhesive)
• Scissors
• Level
• Tape
• Chalk line
• Mastic trowel
• Cement
• Brush

Instructions

1. Prepare the base floor by removing any old tile or debris. Use a floor cleaner to clean the floor before using any kind of adhesive.

2. If you are tiling over a wood floor, nail down any loose boards, as they will begin to show through tiled floors with time if they are not repaired.

3. Find the exact center of the room. To do this, find the center of each wall and mark it with chalk. Use the chalk to draw a straight line between center spots on the wall. The middle intersection should rest on the center point of the room.

4. Starting at the center point, lay loose tiles along the chalk line down the center of the room. Once you have laid a full line of loose tiles, make sure the tiles line up with the wall. If there is less than 2 inches or more than 8 inches of space, move the center point that you marked back half a tile so that another tile or half tile will fit. If not, you will end up with a very narrow piece of tile.

5. Make sure that if you are using tiles with differing patterns, they are laid out so that you can easily alternate between tile designs. If you are using the same design, make sure the grain on the tiles is matched.

6. If you are not using self-sticking tile, administer adhesive onto the floor. Do this by picking one of the one-fourth squares drawn earlier to mark the center of the room. Evenly spread this adhesive using a roller or a trowel. Once this adhesive sits for 15 minutes, you will be ready to lay your tile.

7. Begin laying your tile. It is important to make sure this tile is lined up exactly with the lines marking the center of the room. If not, the rest of the tiles will be off-center, and your measurements will be wrong. Make sure each tile is pressed tightly against the tile beside it, leaving no gaps. Because there is adhesive on the floor, do not slide the tile. Press each piece firmly into place.

8. Alternate laying tiles toward each wall. Once you lay one piece of tile toward one wall, lay another one toward the other wall. This will create a consistent appearance once all the tiles are down.

9. Once all the full tiles are down, if there are gaps to the wall, take a tape measure to measure and cut the remaining tile so that it will fit in the gaps. If you have to fit tile around pipes or other obstructions, make a stencil out of paper and cut the tile using the stencil. Allow the adhesive to dry, and your floor should be complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not mop or clean your tile for one week after installation to assure that the adhesive is completely dry and your tiles do not shift.

References

• EDGE Flooring: Carpet Court
• Do It Yourself: How to Lay Tile