How to Install a Granite Tile Floor

Granite tile floors look beautiful in any home.

Granite tile is sturdy and resists wear and tear. It brings a rich and warm look to any home. Installing a granite tile floor is a great way to dress up your home in just a few days. Do-it-yourselfers can install a granite tile floor if they know the proper procedures for working with it.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Cement backer board
• Pencil
• Utility knife
• Thinset mortar
• Notched trowel
• Galvanized screws
• Screwdriver
• Fiberglass mesh tape
• Chalk line
• Tile saw
• Tile spacers
• Masking tape
• Rubber tile float
• Grout
• Grout sponge

Instructions

1. Place the tiles in the room where they will be installed at least 24 hours before installation. Bringing the tiles indoors will help the tiles acclimate to the room's temperature and humidity.

2. Measure the room with a measuring tape. Mark the measurements on a cement backer board sheet with a pencil.

3. Score the marked measurements on the cement backer board with a utility knife. Once the lines have been scored, apply quick pressure to the opposite side of the backer board. This should snap the backer board, cutting it to size.

4. Place the cement backer board on the floor to make sure it fits to size. Remove it from the floor. Apply thinset mortar to the floor with a notched trowel. Place the backer board over the thinset mortar. Screw the backer board into place with galvanized screws and a screwdriver. Repeat until the floor has been covered with cement backer board.

5. Cover the cement backer board seams with fiberglass mesh tape. Smooth a small amount of thinset mortar on the top of the mesh tape with the flat edge of the trowel. Let the thinset dry per manufacturer directions.

6. Measure and mark the center point of the room by measuring the center of the length and the center of the width of the room. Snap a chalk line at the center of each direction. This will create two intersecting perpendicular lines in the center of the room.

7. Place the tiles on the floor without tile adhesive. Begin by placing the tiles along the lines that intersect at the center of the room. Place tile spacers between each of the granite tiles. Laying out the tile before installing it will allow you to see how many cuts you must make. Remove the tile and tile spacers from the floor.

8. Apply mixed thinset mortar to the floor with a notched trowel. Press the granite tiles into the thinset mortar, placing spacers between the granite tiles.

9. Cut the granite tiles that will be placed along the edge of the room to size. Place the tile on the tile saw and slowly cut it to the right size. Use masking tape to mark the measurements on the tile, as pencil marks may not show on granite tiles. Permit the thinset mortar to dry per manufacturer directions.

10. Apply mixed grout to the floor with a rubber tile float. Get the grout into all of the tile joints. Once the grout is in the tile joints, use a damp grout sponge to remove the excess grout from the top of the granite tiles. Allow the grout to dry per manufacturer directions.

References

• HGTV: Granite Tiles for an Updated Look