How to Install Granite Floor Tiles

Granite tiles should be sealed prior to grouting.

Granite floor tiles are a durable and natural stone product that can add elegance to areas such as an entryway, bathroom or kitchen. Granite is harder than marble or limestone, making it easier to install and easier to care for in the long term. Due to both the weight of the stone and its inflexibility, it is important that you have a stable subfloor with no flex or give before you install the granite tiles.

Things You'll Need

• Tile saw
• Trowel
• White thin-set mortar
• Impregnating sealer
• Wooden mallet
• Foam paintbrush
• Lint-free cloth
• Unsanded grout
• Grout float
• Grout sponge
• Tile spacers

Instructions

1. Lay out your granite tiles directly on the floor where they will be installed. Take tiles from several boxes at once to ensure a pleasing blend of colors and patterns. Granite tiles should be laid with a 1/16-inch grout joint between them. Use spacers if needed to keep your grout joints straight. Lay the first tile in the center of the wall furthest from the door. Lay out the next tiles evenly on each side. This will result in a balanced installation, with cut tiles hidden on the edges of the room.

2. Cut the edge tiles to fit, using a tile saw with a diamond blade. Push the granite tiles through the saw slowly to avoid chips. Return the tiles to the pattern you laid out to double-check their size before installation.

3. Spread a small amount of white thin-set mortar over the area to be tiled, using the notched edge of a trowel. The mortar should be very thin; just enough to cover the subfloor, but not so much that your tiles will sink into it. Cover just enough floor that you can lay the tile on in a few minutes.

   Trowel the mortar until the ridges left are uniform in size and appearance. Press the granite tiles into the mortar in the same pattern you predetermined. Beat them into the thin-set mortar with a wooden mallet.

4. Let the thin-set mortar dry for 24 hours. Seal the granite by using a foam paintbrush to paint each tile with an impregnating sealer. After a few minutes, wipe the tiles with a lint-free cloth to remove excess sealer.

5. Grout the granite tiles with an unsanded grout, packing the joints between the tiles with a grout float (a lightweight tool with a wide, flat base used to direct grout without scratching the tiles). Use the flat of the float to push the grout in. Wipe the tiles clean with a grout sponge within a few minutes. Let the grout dry overnight before walking on the floor.

References

• World Floor Covering Association: Stone Installation
• Marble Life: Stone Tips