Laying Ceramic Tile

Install ceramic tile in your home and save on installation costs.

Tile installers charge a lot to install ceramic tile in your home. Avoid the expense of hiring a professional and install the ceramic tile yourself. Learning how to lay ceramic tile will let you get the same professional look without the cost of paying a tile installer. Ceramic tile is a great flooring option for places like bathrooms or kitchens because it is water-resistant and holds up to wear and tear.

Things You'll Need

• Straight level
• Pencil
• Wood putty
• Putty knife
• Electric sander
• Self-leveling compound
• Cement grinder
• Measuring tape
• Chalk line
• Tile spacers
• Thin-set mortar
• Notched trowel
• Tile saw
• Grout
• Grout float
• Grout sponge

Instructions

1. Run a straight level over the surface of the floor. It should not have bumps or large dips. As you run the level over the floor, use a pencil to mark the areas so you can address them before tilling.

2. Fill shallow holes and areas in a wood subfloor with wood putty and a putty knife. Wait for the putty to dry completely. Sand down high spots on the subfloor with an electric sander. If you are working with a cement subfloor, follow the directions on the self-leveling compound to fill in the low areas. Grind down high spots with a cement grinder. Once you are finished, your subfloor should be flat and level.

3. Measure the length and the width of the room with a tape measure and mark center lines on the subfloor. In the center of each direction of the room, snap a chalk line. The two lines should create crossing lines at the center.

4. Set the tiles on the floor. Place the tiles at the center mark and follow the lines until you reach the walls. Place tile spacers between each of the tiles. You do not need to lay out all of the tiles; just place enough tiles on the floor to give you a good idea of what it will look like once completed. This will allow you to spot any problem areas and adjust the layout as necessary. Remove the tiles and spacers from the floor.

5. Mix the thin-set mortar, following the manufacturer's directions. Spread the mortar on the floor with the notched trowel. Hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle and spread the mortar slowly onto the floor.

6. Set the tiles into place on top of the thin-set mortar. Carefully push each tile down into the mortar, but do not press it so hard that you squish out all of the mortar from under the tile. Follow the marked chalk lines on the floor as you set the tiles, and use tile spacers between each tile to get an appropriate spacing. Use a tile saw to cut the tiles along the edges of the room. Let the thin-set mortar dry overnight.

7. Remove the tile spacers. Mix the grout according to the manufacturer's directions. Spread the grout over the tiles with a grout float. Get grout into all of the joints. Hold the grout float at a 45-degree angle and move it across the tiles diagonally to remove the extra grout. Let the floor sit for 25 to 30 minutes and use a grout sponge to wipe away the grout film from the floor. Allow the grout to dry for one to two days.

References

• Repair Home: How to Install Ceramic Tile