How to Install a Local Tile Floor
Many tile manufacturers sell their products nationwide. Some companies that manufacture tiles, however, sell to only a limited, local market. Despite the number of tiles on the market, and the fact that most tile manufacturers, including local manufacturers, offer different suggestions for the installation of their tiles, the tiling process is much the same, whether you use tiles purchased from a large manufacturer or a local tile company. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Straightedge
- Chalk
- Leveling compound
- Trowel
- Sandpaper
- Mop
- Measuring tape
- Chalk snap line
- Local floor tiles
- Tile spacers
- Circular saw
- Thin-set mortar
- Latex additive
- Grout
- Caulk
- Eye protection
Instructions
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Lay a straightedge in one corner of the room a few inches from the wall. Look for dips beneath the straightedge. If you find dips where the floor doesn't meet the bottom of the straightedge, mark each dip with chalk, and then move the straightedge a few inches and look for dips again. Continue this process across the floor until you have checked the entire surface.
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Apply leveling compound to the dips in the floor, using a trowel, and run the edge of the trowel over the surface to remove the excess compound. Let the leveling compound dry for two to four hours, and check the dips. If the compound has settled beneath the level of the floor, fill the dips again and allow the compound to dry for two to four hours. Once all the dips are level --- or slightly higher than level --- with the floor, sand the filled areas so they sit evenly with the floor's surface.
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3
Run a wet mop over the floor to remove sanding dust and other debris from the floor. Let the floor air-dry for an hour or two until it's fully dry.
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4
Find the center of the room by measuring each wall and finding the center of the wall, and then snapping chalk lines between opposite walls. Where they meet in the middle is the room's center.
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5
Mix thin-set mortar with the latex additive according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spread the mortar at the center of the room by the chalk lines, and place the first tile against two of the chalk lines. Lay adjacent tiles by placing a tile spacer along each side of the first tile and lining the next tiles up with the chalk lines on the floor. Work your way out from the center, moving toward the back of the room first so you don't block yourself in.
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Trim down the tiles for the edges of the room, using a tile saw. Next, lay the tiles as you would a full-size tile.
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Grout the spaces in between the tiles by spreading grout over the surface with a trowel, pressing the grout down between the tiles and wiping up any grout that gets on the tiles. Once the grout dries, after approximately 24 hours, apply caulk to the edges of the tile floor where the tiles meet fixtures or walls.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are laying the local tile over a wood subfloor, drive all nails into the floor so they sink below the floor's surface, and then fill in the space above each nail with leveling compound.
If your local tile manufacturer does not include instructions with its tiles, consult a company representative to find out which tile adhesive they recommend for installation.
Wear eye protection when cutting tile.
