How to Install Ceramic Tile with a Basement Floor Drain

A basement floor of concrete is an ideal underlayment for ceramic tile. As long as the floor is solid and unbroken, it will provide the firm, immobile base you need to prevent the tiles from cracking. The tradeoff is that basement floors usually have drains, which will complicate your project, since you can't make those curved cuts with a standard tile cutter. See your home improvement store to rent a power tile saw.

Things You'll Need

• Snap line
• Carpenter's square
• Thinset (mortar)
• Notched tiling trowel
• Spacers
• Wax pencil
• Power tile saw
• Grout
• Rubber grout float
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Snap two intersecting lines over the floor with your snap line, dividing it into four squares. Lay a carpenter's square at the intersection as you snap the second line to ensure they're exactly square off each other. If the drain is right at the intersection, move one of the lines over by three or four tile widths, so the intersection isn't on the drain.

2. Cover 2 or 3 square feet of floor surface with thinset, using your notched trowel and spreading it in one of the four corners formed by the two lines.

3. Lay the first tile in the thinset, at the intersection, along the two lines. Lay additional tiles off the first one, lining them up edge to edge with spacers between them. Work your way out from the middle of the floor to the edges, applying more thinset and building out in a grid pattern.

4. Cut the tiles around the drain as needed on your tile saw by laying the tiles over the drain, marking them with a wax pencil to show the perimeter of the drain, and using the tile saw to cut ¼ inch back from the line. Cut the partial tiles along the walls in the same manner. Let the thinset dry overnight.

5. Remove the spacers. Apply grout over the tiles with a rubber grout float, forcing it into the spaces between the tiles and scraping it off the tile surface. Use a damp sponge to wipe up the excess grout. Let it set 48 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to rent a tile saw for so few curved cuts around the drain, make the straight cuts at the walls with a regular unpowered tile cutter. Mark the tiles for the drain and take the marked tiles to your local home improvement store, which can make the curved cuts for you.

References

• Danny Lipford: How to Lay a Tile Floor