Laying floor tile

Laying floor tile – let’s look at the main stages of the process. Before you start laying tiles, you need to prepare the floor. Different surfaces require different preparation, which will determine the quality of the material’s attachment to the surface.

Ideally, the floor on which the tiles are laid should be level. Unfortunately, in practice, the surface often looks far from ideal. And therefore, before laying tiles or roll coverings, you need to clean and level the floor. If necessary, you need to carry out work in order to reduce the number of defects.

If the surface is concrete, then it is cleaned and prepared. All existing drips are removed, and the surface is leveled. If the floor is uneven and consists of several materials, then the joint can be tightened with a mesh. In this case, cracks will never form on the seam. The solution will not lie on a loose surface. Therefore, it must be beaten to a solid state and leveled with a screed.

If you are going to lay tiles on the floor, then preparing the solution is an important step in which it is necessary to observe the maximum number of details. Usually, a dry mixture is used, which is diluted in a 10-liter bucket. Only three liters of liquid are required for such a container, and this is where the mixture is diluted.

Stir the water and mixture until smooth using a whisk and an electric drill. Stir for 5-7 minutes, adding water or glue if necessary. Then mix again. Use the instructions on each bag of dry mixture. You can additionally add cement mixture to the solution to make the solution more viscous.

Marking the surface before laying floor tiles

First of all, it is necessary to measure all the parameters of the floor by length and width. Why do you need to do this? So that the markings are as correct as possible. This will allow you to comply with the technology of laying tiles.

The corners from which you plan to start are marked separately. All tiles that will be cut should be in the corners or in the most inconspicuous places. Such places are usually covered by furniture or are not visible from the entrance.

If there is a joint with another type of tile, then metal thresholds are used. Cut tiles are placed in the place where they are covered by the door frame. In all other places, from the floor and in horizontal rows, whole tiles are laid.

Laying tiles on the floor if the surfaces are different

Depending on the surface on which the tiles are supposed to be laid, we will consider the basic recommendations. Laying tiles on a concrete screed is the simplest. Why, you ask? Because the prepared surface has everything necessary for this. Thanks to it, the coating will retain its properties and qualities for as long as possible.

Glue is applied to the prepared surface in small portions. And then, it is evenly distributed over a small area, on which the tiles are quickly laid.

How to lay tiles on a wooden covering?

Of course, it will not be possible to lay tiles on a wooden floor. Therefore, in order to do this, you must first prepare the surface. Namely, replace rotten or damaged boards. Then create good ventilation to ensure the safety of the floors.

Then install fiber sheets, preferably in 2 layers. It is on them that the tiles will be laid using regular glue. The technique is exactly the same as when laying them on another surface.

Laying floor tile: technology

How to lay tiles – apply glue after all the necessary preparatory work has been carried out. Use a notched trowel, which is held at an angle of 40-45 degrees. With its help, glue is applied to the surface. The surface itself should be small. Since the glue dries quickly, and the layer is uniform and not thick.

This area is covered with tiles as quickly as possible. If there are difficulties in correctly applying glue to the floor, the solution is applied directly to the tile. The tile should not be pressed hard. Since strong pressure may cause the tile to shift.

It is necessary to constantly check the correct installation using a level or angle. To increase strength and adhesion, tap the tile with a rubber or wooden hammer. The joint between the tiles is filled with crosses, they help to determine the same size of the seam and the uniformity of the tile installation.

We do the same with the remaining rows. If you need to trim the material, then measure the dimensions with a tape measure and draw cutting lines with a corner. Cut the tile. After 24 hours, the seams can be dried and treated with a sealant. The remains of glue and grout can be removed with a damp cloth. This can be done more often to make the surface beautiful and the installation better.

Laying floor tiles in a joint with laminate

Sometimes the difficulty may arise in how to properly connect the joint of the laminate and the tile. How to lay the tiles in this case? It is sometimes difficult to make the joint outwardly attractive and beautiful, but it cannot be said that it is impossible.

The finishing of this moment is usually done with a wooden or laminated threshold. Plastic and metal are rarely used. The joint between the laminate and the tile requires not only the choice of threshold, but also its high-quality fastening.

There is an open method and a hidden one, when the screws are not visible. Everyone chooses independently, depending on individual needs. After laying the tile, its surface must be treated with a damp cloth with a solution of detergent. This will help to preserve its attractive appearance and remove the remains of glue or grout from the surface.