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HOW TO...
Tips to make life a little bit easier and more interesting
How to install
ceramic floor tiles
Installing ceramic floor tiles is a
job that requires precision as well as some special tools. However,
though it takes some time and patience, the process is relatively
straightforward. Installing ceramic floor tiles yourself instead of
hiring a professional can save money and allows the homeowner to
customize the job.
Things you'll need:
Tape measure, Chalk line, T-square,
Tile spacers, 1-inch thick board long enough to span the
room, Screw gun, Trowel, Tile adhesive, Level, Rubber
mallet, Pencil, Glass cutter, Grout, Rubber float, Sponge
mop. |
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1. |
Remove
all baseboards and original flooring
from the room to be tiled.
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2. |
Measure
the tiles with a tape measure if
their dimensions are unclear. Use
the chalk line to lay down a line on
the floor that is perpendicular to
center of the door. Use the T-square
to make sure that the line is
straight and the angle is correct.
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3. |
Lay a row of tiles along the line, placing spacers between
each one to ensure equal distance between them. When the
final full tile is down, place a long, 1-inch thick board
down perpendicularly in the space behind the final tile.
Tack the board down with a screw gun. Lay a row of tiles up
against the board, starting from the spaces on either side
of the final tile in the first row and working out. Place
spacers between the tiles. |
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4. |
Measure the amount of empty space remaining on either side
of the row up against the board and calculate how much empty
space should remain on each end to make it even. Use the
chalk line to mark a line on the left edge of the row based
on that calculation. The spot where the chalk marking
intersects with the board is the new starting point for the
tiles. Pick up all of the tiles in the test rows. |
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5. |
Use a trowel to lay down two square feet of tile adhesive,
starting in the corner where the board meets the chalk line.
Beginning in that corner, lay down the tiles in a straight
line, using the spacers between each one and pressing the
tiles firmly into the adhesive. Check the area once the
tiles are down, measuring them with a level and using a
rubber mallet to tamp them down if any are too high. Repeat
the process until all of the full tiles have been laid. Let
the tiles rest overnight. |
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6. |
Walk lightly on the tiles when re-entering the room. Pry up
the 1-inch board and place it, standing up on its narrow
end, against the wall opposite the chalk line. |
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7. |
Measure and cut the border tiles. To do this, begin in the
corner starting point. Place a whole tile on top of the
first tile laid, lining them up exactly. Place a third tile
on top of the stack, pushing the third tile outward until it
is flush with the board. Use a pencil to trace line of the
the overlapping edge of the top tile onto the middle tile.
Remove both the tiles. |
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8. |
Place the tile with the line drawn on it onto a work table.
Line up the edge of the T-square with the line. Using the
glass cutter, make one long, quick cut along the straight
edge. Move the tile out until the cut edge is hanging off
the edge of the table and break it along the line. Repeat
all the way around the room. |
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9. |
Apply the tile adhesive in two-foot increments and lay the
border tiles down, lining them up exactly with their
corresponding rows. Allow the border tiles to set overnight. |
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10. |
Mix the grout according to the instructions on the package
and use a rubber float to apply it evenly to the surface of
the tiles at a 45-degree angle. Wipe the grout off the tile
surface with a sponge mop, being careful not to disturb the
grout in between the tiles. Allow the grout to set, then mop
up any residue. |
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