 |
| Strip All Moldings and Baseboards |
|
| Remove all baseboards and existing floor moldings. This way there will be an even surface for you to lay the tiles. Make sure that the subfloor is completely level. Use nails to set fasteners. |
|
| Lay the Cement Backboard |
|
| Lay the cement backboard using glue. When dry, use nails to firmly fasten the board to subfloor. At this point, it is a good idea, to check whether the floor blocks the door or not. Lay a tile on the cement backboard and open the door. If the door sticks, sand the base of the door. |
|
| Use a Chalk to Draw Lines |
|
| Use a chalk to draw a vertical and a horizontal line intersecting at the center of the room. These lines will be your guide for laying the floor tile. Try to make the lines true as any unevenness will upset the balance of your floor. |
|
| Dry Lay the Tiles |
|
| Now would be a good time to dry lay the floor tile. This process is often ignored by many people with disastrous results. Dry laying gives you an idea of how your floor will look and where would you need to install the border tiles. Any adjustments to the pattern should be made at this point as once the floor tile are set, it becomes virtually impossible to change the pattern without damaging the floor. |
|
| At this point you are ready to lay the tiles. Move to the center of the room and start the actual tile laying. |
|
| Spread the Thinset |
|
| Thinset is cement like product used to hold the tiles to the floor. Spread a thin layer as far as you can reach easily. Lay a floor tile and press it firmly into thinset. |
|
| Continue Laying the Tiles |
|
| Continue the process of tile laying. Press each tile firmly using even downward pressure. Remember to use tile spacer to create gaps for grout. Remember to use even pressure to set the tiles. |
|
| This process is very straightforward. Let the floor tile dry for two to three days. Then seal the grout using polymer sealants. If you need to cut a tile, use the tile saw. Always smooth the edges of newly cut tiles with sandpaper to avoid cuts. Use eye protection at all times when laying floor tile. |
| |
