Jul 18 2008
DIY - Flooring – How to Install Tile
The exact procedures for installing tile will, of course, differ from one type to the next. But there are several things in common between them.
Preparation
As with any do-it-yourself project around the home, preparation is often 80% of the effort. That’s true in spades where installing a tile floor is the project. Laying down the tile itself is simple. Getting ready takes some effort.
For an existing floor, all the material has to be completely and cleanly removed. Old wood, previous tile, vinyl, whatever it happened to be have to be chipped, chiseled or stripped off.
Any sub-floor problems have to be addressed at this stage. Even the best tile with the most careful placement will be uneven if the plywood underneath sags or has holes. Any moisture that has collected has to be dried and any mildew removed. If left down, the problem will only continue to expand beneath the tile, leading to early cracking.
Edges are important, too. Professional-looking results can only be achieved if the job is finished properly. That’s impossible if there is any remaining grout, partial tiles or other elements left over from the previous floor.
Even brand new floors installed for the first time say in a new room addition project or a basement that has never had flooring have to be prepared. Ensure that any concrete is perfectly level. Any gaps will cause tile to crack as pressure is applied from walking.
Some concrete floors will require a sub-floor of plywood, pressboard, cork or other material in order to make the surface ready to receive tile.
Installation
Once the floor is well-prepared, the rest of the job will go quickly. Read the instructions that came with the tile. They’ll tell you something like the following…
Measure the floor and calculate how many tiles will be needed, and whether partial tiles will be needed around the edges. They usually will. It’s optional at this stage whether partial tiles will go around only one edge or the floor will be laid symmetrically with partial tiles all around.
Test any tiles first by laying several down without any adhesive. Get comfortable with the tongue-and-groove system, if the tiles are designed that way. If they have flat edges, practice laying them down straight without grout.
Then, remove the backing from tiles with pre-applied adhesive and lay them down, starting at one edge if you plan partial tiles along only part of the perimeter. If you plan partial tiles around the entire floor, start in the middle and work out.
For tiles with no tongue and groove system, it can be helpful to lay down tiles without adhesive and use a thick pencil to make lines between them.
For tiles with no backing, apply tile adhesive to the back and press the tile in place. Before it sets, quickly use a long straight edge (drafting T-squares work well for this) and keep all tiles along one line. Then ensure they’re straight in a perpendicular direction. Once dried in place (usually overnight), use a caulking gun to spread a bead of grout between the tiles and quickly wipe off any excess before it dries.
Repeat until you near the edge. Use a tile cutting tool to make any partial tiles needed around the perimeter. Lay them in the same way, leaving a thin space for expansion. About 1/8 inch is usually good, but this will vary with climate.