4 Ways to Install Ceramic or Porcelain Tile on the Floor

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Installing a ceramic or porcelain tile on a floor is considered a challenging job, but with proper planning and preparation, you can do it easily. Installing the tiles yourself will certainly be cheaper than having to ask a more professional handyman. Your expenses can certainly be minimized if prepared and planned properly.

Step

Method 1 of 4: Planning and Preparation

Step 1. Install the foundation

The most uncomfortable question is when someone asks "What floor do you use?" What is quite common is to use plywood which is pretty good. Unless you have a 1.25 cm x 1.5 cm type wood plank for a 2 x 8 room, you have a few things to work on. Once you've removed the base divider, the planks should come off easily, (this will be very easy if your first cut is 40 cm2) and then replace it with plywood. You'll need to be skilled at sawing and if you're doing this in the kitchen, you'll need a small chainsaw. replace the entire old board all the way to the end of the tile. Once the boards are removed, you can check to see if the base of the floor is strong enough for the tiles to be laid.

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Step 2. Before laying the tiles, you must install a baseboard such as asbestos for the tile base (better if it is made of fiberglass with a size of 0.9 to 1.5 meters) otherwise the tiles will come off easily

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Step 3. Double-check the room to be tiled

It is very important to determine the size of the room where the tiles will be installed.

The number of tiles you will install depends on the size of the room, also applies to determining the shape of the tiles.
Use a tape measure to measure the room by measuring from one wall to another and recording the distance. Let's say the calculation result is 3.7 m.
Calculate the distance from wall one to the wall in front of it. Let's say the calculation results are as follows 2.1. Multiply by 2 this distance (3.7 meters x 2.1 meters) you will get a result of 7.77 m2.
- Note: This measurement is based on a rectangular room. If the room is not a square, in other words a rectangle or some other shape, don't use this calculation as a reference. If you use this basic calculation, it will certainly affect the determination of the axis of your room, here we will discuss it briefly.
- This section is very important to pay attention to because it determines how many tiles you will buy to install in one room.

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Step 4. Determine the size and shape of the tiles

There are several sizes of tiles, for example: 10.2 cm x 10.2 cm, 20.3 cm x 20.3 cm, 30.5 cm x 30.5 cm, etc. Tiles can also be installed according to the desired shape.
The number of tiles to be used depends on the size and shape of the tiles themselves. Let's assume you wear the following size: 30.5 cm. Then you use the traditional form, where the tiles will be laid like graph paper.
Since the area is 7.77 m2, you will need tiles of about 30.5 cm x 30.5 cm. However, it's a good idea to buy extra tiles in case you miscalculate.
If you want to tile diagonally, there will be a lot of material that will be wasted. It's a good idea to buy 15% additional tiles.

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Step 5. Choose the color you want, of course depending on what each building shop provides

Once you have selected the appropriate color, one of the additional steps in planning and preparation that you have made besides choosing the color of the tiles is the selection of "putty" (white cement or mixed with other materials). The putty is the layer that will be poured between the tiles.
The putty used can be gray, brick red, and others. To make it stand out, for example, you use black tiles and a light-colored putty will look like a barrier between the tiles.
The choice of color from the putty depends on your wishes.

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Step 6. Prepare the room

Make sure the entire surface is flat, there is no other material on it.
You can also use the tool to see if the surface is level or not. This tool is available at the nearest building shops. If you don't measure the level of the surface, there's a chance that your tile may crack.

Method 2 of 4: Installation

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Step 1. Determine the axis of the room

You already know the size of the room which is 7.77 m2

Finding the axis of the room is very important because it determines where the tiles are first laid and so on.
Measure one wall, for example as follows 3.7 m. Mark half the distance from the wall with a pencil.
do the same for the next 3.7 m wall. Using chalk, draw a line from the point on the wall marked with the pencil to the point on the other wall. Then you will get a straight line on your floor.
Measure the 3.7 m wall and mark every 1.05 m.

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Step 2. Practice laying tiles

Once you find the axis of the room, you will see the room is divided into 4 quadrants of equal size.

Starting from the center, start practicing laying tiles on the floor without using adhesive.
Place the first tile in the corner close to the axis of the room, you will work it in quadrants.
Start placing the tiles in a straight line towards the wall, spacing each tile.

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Step 3. Repeat this process for every 1.05 m

You will use 3 tiles and 1 tile divided by 2, with a tile size of 10.2 cm.
To note beforehand. You take the example of a room that is square, for the axis is exactly where you measure it. For simplicity, you just have to match the size of the tile to the wall (in this case, you will use a tile size of 22.9 cm for a wall measuring 3.7 m).

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Step 4. Follow the same process for the other three quadrants

Since the design is uniform, it's a good idea to follow the same cut size all around.

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Step 5. Make holes for some tiles to fit the size of radiator pipes, bathroom pipes, and more

To do this, you must first dry the radiator, remove the pipe to measure it according to the tile. Your floor will look good if you have drilled holes in the tiles beforehand.

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Step 6. Use a tile cutting tool to make holes

First, place the tile upside down at the cutting site. Mark the area where the hole will be made, then slowly bring it closer with the blade. Do it in the area that has been marked until a hole is formed that fits the pipe.

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Step 7. Once you've learned how to lay tiles, measure them, cut them, and define the look you like you're now ready to pour the adhesive dough,

Method 3 of 4: Spreading Adhesive Dough and Laying Tiles

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Step 1. Arrange all the tiles according to size

Once the surface is prepared, start spreading the adhesive mixture using the trowel. Start at the shaft and work in quadrants according to what you learned earlier.
Spread just enough of the adhesive dough, smoothing it out with the tip of a trowel. Estimate whether it is too thick or too little adhesive dough.
Place the first tile at the corner of the line near the axis of the marked room. do not rotate or slide the tiles, just press gently on the tiles to be installed.
Install the tile separator then continue with the other tiles. (Remember to put a tile separator on each tile that is already installed).
Use the balancing tool to see if the tile surface is level or not.
If it's not flat, you can outsmart it by adding adhesive dough until it's even. After one quadrant is complete, remove the tile separator, do not let it stick to the adhesive mixture.
Follow this process in the next quadrant, make sure and check the balance again..

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Step 2. Wait for the adhesive mixture to dry, usually it will take about a night or a day

Once dry, you will caulk the sides of the tile.

Method 4 of 4: Deduction

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Step 1. Continue working in the previous quadrant

Use a flattened with a rubber base, use just enough putty dough.
If the direction is diagonal, press the dough until it is parallel to the tile.

Flatten this dough using a flattener, then you will see a smooth putty mixture in every gap of the tile

Wait a few minutes for the putty to mix and dry.
Use a sponge to clean up any dough that's splattered on the tiles, don't press too hard when cleaning.
Also check the mixture carefully.
Continue this process in each quadrant.