How To Tile A Floor
Tiling a floor or decorating a bathroom is a complicated job, but if you follow this simple guide, you can do a job even a professional would be proud of.
Step 2: Set out the Tiles
First mark the mid-points of all the walls and draw a pair of lines that cross in the centre of the room in chalk. Then place your tiles along the two lines to work out the best positions. It's worth adjusting their positions slightly to use as many whole tiles as possible, and you should always avoid having cut tiles along the wall that is seen as you walk into the room.
Step 3: Apply Adhesive
Spread a square metre of the adhesive into one of the corners formed by the chalk lines.
Top Tip: Always use a notched trowel or spreader so that the adhesive is spread in evenly sized ribbons across the floor
Step 4: Lay The Tiles
When tiling the floor, it is vital to work outwards from the centre of the room, using the chalk lines as a guide, as internal walls are rarely straight.
Start tiling, placing spacers between each tile and continue until you have covered half the room with as many whole tiles as possible. Then start on the other side of the line.
Step 5: Fill The Gaps
Now fill in the gaps with cut tiles. Use a tile cutter to trim the tiles to size.
Top Tip: Before you cut, make sure you have allowed for the grouting gap between tiles and if you have to cut around door arches or another shape, use a profile guide to copy the shape onto the tile.
Step 6: Grout
Once the tiles have been given plenty of time to set, get your grouting gear at the ready. Using your grout float spread the grout all over the tiles, making sure every joint is well filled. Then compress with a blunt stick - this gives a professional look, and a more water resistant finish. Before it dries, remove and excess grout with a sponge. And finally, once dry polish with a cloth.
