tile flooring installation

Installing a brick patio to add beauty to your lawn or a loose outdoor tile floor is easy, and only demands basic skills and good planning. But most tile floor applications can be hard, and only accessible to skillful do-it-yourselfers.

Tile flooring demands basic know-how and specific tools, making a professional installation highly recommended.

Steps to install a tile floor

Installing a tile floor is a multi-step job, very time consuming for those without experience. Below, we list its fundamental steps.

Stable subfloor

Ceramic tile should be installed on a structurally stable subfloor. Without it, tiles will break, sooner or later. Uneven, damaged and problematic subfloors should be repaired and the problems fixed, before applying the tile.

Planning: Using a Grid and a Pattern

Tile patterns Before beginning to spread adhesive or mortar on the floor, make a detailed plan and some draws. Do not begin without proper planning.

Study the floor dimensions and those of the tile, and mark a grid on the floor, starting in the center of the room. Take into account the tile pattern, and obey to the grid, straightly and consistently.

The distribution of tile over the floor depends on the chosen layout pattern (the image on left shows two common basic patterns: 1) the brickwork square pattern and the 2) diamond pattern.

These or other patterns should be applied using a grid drawn on the floor, and starting in the center of the room, as shown in the image below (from Lowe's).

Setting the tile in mortar or other adhesive

Setting the tile Tile should be set in small sections, after the spreading of mortar or other adhesive on the floor. To keep the space between tiles even, use special plastic spacers. In slabs over basements, garages, corridors or other rooms, use two or more sealant layers and waterproofing materials.

Windows and door frames, electrical fixtures, pipes, etc. also demand proper final arrangements. Almost every tile application requires trimming tiles to fit around borders – a job that isn’t exactly easy. Straight cuts can be simple, but shaping tiles to fit obstacles requires some practice.

Applying grout

The following and final step, after setting the tile, is grout application (to fill the joints). In some cases, waterproofing and special sealants are necessary.

Installation costs

The tile installation can be as expensive as the tile itself. Prices between $4 and $8 per square foot are common, but they vary greatly, depending on local labor rates and subfloor needs and preparation.

Ceramic Tile Installation recommendations

For recommendations and instructions on ceramic tile installation, you may contact the Tile Council of America (TCA is a North American institution, devoted to ceramic tile application). It provides instructions via e-mail and ordinary mail.

Their contact:
Tile Council of America
100 Clemson Research Blvd
Anderson, SC 29625

Their email: TCA email