How to lay tiles on the floor: tips, techniques, tools

Ceramic tile is considered one of the main finishing materials that are used in the kitchen or bathroom. Such products have high strength and durability, have a huge assortment. Next, we learn how to lay tiles on the floor, and what tools are needed for this.

Designing and selecting tiles

Before laying the tiles on the floor with their own hands, they create a project for the implementation of work. This document indicates the amount of material required and the type of layout. At the preparatory stage of work, measure the length and width of the room in which the repair will be carried out, calculate its area. The number of products for flooring is taken 10% more from the calculated value. Stock is needed for trimming the product and possible tile battle during transportation.

When choosing ceramic tiles pay attention to the symbols on the package:

1. An icon in the form of a boot tells the user about the material for the device floor.
2. The leg designation on an inclined plane indicates the coefficient of friction. The floor in the bathroom or kitchen can be slippery through high humidity or spilled water on the surface. For these rooms, it is recommended to choose a rough tile with a matte surface.
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3. The water resistance of the product is less than 3%, otherwise the material will not last long.
4. When caring for the floor, it is necessary to use special chemicals. When choosing a tile, pay attention to the letter combinations in the image of the bulb, the ideal option is AA.
5. The image in the form of a snowflake indicates the frost resistance of the material; good wear resistance is indicated by the circular saw blade pattern.
6. The thickness of products for laying flooring should be greater than that of tiles designed for wall decoration. The minimum size is 8 millimeters. This parameter is indicated using a special designation on the package.

Important! Pay attention to the dimensions of the product. The larger the dimensions of the side of the tile, the fewer seams will be in the flooring. Large products have several drawbacks - the complex technology of laying tiles on the floor, as well as the need to trim the elements.

Buy ceramic tiles in the required volume, with a lack of building material, you may not find the desired shade of the product. When buying goods, make sure that the tiles match.

Layout Types

In practice, several ceramic tile layout options are used. We will get acquainted with them in more detail.

Seam to seam

"Seam to seam" in parallel rows is one of the most popular options for installing floor tiles. In this case, rectangular or square shaped products are used, they are placed on the base in even rows. To obtain even seams between adjacent elements, plastic crosses are used.

Diagonally

The layout "diagonally" is considered the most beautiful version of the device flooring, but has a complex technology. At the preparatory stage, they mark the diagonal axes, which will be used for laying tiles. Elements are mounted at an angle of 45 degrees. The only disadvantage of this method is the need for frequent trimming of products.

In a run

Stacking "jogging" in appearance is similar to brickwork. This way of arranging the tile looks original in any room, therefore it is used quite often. It is recommended to use materials of a rectangular shape for a layout in a run. Elements are arranged in parallel horizontal rows with half tile alignment.

Herringbone

The layout of the "herringbone" in appearance resembles a parquet flooring. Installation technology is quite complex, requires professional skills. Elements are arranged at an angle of 45 degrees, which requires mandatory trimming.

Advice! Regardless of the selected layout, laying of tiles on the floor with your own hands should be carried out on a pre-aligned base. This will simplify the work and help save on the cost of cement-sand mortar or adhesive mixture.

Necessary tools and materials

Before laying ceramic tiles on the floor with your own hands, you need to prepare the following tool:

• square;
•  roulette;
•  building level;
•  long rule;
• marker;
•  marking cord;
• tile cutter or grinder with a diamond disk for cutting tiles;
• a container for a solution or preparation of an adhesive mixture;
• trowel or gear spatula, the size of the teeth depends on the thickness of the product;
• pliers;
•  soft cloth or sponge.

In addition to the tool, the following materials are used:

• ceramic tiles of the selected size;
• glue for a certain type of base (concrete, plywood or wood);
• solution for priming the surface;
• silicone sealant for joint processing;
•  plastic crosses are used to maintain the thickness of the joints between the tiles.

Correct laying of tiles on the floor should occur at a temperature of + 5- + 30 degrees and humidity within 40-60%.

How to put tiles on the floor with your own hands

We begin the installation with preparatory work. Furniture is taken out of the room and the old cover is dismantled. We clean the surface of construction debris and dust. After this, a visual inspection of the base is carried out.

To level the base, a mortar or a special mixture, a bulk floor, are used. At the initial stage of work, we remove all the hillocks, remove the remains of the tile. We cover all cracks and chips with a solution. We prepare the mixture for the device of the bulk floor in accordance with the attached instructions. We fill in the raw components in the tank, add the required amount of water. We mix the composition with a drill with a whisk.

The finished solution is poured onto the base, aligned with a needle roller. When using cement-sand mortar we make beacons from metal pipes. Pour the mixture between the guides and level it with a rule.

Primer treatment

For pre-treatment of the base, a deep penetration primer is used. Part of the solution is poured into a small container, dip the paint roller or a wide brush and evenly distribute the mixture on the base. After soaking, the primer is applied again.

Marking the floor before laying the tiles

Marking work is carried out in accordance with the method of flooring. When laying the floor tiles with your own hands, the seam in the seam or in the run-up, the number of elements is calculated taking into account the gaps. Many users do not know where to start laying tiles on the floor. This must be done from the most visible places, in this case, the cutting of products will be carried out in the least viewed areas.

To get beautiful uniform segments of the tile from all sides, it is necessary to determine the center of the room in two diagonal lines. The tile center and all other elements are laid at this point. When performing basic work, it is necessary to use a cord that will set the direction of the row.

For marking under the diagonal, a rectangular shape is required. If the angles in the room are not even, then the extreme elements that go near the perimeter of the walls will move, the flooring looks ugly. We measure the sides of the room, lay the diagonals, they should be even. Tile laying starts from the wall opposite the side of the door. Near the enclosing structures, whole tiles and halves should alternate.

Tile adhesive preparation

Before you put the tile on the floor you need to prepare an adhesive mixture. For laying tiles, special glue is used, which enters the building store in the form of a dry mixture. In order to prepare such a composition, it is necessary to fill in the raw ingredients in the container and add water (in accordance with the instructions). All components are thoroughly mixed using an electric drill with a special nozzle until a uniform consistency is formed. The solution is insisted for 5 minutes, then mixed again. That's all, the glue is ready to use.

Advice! Do not add water to the solution during solidification; this may impair its technical characteristics. Knead the glue according to need.

Glue on tile or floor

Many users are wondering where it is better to apply the mortar on the base or ceramic tile. The exact answer to this question does not exist. When glue is applied to the tile, marking lines on the base are saved. Glue on the floor can be spread over a large area, after which there is a quick laying of tiles. Elements are mounted one after another.

If the sole of the products has a corrugated structure, then glue is applied both to the tile and to the base. The grooves should be in two mutually perpendicular directions.

Laying tiles

The technique of laying tiles on the floor is not particularly difficult. After fixing the products on the basis of their position, check the level, if necessary, tile knocked out with a rubber hammer. When laying the next element, we adjust the clearance. For this, plastic crosses are used.

During installation work, it is necessary to remove glue residue from the gaps. It will be difficult to remove during grouting. Separately check the horizontalness of the tile, all elements of the flooring should be located in the same plane. If the tile sticks out after several blows of a rubber hammer, the product must be removed and the excess solution removed. Tile is corrected immediately after laying, it is impossible to change its position after solidification of the solution.

Tile trim

Previously, it was described how to lay tiles on the floor correctly, but when installing the coating it can not do without waste. Material has to be cut around the perimeter of the walls, in areas with protrusions, as well as in the place of laying utilities. The following tool is used to carry out these operations:

• grinder with an abrasive disc;
• glass cutter and nippers;
• tile cutter.

A grinder is used to make cutouts of complex shape, for example, for utilities. When working with this tool you need to wear safety glasses and gloves. Securely fasten the product so that it does not fly out and break during cutting.

The tile cutter is used to divide tiles in a straight line. A piece of 2 centimeters or more can be cut from the product. First make notes, then go through the roller slightly pressing the handle. With a slight movement of the hands, the tiles are broken into two parts. Nippers must be used to remove small pieces of ceramics, sharp burrs at the edges are smoothed with a file.

Grouting

The tile flooring acquires a complete appearance after grouting. This decorative solution not only highlights every element, but also prevents water from entering the gaps (a humid environment is favorable for the development of fungus and mold).

At the initial stage of work, embroider the seams, remove the remains of the solution. After that, mix the grout with water according to the instructions. Ready-to-use material can be purchased; it is sold in small buckets. We put the grout on the tip of the rubber spatula and press the seams, while the solution should completely fill the space. When the mixture hardens, its residues are washed with a damp sponge.

Coating cleaning

In order for the tile flooring to get an aesthetic appearance, you need to clean the surface from glue and grout residues. For this, a kitchen foam sponge is used, it is moistened in a soap solution and the tiles are wiped. The glue should soak a little, then it is removed with a metal spatula. Stains formed on the surface are wiped with a damp soft cloth.

It is necessary to scrape the mortar very carefully so as not to scratch the surface of the ceramic tile. In addition to the spatula, a toothbrush is also used for this purpose. The glue on the raised surface must be removed before it sets completely.

How to lay tiles on different types of surfaces

Before installing the tile, you must create an even, reliable and durable foundation. We will deal with the nuances of installing tiles on different types of bases.

Concrete floor

When laying products on a concrete slab, it is necessary to install heat-insulating material, which will save on heating costs. Some users use a warm floor system to heat the room. The minimum thickness of the leveling screed in this case is 4 centimeters.

With a relatively even base, all the present recesses are filled with a solution, knobs are knocked down with a chisel and the surface is coated with a primer in two layers.

Wood base

Wood surfaces must be strong and even. Rotten or cracked, as well as "playing" boards are replaced with new products. For additional leveling of the base, smallpox sheets can be used, but such a material must be resistant to moisture.

Between such panels leave small gaps of up to 8 millimeters, which will compensate for the expansion of the material. Products are fixed on the basis of self-tapping screws, then a primer layer is applied to the surface. To prevent the development of mold and mildew on wooden surfaces between the boards and the floor, it is necessary to create a ventilation layer.

Masters Tips

Before installing the flooring, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of specialists in order to avoid errors during installation:

• Take seriously the preparation of the base, the slightest roughness on the surface increases the consumption of the adhesive mixture.
• At the initial stage of work, garbage is removed from the base. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner.
•  Tile glue is selected taking into account the material of the base surface, as well as the humidity in the room.
• Mark on the floor, regardless of how tiles are laid.
• When making complex patterns, lay out the products in advance on the surface to see how the floor will look.
• With the standard installation method, start laying from the corner.
• Wait for the primer to dry completely.
• Grout is applied after hardening of glue.
• To get a beautiful flooring, choose a grout tone in color and tile pattern.

After installation, you need to wait 2-3 days. When the glue completely hardens, you can bring furniture. When caring for the floor, do not use abrasive substances, they can scratch the surface of the tile.