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How do you install wall and floor tiles?

Published in Tiling Installation 3 mins read

Installing wall and floor tiles involves careful planning and execution to achieve a professional finish. Here's a guide that combines general practices with information from the reference:

Preparation is Key

Before you start, make sure your surface is clean, level, and dry. Remove any old coverings, and repair any damage. Gather all your tools and materials:

  • Tiles
  • Tile adhesive or mortar
  • Tile spacers
  • Notched trowel
  • Rubber mallet
  • Level
  • Tile cutter or wet saw
  • Grout
  • Grout float
  • Sponges
  • Clean cloths
  • Safety glasses
  • Gloves

Laying the Tiles

Wall Tiles

The provided reference instructs:

  1. Start Above the Batten: Begin tiling with the horizontal row above the batten you have installed. This establishes your first row of tiles and allows for accurate alignment.
  2. Use Spacers: Place tile spacers between each tile. This ensures uniform grout lines and a consistent appearance.
  3. Full Tiles First: Install only the full-width tiles initially. Cutting tiles for edges or corners can be done later to ensure proper spacing.
  4. Offset Grout Lines: Offset the vertical grout joints by one half of the tile width. This staggered layout provides aesthetic appeal and enhances the structural integrity.
  5. Leveling: Use a rubber mallet and a block of wood to gently level each tile. This process ensures the tiles are set flat and even.
  6. Clean Excess Mortar: Wipe away any extra mortar from the surface as you go, which helps achieve a cleaner and easier grouting process later.

Floor Tiles

While the reference specifically discusses wall tiles, the fundamental principles apply to floor tiles as well. The key differences are the increased size and weight of floor tiles, requiring a more robust process:

  1. Central Layout: Find the center point of your floor using the chalk lines and start laying from there, working outwards to achieve a symmetrical tile pattern.
  2. Larger Notched Trowel: Floor tiles usually require deeper adhesive coverage, requiring a trowel with larger notches.
  3. Full Mortar Coverage: Use the correct trowel to spread the mortar, ensuring full coverage on the tile to avoid hollow spots that can crack.
  4. Level Regularly: Continuously check the level across multiple tiles to ensure a flat, even surface. Use a large level for this purpose.
  5. Proper Grout Line Width: Use the appropriate sized spacers for floor tile joints.

Grouting and Finishing

  1. Grout Application: Once the tile adhesive has fully dried, remove tile spacers, then apply grout using a grout float, ensuring to press it into all the grout lines.
  2. Excess Grout Removal: Clean off any excess grout with a damp sponge, working diagonally across the tiles.
  3. Final Clean: Once the grout has slightly hardened, polish the surface using a clean, dry cloth to achieve a professional, finished look.
Step Wall Tiles Floor Tiles
Starting Point Horizontal row above batten Center of the floor
Spacers Use between tiles, per reference Use between tiles, same principle, possibly larger depending on tile size
Trowel Correct notch size for wall tile Larger notched trowel for floor tiles
Mortar Coverage Even layer Full coverage on tile and floor
Leveling Rubber mallet and wood block per reference Level regularly using large level
Grout Joints Stagger vertically by half of a tile width, per reference Typically aligned but customizable based on preference
Cleaning Clean as you go, and after grouting per reference Clean as you go, and after grouting

This methodical approach ensures that your tiling project is not only successful but also produces a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing finish.