How to lay tiles on the floor

1. Gather the tools and materials

In addition to the tiles and glue, you will need:

• Primers, deep penetration;
• roller or brush;
• grout;
• a basin or bucket;
• a mixer for mixing the solution;
• or a hammer drill;
• trowel;
• soft spatula;
• rubber mallet;
• level;
• rightsandlo;
• roulette;
• line or polygon;
• pencil;
• crosses for joints;
• Angle machine with a diamond disc or tile cutter;
• Clippers tiles;
• sponge.

2. Prepare the base

As a rule, tile laid on the concrete floor. It is also possible the installation of a wooden support and even over the old tile, if it is well kept. Parquet board or previously have to cover the cement particle boards and old tiles - primer betonokontakt. In both cases, the height of the finished floor will increase compared with the laying on screed.

• Flatten all floor roughness, and then sweep up debris or Vacuum.
• If altitude differences account for more than 3-5 mm in the two meters, remove any unevenness using a self leveling mixture.
• Apply the appropriate type of primer coatings.
• Wait for 2-3 hours to dry the surface.

3. Decide on the type of styling

There are three main ways: traditional, diagonal and vrazbezhku. In addition, there are various combinations that are used for beauty.

• Traditional - the easiest and most common way. Tile is located in rows parallel to the walls. Suitable for square and rectangular tiles.
• Diagonal - original and more complex version. Tiles must be laid at an angle of 45° to the walls. It looks better with a square ceramic. It requires more undercut increases the consumption of materials.
• Vrazbezhku - each new series of tiles moves relative to the previous one, in the brick masonry. Good at hiding blemishes tile geometry. More suitable for rectangular tile.
• Christmas tree - imitation wood flooring with a rectangular tile. It looks good with a covering in the form of a tree. It gives the minimum amount of waste.
• Modular - picture recruited randomly from the tiles of various shapes and sizes to create a repeating, non-uniform grid. Suitable for small rooms.
• Shift - large and small square tiles stacked in long rows, forming a very interesting design. Definitely not for beginners.

For anyone who works with tiles for the first time, we recommend the traditional method of stacking or lining vrazbezhku. Other methods necessary to choose only if you are confident in their abilities. Otherwise it is better to entrust this work to professionals.

4. Apply layout

To lay tiles precisely, tie pattern layout to the center of the room and start lining from this point. Through the center must pass the seams of adjacent rows or the middle of the tile - it will be the axis of symmetry. When its rough walls can be shifted. For example, the center of the doorway - to the best view was from the open part of the floor, and trim hid under the furniture.

For straight laying

• Mark the middle of the wall and draw from them the line to find the center of the room.
• Check via gon perpendicular axes and, if necessary Adjust to make it 90 degrees between them.
• If the axis runs along the edge of the door opening, it is better to move it to the center for a more aesthetic appearance.

For diagonal laying

• attach rightsandlo the wall and mark the point where the gap between them is minimal. If the wall is flat plane, it is possible to do.
• Measure the length of the diagonal tiles. Back down on the value of the wall or the marked points on the floor and draw a line parallel to the wall. This will be the edge of the first row of tiles.
• From the line drawn on the floor check a few more on the length of the diagonal to mark out the following series.

In the presence of the laser level marking procedure is simplified. Enough to hold diagonally to find the center of the room, and then set to this point the laser and mark the axis perpendicular or at an angle of 45° to the walls.

5. Make a preliminary layout

For the integrity of the lined floor tile must be distributed in such a way that all the cutting width was more than half of the tiles. Narrow pieces are allowed if they will hide under the furniture and appliances. So little material consumption will grow, but will finish the most harmonious.

• Count how many rows of entire tile is placed along the wall, taking into account the thickness of the seams.
• Remove the last row on either side.
• Place the remaining rows evenly in the middle of the wall.
• As a result, the corners will be a trim width of more than half of the tiles.
• IN Bathrooms with shower layout to make the entire floor area. In bathrooms with bath guided by the space from one wall to the edge of the bath - so narrow trimming will be hidden.
• In L-shaped rooms are arranged symmetrically on the visible portion of the layout and cutting hide where necessary furniture.

6. Prepare adhesive

• Pour into water basin or bucket and pour the desired amount of the adhesive composition according to the instructions on the package.
• Stir well until smooth hammer or a drill at low speed.
• After 10 minutes stir the solution again to a uniform consistency and complete impregnation of the settled mixture.
• Do not cook a large amount of the solution immediately. If you do not have time to use it, it will dry up and lose its properties.
• Add water to the already prepared glue should not be: it will worsen strength.

7. Lay the first row

• Apply the adhesive with a notched trowel on a section of the floor, so it was enough for one or two tiles with a small margin on the perimeter.
• Smooth out the solution with a notched trowel in all directions. Hold the tool at an angle of 45° to the surface.
• Look on the back of the tile header or logo of the manufacturer and have to be all the tiles by placing the characters in the same direction.
• Attach the tiles to dry the prepared surface and align it relative to the markup.
• Tapping your hand or a rubber mallet face down tiles to complete filling adhesive.
• The spirit level, ensure that the tile is in the horizontal plane. align it tapped when needed.
• Place the next tile and set adjacent to the seam crosses.
• Align the second relative to the first tile and check with the level that it lies flat.
• Likewise the entire lay a first row of tiles.

8. Assemble the rest of the series

• Lay whole tiles next series on the same principle.
• To clear tiles adhered, insert the butt of every four cross.
• Do not forget to monitor the horizontal plane using a spirit level.
• Clean and cross soaked in water with a sponge all the seams of glue has got inside. When it dries, it will make much more difficult.

9. Place the trim

At least fit tiles around the perimeter of the walls, as well as the adjoining pipes and outside corners. Such pre-tile Tile should be cut or Angle machine with a diamond disc to the desired size. Then put on the glue as well as whole tiles: using crosses and checking the plane level.

How to cut tile cutters

• Measure the desired tile length considering seams.
• Place a pencil mark on each side and draw a line.
• Install the tiles on the table according to the Tile tag and press the edge of the bed.
• One movement slide roll on the cutting line.
• Lightly press down on the handle to split the tile.

As Angle cutting machine

• Mark the cut line on the tiles and fix it with improvised means.
• Put on your glasses and take the grinder with a continuous diamond blade.
• Without pressure gradually cut through the tile without going right through the entire thickness.
• To avoid raising dust can moisten the tiles and cut only the top layer, and then placed under the nail, and the tile to break it as Tile.

10. Make grouting

• After one day, remove all crosses from the joints and remove the sticking glue.
• Dilute the mixture with water to the grout according to proportions indicated on the package, a mixer and stir.
• After 5 minutes, again all mix well.
• Rubber spatula at 45° Apply grout to the surface at the seams.
• Move across the seam and well pressed spatula to completely fill.
• After 30 minutes, remove the dried up remnants of a tile grout with a sponge soaked in water.
• Finally wipe the stains with a dry cloth.