Tips for Laying Out Ceramic Tiles

A well known characteristic of ceramic tiles is that they are relatively easy to clean and are virtually dust proof. If their surface becomes dirty or greasy, a simple wipe with a damp cloth using water or cleaning agents like detergent or bleach will restore them to normal.

Ceramic tiles are durable to use in the home because they are naturally resistant to chafing and corrosion as well as to chemical and biological agents. Since ceramic surfaces also tend to avert humidity, ceramic tiles prevent the spread of harmful dust mites and fungi. They also make stable flooring materials, but should be brought inside the room to balance the temperature of the tiles and the sub floor, at least a day before installation.

Doing the Tile Layout

Before placing the ceramic tiles, a sketch of the room's floor plan should be made. This plan should contain all the necessary details that could have any bearing on the installation, like location of doors, cabinets, toilets and electricity supplies.

It is also a good idea to check the ceramic tiles, making sure that all of them are in good condition before starting the actual installation. Plan ahead to mix the tiles properly. Since the tiles can come in a wide variety of colors, evenly mixing the tiles together will prevent glaring differences in the design of the floor pattern.

Choose a rough patch of area to tile, leaving just enough adhesive to cover it. Use the smooth edge of the trowel held at a 30-degree angle to spread around the thin set. Afterwards, comb the adhesive with jagged edges using the trowel at a 45- to 75- degree angle. Twist each tile slightly as you press it into the adhesive, making sure to use a straight edge liner so they are properly aligned. You can also use a churn block to press several tiles into the adhesive at the same time.

Required Tools

Certain tools will be required to ensure a superior quality installation of the ceramic tiles. These tools mostly comprise measuring tools, which include tape measures, squares, chalk lines, pencils, straight edges, levels and even a story pole. Of course, having a well-planned layout before starting the installation is just as important.

, Using Ceramic Tiles.com
All rights reserved worldwide. Always consult a professional. The content on this site is the authors opinion only and should not be considered professional advice.

Home Page

How to

About tiles

Where To Buy Ceramic Tools

Disclaimers