How To Lay Tiles Correctly

Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles are popular finishing materials that are often used to decorate interiors in both residential and commercial spaces. If you have chosen them for your project, it is important to know how to properly lay them on different surfaces. This is a task that requires certain skills and knowledge. To ensure the result is perfect, you need to prepare well before starting work and follow a clear algorithm of actions. We tell you everything you need to know about laying tiles on the floor and walls yourself.

Requirements for foundation preparation

The very first thing you need to do is carefully prepare the base on which the tiles will be laid. The durability of the coating depends on how well this step is performed. The surface must be well cleaned of dust and construction debris, seasoned and stable. It should not have any voids or cracks - otherwise, chips and defects may appear on the slabs during operation. In addition, the base must be level, without sharp changes in level. For preliminary leveling of the walls, you can use a special cement plaster, and for the floor, for example, a leveling mixture.

What to do before work

Before you begin installation, you need to complete a few simple steps.

• First, you need to carefully study the labels on the boxes with tiles, as well as on the packages of glue and grout. There you can find important information about the features of using specific materials.
• Secondly, you should check whether the tone and caliber of all the products you have selected within the article match. In one project, they should be the same - this is the only way to avoid different tones and the coating will look neat.
• Thirdly, before laying, it is necessary to lay the tiles on a flat surface and carefully inspect them for defects. A claim regarding the defects found can be sent to the manufacturer only if the products have not yet been used.

If you have chosen porcelain stoneware for your project, we recommend that you first do a preliminary dry layout of the tiles, without glue. It is best to do this chaotically, using tiles from six or seven different packages at random, achieving a "random" effect. You should not try to deliberately lay out any pattern - this is not included in the concept of most porcelain stoneware collections.

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Laying floor tiles - basic steps

It is important to note that you cannot lay ceramic tiles made of white clay with high water absorption on the floor - it is too delicate for this. For these purposes, it is best to choose porcelain stoneware - it is very durable, resistant to abrasion and abrasive loads, so it can be used as a floor covering.

Step 1. Preparing the base

Before laying porcelain tiles, the base must be cleaned and thoroughly primed. The primer will remove dust from the surface, remove any remaining construction debris, and increase the level of adhesion. The composition must be selected in accordance with the base material; it can be applied with a roller or brush.

Step 2. Laying the first tile and the first row

It is best to start tiling from the wall furthest from the entrance.

Apply tile adhesive to a small section of the floor using a trowel, then smooth it out with a notched trowel, holding the tool at an angle of 60°. If you are using medium or large-format porcelain tiles in your project, you will also need to apply adhesive to the back of the tile. You can also do this using a trowel. Then carefully lay the first tile on the adhesive and press it down lightly with your hands. Lay the remaining tiles in the same way, moving along one of the axes. To ensure that the joints are the same width everywhere, use joint crosses of the appropriate size.

It is worth checking from time to time with a level that the tiles are laid flat enough. If some parts are protruding, they can be leveled by lightly tapping them with a rubber mallet.

And to ensure perfect laying, it is best to use the SVP - tile leveling system. You can read more about it in our article " Tile leveling systems ".

Step 3. Laying out the remaining rows, cutting the products

The remaining rows are laid according to the described scheme. Since this is a very durable material, it can be quite difficult to do it yourself. To find out how to cut porcelain tiles and what tools to use for this, read our article " How and with what to cut porcelain tiles? "

After the adhesive has gained strength, it is necessary to remove the SVP and then you can start grouting the seams.

Step 4. Grouting

Wipe the joints with a damp cloth to remove dust and allow them to dry. Fill the spaces between the tiles tightly with grout using a flexible rubber trowel placed at an angle. Wait a few minutes, then go over the surface with a damp sponge to remove any remaining grout. Treat an area of ​​approximately 1 m2 at a time. Be sure to follow the grout manufacturer's instructions for a flawless result.

Laying Tiles on Walls - Basic Steps

Both ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles can be laid on the walls. Both of these materials are suitable for cladding almost any vertical surfaces in different rooms - bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, hallways, kitchens.

Step 1. Preparing the base
Before work, the walls also need to be well prepared. First, you need to remove the old coating, seal all the cracks and voids, level the surface with cement plaster and prime it with a deep penetration compound. This will get rid of dust and improve adhesion. After the primer has completely dried, you can start marking and the tiling work itself.

Step 2. Selecting an adhesive composition

The adhesive determines how firmly the finishing material will adhere and how durable the coating will be in the end. That is why you need to approach the choice with great care. You need to pay attention to the level of moisture absorption of the slabs, their format and the area where they will be laid (kitchen apron, bathroom walls, etc.). It is also important to consider that different types of adhesives are used for porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles. If you mix them up, the slabs may start to come off the base quite quickly, which will eventually require new repairs.

Step 3. Laying the first tile and the first row

Work begins with the wall opposite the entrance. Laying porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles is always done from the bottom up. Some experts advise starting to lay tiles from the most noticeable corner in the room, while others advise starting from the middle of the row. The main thing is to avoid narrow cuts - this is not aesthetically pleasing.

Using a trowel, apply a layer of tile adhesive to the wall and smooth it out with a notched trowel. Also apply a little adhesive to the mounting side of the product. Lay the first tile and press it gently with your hands so that there are no voids underneath. Continue laying the row, separating the tiles from each other with seam crosses, remove excess adhesive with a wet sponge.

Step 4. Laying the remaining rows

The remaining rows are laid in a similar manner. Each tile should be checked for horizontal and vertical laying using a level. Until the glue has completely dried, it allows you to slightly adjust the position of the tiles.

Step 5. Grouting

Grouting of seams after work is done in a similar way using a rubber spatula. You can proceed to this stage only after the adhesive composition has completely dried. The excess should be removed with a damp sponge.