A house is like a mirrored image of your personality. So, you, of course, want to do everything which makes it look the best. Tiles are one of those things which add beauty to your house. And, Installation of tiles is a very easy process. The only thing you need to do is to select carefully and choose the perfect tiles.
Tiling your own house’s floor is a beautiful and satisfying project. But it is also a process that is filled with areas for potential mistakes. But don’t worry; this article will help you learn everything you need to do to lay down a great-looking floor in your house.
The tools and materials that you will need to do the Installation of Long-Lasting Tiles:
- Right Tile Adhesive
- Right Tile Grout To have an optimum look and feel of your house
- Right Tile Selection
- Tiles Spacers Notched Trowel, Tile Spacer, Cement, Gloves, And Electric Stirrers, etc.
Here’s how you need to go about the Procedure of Installing Perfect Tiles:
Prepping the Subfloor
For installing perfect tiles on an existing surface, you have to ensure that the surface doesn’t have any imperfections and is clean of debris. You can do this by patching the surface with a waterproof patching compound.
The subfloor has to be at least 1.5 inches thick if you are installing the tiles over wood. If it is not, you might need to add a concrete backer board. To remove the grease, oil dust, sealer, and curing compound, go with scraping, sanding, and chipping away the contaminants.
Laying the Floor
To ensure that you have a good layout, you need to ensure that the lines are straight. For this, you can draw chalk lines and snap lines with a 90-degree intersection at the center of each place. The next step is to install loose tiles with their spacers up the walls.
Mixing the Mortar
For a good Mortar, you will need to store your mortar materials at a temperature between 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, mix this Mortar with water until you get the desired consistency which should neither be too thick nor too watery.
In this step, you should be careful about using this mix within 30 minutes of being mixed with the water. Also, do not put water again while using it.
Applying the Mortar
Remember to use the flat side of the trowel first when applying the Mortar that you had prepared. Then spread the Mortar uniformly by applying the notch trowel at a 45-degree angle. Continue doing this by following a horizontal pattern next. This will ensure that you have the same mortar height.
Installing the Tiles
For installing the tiles, you have to press them unto the Mortar in a twist motion and hit them with a rubber mallet so that they can adhere to the Mortar. Next, you will have to let the Mortar dry for at least 24 hours.
Be careful not to step on the tiles during this time.
Cut the Tiles, if and where needed.
To do this, you can use a nipper or wet saw. Plus, a pencil to mark the area which needs to be cut.
Grouting the Tiles
Mix the grout till all the pigments in it are dispersed, and you obtain a uniform color. Let it be and after 5 minutes, mix it again. You have to now use a grout float to apply this grout into the joints of the tiles after the spacers have been removed completely. To remove the excess grout, use a sponge.
Sealing the Grout
This is an optional process. If you want better results, then seat the applied grout after 72 hours. This will make sure that the color of the grout remains for a longer time.
Additionally, it will help in reducing the amount of water seeping below the floor tile.
How to select the best tiles for your dream home:
There are hundreds of shapes, textures, colors, and styles available when it comes to tiles. Hence, you will need to select them according to your own needs and wants.
The beauty of Glazed Ceramic Tiles lasts for a long time. Slate Tiles for Walls are a good idea because they have a natural slip resistance. Wall Stones Tiles can give your house an aesthetic look. Granite Floor Tiles are more expensive to install and often need subflooring for support.
Conclusion: Tiles are like an investment for your home. They increase the market value of your home and retain its shine effect for a long time. Tiles used in the interior and exterior designs of your home give it an upscale and beautiful look.
