DIY Tips for Floor Tiling

image source: buildingsheriff.com

You don't need to be a floor tiler to tile a floor in your house. Anyone can do it as long as they have the right tools and equipment. There are some important things to think about before embarking on your floor tiling venture. Here are 5 tips for doing your own floor tiling in your home.

Take Your Time

One of the most important things to remember is to take your time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was your home, so take your time and allow yourself to do each step with care. If you rush ahead and do not follow instructions properly, or do not think the job through then you may end up with a situation where you will need to redo the floor at a later date, or won't have the job done as well as it could be. So relax, take your time and enjoy the process.

Ensure that floor is firm and dry

Preparation of the floor that you are going to tile is such an important part of the job. If your floor has lumps, or hard bits then it may cause the tiles to crack. Also if there is any dampness in the floor then this will also cause problems and the tiles may not stay in place as you would like them to. Make sure the floor is lump free by checking the whole surface and grind down parts that are sticking up. If there is dampness then you might need to apply a water proofing compound to treat the area.

Make sure both tiles and floor is clean

For the best tiling job, ensure that both the tiles and the floor is clean before you start. Also do not leave the tiles in the sun while you are preparing the floor, as this could cause uneven discolouration which will be very noticeable once they are laid on the floor.

Always start from the centre of the room when laying tiles

When laying the tiles, always start from the centre of the room. This is to ensure that the tiles are laid evenly in the most conspicuous part of the room, which will be the centre. No matter how small the room is, if you start at the centre then you will end up with a good looking tiling job because they will be laid evenly and will look good in the parts where people will mostly be seeing them – the centre. For cutting the tiles, you could look at the different tools available which could range from anything to STIHL chain saws.

Leave tiles for 24 hours before applying grout

Once you have tiled the floor ensure that you wait at least 24 hours before applying grout. Most manufacturers of adhesive will supply instructions as to the length of time you need to wait before grouting, so always follow those instructions for the best application of the tiles to your floor. You will want to make sure that they are dry before applying grout as you won't want to put pressure on them if they are still drying as this may cause an uneven surface.