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How to install porcelain tile without problems

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Porcelain tiles are a popular choice not only because they are aesthetically pleasing, but also because they are durable, resistant and easy to clean. However, if you are thinking of renovating your floor and using tiles you may not know how to install porcelain tile, so here we explain the process of installing porcelain tiles

1. Choose your porcelain floor

man choosing porcelain for floor

The first thing you should do before learning how to install porcelain tile is to choose the tile that best suits your needs. In addition to price and making sure you are buying from a reputable site, you should consider two factors: what type of porcelain tile you want and what grade. 

Thus, porcelain tiles come in five grades where 1 is the least durable and 5 is the most durable. This does not mean that level 1 tiles are of poor quality, simply that they should be used in lower traffic areas. These grades are defined through the Porcelain Glazed Tile Institute guidelines.

Also, before looking for porcelain tile installers or learning the process on how to install porcelain tile, you should also think about whether you want a glazed or unglazed porcelain floor depending on how shiny you want it to be.  

2. Prepares the porcelain floor

Thus, the next step in installing porcelain tile is to prepare the base. If you are remodeling, you or the porcelain tile installers must remove the previous flooring. 

Once you have removed the previous floor or if it is the first tile you are going to install, the next step you should know about how to install porcelain tile is that your base must be smooth and solid. There are cement compounds and other materials to level the floor, you simply need to choose the one that best suits your needs, consult with construction experts. For porcelain tile installation you must make sure that your subfloor is free of holes or bulges. Not only because the tiles will be uneven but also because they can break due to unevenness.

3. Add the adhesive

Next in your process on how to lay porcelain tile is the adhesive. Try to choose an appropriate tile or, if you have hired porcelain tile installers, verify that the adhesive they use is a special porcelain tile adhesive. 

Before applying the adhesive, our recommendation on how to install porcelain tile is to measure the space and the tiles to be sure you have enough and the right size.

In this way, the step to follow is to apply the adhesive in the center and advance one quadrant at a time in order to reach the tiles while the glue is fresh. Another tip on how to lay porcelain tile is that you should not move or rotate the tile while applying it and you should not apply too much pressure as you will move the adhesive and the porcelain tile installation will not be correct. 

Each time you finish a quadrant, our recommendation on how to install porcelain tile is to use a level to check that they are all even and smooth.

4. Fill the joints

white floor porcelain

The next step on how to install porcelain tile is to let them dry for at least 24 hours. Then, you must apply grout between the gaps of each tile. Use a specialized tool to remove the excess grout.

Next, and to finish the porcelain tile installation you must wait at least 20 minutes for it to dry. Once dry, you can clean the tiles to remove any traces of adhesive or grout.

 Finally, we hope this article has been useful for you to learn how to install porcelain tile. If you want more information about different types of flooring, you can visit our blog. We particularly recommend our article on porcelain and ceramic tiles.