Installing a floor is always a difficult decision. Along with quality and good price, it also seeks peace of mind and delicacy. The tile, without a doubt, meets everything you need, but the problem arises at the time of installation: what should we do?

Before answering the question, you should know that the tile is perfect for any part of your house, since it protects from humidity and, visually, it is very elegant. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves, with 20 years of experience as a backup, to train you on how to tile a floor. Because installing a floor has never been so easy. Stay with us: you will love it.

Definitive guide for tiling a floor

Before starting, it is important to mention that, in this article, we will show you how to tile a floor. However, since this is a masonry job, like Canada Floors Depot, we recommend that it be done by a person specialized in it.

Therefore, although the article focuses on the assumption that you will install it, it can also help you evaluate how a third party should proceed when installing your floor. Now that that’s clear, let’s get started.

Preparing tools

If you have already selected the design of your tiles, what comes next is to prepare all the tools to install them. Tiling the floor requires a lot of dedication, so these tools will definitely make your job easier.

Among them we can find:

• Tile cutter.
• Rubber mallet.
• Tile spacers.
• Tile palette.
• Tile grout.
• Grout Sealer.
• Protective equipment such as glasses, thick canvas gabash, knee pads, etc.

Clean the subsoil

However, we must clean the subfloor where the new floor will be installed. To tile the floor, it is important that the floor does not have any reliefs, of any kind, that could uneven the tiles. To do this, with the help of a hammer and chisel, you must remove all obstacles.

When the floor is even, you must vacuum or broom it. Bear in mind that the subfloor must be able to withstand cement, grout and furniture, so that there is no danger to you. Also, you must measure the dimensions of the space, as we will explain in the next point.

Measuring the space for installation

Measuring the space to tile a floor is very simple, but what can present some difficulty is to test the tiles. To know the square meters, you only have to multiply the meters of width by the meters of length in the room. When you have the measurements, you will know how many tiles you will need.

Now that you know the measurements, you can start visualizing the tiles on the floor. By doing so, you will be able to visualize how you want to tile the floor, and you will be able to foresee any inconvenience such as the lack of a floor (we recommend always buying an additional 10%, in case something happens).

Before laying all the tiles, we recommend making a sketch in the subfloor, so that it works as a guide. This way, the tiles will be centered in the room. Otherwise, the design you thought of might not come out very well. As a solution we propose to make scale drawings, on graph paper, and then draw them on the subfloor.

Try design

Once you have visualized how to tile a floor, it remains to materialize it. To do this, a test without mortar will help a lot. Place half a row of tiles from the center outwards. Also, if the tiles have a design, arrange them according to your taste.

As you place the tiles, also insert the separators. Also, if you consider that there is not much room in the margins to place another tile, the best thing you can do is stop. We will explain later how to cut the tiles.

Preparing mortar for gluing (placing by sections)

Preparing mortar for tiling is simple. You can do it in a container, or on the floor. To do this, you must place fine sand and cement, in layers, alternately. Then, using a shovel, mix all the materials. Then, pile up the mixture like a volcano (with a crater included).

Put water in the crater, checking that it does not overflow. And, with the shovel, stir until a homogeneous mixture is achieved. If you decide to do it in a bucket, you will only have to use the same components and mix them, using a drill with a mixing paddle: this mixture will join the tiles to the subsoil.

The ideal is not to prepare large quantities, when you are a first timer. It is also not recommended to cover much with the mixture, but to place by sections. This is because the hardening time is relatively short, and if you are careless, there will be wasted material everywhere.

Another recommendation is that, before applying the mortar, you should spray water. This will help the mortar bond more easily to the tile. However, if it is already hardening and you add water, the opposite will happen: it will lose its properties and the tile will become unstable.

Start laying the floor (level)

 As we said in the previous point, it is advisable to apply the mortar by sections. To do this, you must extend a thin layer over the area where you will begin to paste the tiles. The ideal tool for such an important work is the tile palette with notches.

If you have already laid the first tile, you can check the quality of the mixture. If you are satisfied with the quality of the mixture, you can continue with the laying, assisted by a level. However, every time you lay a tile, also insert two separators per side and so that they stand out, so that they are easy to remove. And, while you do that, use a sponge to clean the tiles of any residue.

Cutting tiles?

Once almost all the tiles have been laid, we still have to cut the tiles that will go on the ends of the floor. To do this, you must get a special tile saw that fits your needs and budget.

Then, measure the space between the floor and the wall, mark it on the tile, and proceed to cut. Be very careful and always wear your protective gear. Make sure that the saw is wet, so that the floor is not chipped.

Before gluing the tile, smooth it with sandpaper. Then, prepare some more mortar and get ready to glue, using the level and trying to leave a prudent space, between the wall and the floor, so that the floor expands without causing cracks.

Apply tile grout

Almost finished, it is necessary to grout the floor. To do this, it is necessary to remove the separators and apply the grout over the space they will leave. It is recommended that you put painter’s tapes on the nearby floors, and be very careful.

The grout should be mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and should be spread, over the floor, in wide arches with a float, for rubber grouting. When you are finished, remove the excess. Repeat twice a day, for 3 days in a row. Also, do not walk on the floor until 10 or 12 hours have passed.

When this period is over, you must apply a grout sealer. The sealer will help prevent dirt from penetrating. We recommend that you look for a sealer with an applicator included. Then, apply it carefully. However, remember that the sealer lasts approximately 1 or 2 years: it then loses its effectiveness.

Installing baseboards…

Immediately after applying the grout, remove the painter’s tape from the surfaces you chose to protect. Then install the baseboards to cover the cracks between the wall and the floor. Add thresholds or something else of your choice and… now enjoy your tiled floor.

To facilitate the laying of tiles on the floor…

As you can see, tiling a floor is a strenuous but satisfying process. Furthermore, it’s no secret that the duration of a floor is determined by the quality of the distributor, although the capacity of the installer also has an influence.

That’s why we, as Canada Floors Depot, are committed to your work. With a wide range of floors and an impeccable track record, you can see for yourself the quality of our products. Now that you know how to tile a floor, contact us: so that we can help you, as it will be a pleasure.