Laying floor tiles is a task that requires meticulous care and patience, and the right tools and techniques can help you achieve a beautiful and durable floor. Here's a detailed guide on how to lay floor tiles.
1. Preparation stage
1. Materials and tools.
First, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:
Tile. Tile adhesive (tile adhesive or cement mortar).
Space cross pieces (brick joint crosses).
Measuring tapes, levels, and angular rulers.
Tile cutters or tile cutters.
Stir bar (for agitating the adhesive).
Rubber hammer. Scrape the trowel of tile adhesive (straight and square).
Float. Measuring barrels.
Cleaning cloth. Protect glasses and gloves.
2. Prepare the ground.
Clean the floor: Make sure the floor is clean, dry, free of oil and dust.
Check the floor flatness: Use a level to check the flatness of the ground, and if necessary, do self-leveling treatment.
Measurement and planning: Measure the length and width of the room, determine the direction and pattern of tiles. In order to reduce cuts, laying generally starts in the center of the room.
Buy bricks: When buying tiles, be sure to take into account the loss and cut parts, and buy 5-10% more bricks as a backup.
Second, the laying stage
1. Mix the adhesive.
Mix proportionally: Mix the adhesive and water in the recommended ratio according to the product leaflet.
Stir thoroughly: Use a tamper to stir well until there are no granules, making sure to mix evenly.
2. Lay the first brick.
Determine the starting point: Generally start with a brick in the center of the room, and use a corner ruler to make sure the bricks are placed correctly.
Apply the adhesive: Use a trowel to apply a piece of adhesive to the floor that matches the size of the tile.
Laying tiles: Place the tile gently on the adhesive and use a rubber hammer to gently tap the tile to make sure it is in good contact with the ground.
3. Lay the rest of the tiles.
Maintain the gap: When laying each tile, use criss-cross pieces to maintain an even gap.
Horizontal and aligned: Use a level to check the levelness and alignment of the tiles at any time.
Trim and cut: When encountering corners or fixtures, use a tile cutter or cutter to cut.
Clean up excess adhesive: Clean up any excess adhesive that has spilled before the adhesive dries.
3. Completion stage
1. Caulking. Wait for the adhesive to cure: Wait 24 hours for the adhesive to fully cure, usually 24 hours.
Remove the gap bar: Removes all brick crosses.
Mix caulk: According to the ratio required by the manual, mix the caulk and water and stir well.
Fill the brick joints: Use a float to press the caulk into the brick joint, ensuring an even filling and no voids.
Clean the tile surface: Remove excess caulk from the tile surface with a damp cloth and wait for the caulk to dry.
2. Inspection and cleaning.
Final check: Check for missing brick joints and make sure all brick joints are filled completely.
Clean the workspace: Thoroughly clean the work area and remove all construction waste.
Maintenance: Depending on the caulk requirements, it may take a few days for the newly laid floor tiles to be used normally.
Laying floor tiles is a meticulous job, and every step needs to be carefully handled. It is necessary not only to ensure the beauty of the tile, but also to ensure its flatness and durability. Laying bricks by following the above steps and precautions can maximize the work efficiency and quality of bricking.