Nov 21, 2021
Tiles are construction materials used to cover roofs, floors, and walls. They are usually thin, square, or rectangular coverings created from ceramic, stone, or even glass materials. Most of the time, they are applied by skilled workers, but did you know that you can do it yourself?
If you have an area that you want to change up to or practice on as you venture on this possibly new life skill, AllHome Philippines got you in this beginner’s guide to tiling flooring. Let’s get started!
The very first step you have to do in tiling your floors is to set the room, doing so will allow you to have perfectly cut tiles all over. Do this by getting a tape measure to obtain the size and shape of the room. Get the width of the room and find the centerline. The centerline is where you will begin to place your tiles. You can simulate how your tiles will look by placing the tiles themselves, however, tiles are heavy so it will be easier to get a stick of wood.
On the wooden stick, you can mark the width of the tiles there, then use that stick to layout the width of each tile on the floor. Make sure that you have included the weight of the grout joint too and not just the tiles themselves. Work out, again, from the center to the edges of the room.
Doing the step mentioned above will allow you to adjust where the tiles will lay on easily, thus giving you a tidy and symmetrical flooring.
After setting up how your tiles will sit on the floor, you can now mix your tile adhesive. We advise using cement-based floor tile adhesive, and to follow the instructions on the packaging of cement to get the correct ratio of water and powder since this is crucial in getting the right consistency.
Before doing so, put on your gloves, goggles, and dust mask to protect yourself. In mixing cement, you may use a bucket trowel when using small amounts. However, if you’re confident enough and you can mix up more cement, then you can use an electric mixer. Only mix up how much is required to avoid wasting.
As for the consistency, the adhesive should not be too runny. What you want to get is when you lift some adhesive from the bucket and place it on the bucket trowel to hold on its side, it should hang off the trowel for a few seconds before falling off, or else, your tile may not stick.
When you get the right consistency of the cement, you can now apply it onto the floor. You’ll be needing a suitably sized trowel for the type of tile that you’ve got. Take the right amount of tile adhesive and put it on the floor. Do so for two or three times until you have a medium-sized pile.
With your tiling trowel, spread the adhesive around. You don’t have to worry about the adhesive being neat and tidy yet as you just want to spread the adhesive out.
After it has been spread, you should form the ribs. First, hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle, and push it into the floor while holding it at a constant angle. Drag the trowel towards you while simultaneously pressing its edge into the ground. This will create defined ribs, sunken into the adhesive. Notice how you’ll end up with lots of adhesives stuck on the trowel, but fret not because you can use this for your next row of ribs. All you have to do next is repeat the process. Be careful not to put too much cement right away since some parts may dry already before you get the chance to place a tile on it. After doing this process, you’ll have yourself an adhesive bed where your tiles can sit evenly.
For the remaining adhesive on your trowel, use the bucket trowel to get it off and return it into the tub.
Now that you’ve learned how to place the cement, you can now place the floor tiles. If you will apply large-sized tiles, it is crucial to do back-buttering, which is a process of applying a thin layer of adhesive to the back of the tile and on the floor. Back-buttering gives your tiles a better bond onto the adhesive bed on the floor. Once you’ve done applying the adhesive onto the tile and the floor, simply place the tile onto where you marked it to lay it on. Give it a soft jiggle and apply light pressure to make sure that it is firmly attached to the floor.
Once done, do everything again with the next tile, and remember to put spaces between the tiles for your grout joint.
Next to tiling is the mixing of your tile grout. Similar to your cement adhesive, follow the instructions on the packaging of your grout on how to prepare it. After doing so, you’re ready to grout the tiles.
With your bucket trowel, put some grout into the spaces between each tile, press it in, and spread it around the floor. Carefully fill in those spaces. When you’re done with an area, wipe it down using a sponge dampened with cold water before proceeding to another tile.
After applying the grout on the entire area, wait for several minutes to allow it to dry. You can do a more thorough cleaning once it does by once again wiping it with your damp, cold sponge with the goal of removing the haze. Make sure that you always clean the sponge to avoid absorbed grout from spreading further. To end off, polish the tile surface with a clean cloth.
Did you get inspired by this guide? We can’t wait to see how you’ll use this newly gained knowledge to good use!
If you are ready to start your DIY project, have a look at AllHome Philippines’ tiles range. Visit any AllHome branches to check out great finds. We offer DIY Hardware, Construction Materials, Flooring, Furniture and Appliances, Homewares, Linens, Sanitary Ware, and more! You may also visit our website and enjoy the hassle-free experience of shopping online through AllHome.com.ph today! AllHome online store has a shopping site that offers fast delivery, cash on delivery, and easy payment terms. You may also follow us on our official Facebook page and Instagram accounts for more updates.
Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter to get more articles like these delivered straight to your inbox.
