How to Install Tile Using Tools
- 1). Sweep the floor thoroughly to remove any debris. Scrape up and remove any stubborn dirt and debris from the floor with your putty knife. Mop the floor with clean water and allow it to dry completely.
- 2). Lay out your tiles on the floor to check for alignment. Remember to leave space between each tile where the grout lines will be. Mark the tiles to be cut, using your pencil. Stack the tiles into piles that allow you to easily install them in the same order as your layout.
- 3). Hook up the water supply and plug in the power cord on your wet saw. Place the marked tiles onto your saw one at a time to make your cuts. Push the tile gently into the spinning blade to cut along your lines. Grip any leftover tiling and snap it off with your tile nippers. Add the cut tiles into the prepared stacks for easy installation.
- 4). Scoop up some of the thin-set adhesive from its bucket with your 3-inch putty knife. Spread a 1/4-inch layer of thin-set onto the floor. Hold your V-notched trowel at a 30-degree angle to the floor. Swipe it through the adhesive to make furrows that will aid in the bonding process. Start in the far corner of the room. Cover a square 24 inches by 24 inches with adhesive. Place your tiles for that section and press each tile into the adhesive to bond the tile with the floor. Put two plastic spacers between every tile to form your grout line area. Continue in the same manner across the floor, adding a section at a time of thin-set adhesive, tile and spacers. Allow 24 hours for the adhesive to cure.
- 5). Mix your grout with water in the bucket in the amounts prescribed by the manufacturer. Mix the ingredients with your putty knife. Pour the grout over the entire floor. Push the grout into the grout lines with the rubber-bladed trowel. Wipe away the excess grout and smooth the grout lines by gently wiping the tiles with a wet sponge.
- 6). Dip your sponge into the water and wring it out thoroughly after every wipe to avoid smearing the grout and possibly scratching your tiles. Allow the grout to dry for 48 hours. Squirt sealer onto each grout line and allow it to dry for 24 hours before walking on your new tile floor.
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