Do it yourself tile flooring

Tiles add a look of elegance and professionalism to your do it yourself flooring projects. While the process of installing tile flooring may seem intimidating, it is possible for most do it yourselfers to install tile flooring properly. Tiles are durable, and if properly sealed the flooring will likely last longer than any other flooring in your home. With a little practice and the right tile cutter, you can learn how to install it.

Tools to install a tile floor

In order to discuss tile flooring tools it is first necessary to know some of the things you will have to do during the install process. One of the first steps is laying out your floor and cutting tiles to fit corners and other awkward spots. There are two types of tile cutters: a manual straight cutter and a power wet ceramic saw.

The straight cutter scores the surface of a tile, allowing you to carefully break the tool in half, or smaller sections as necessary. A wet saw makes it possible to cut corners, so that you can make your tiles fit around doorways, around counters and toilets, and other awkward spots. Both of these types of saws are often available for rent from hardware or flooring stores. You will also need a good trowel for applying thinset mortar and sponges for getting your grout into the spaces between the tiles. It is also helpful to purchase a grout mixing attachment for your drill, which makes it much easier to prepare your grout and thinset.

Follow these simple steps for tile installation:

• Prepare your subfloor - Remove any carpet or linoleum, as well as the glue used to hold them in place. Very similar to when you prepare the ground for any other type of flooring.
• Lay out your floor to ensure tiles fit
• Mix thinset and apply evenly
• Place tiles firmly in thinset, using spacers to ensure proper spacing and wait about 24 hours.
• Mix your grout and push it into spaces.
• Use a sponge to even out the grout.
• Seal with an approved sealer to ensure grout is water tight.

Installing your tile flooring by yourself is a challenging project, but it is also very rewarding.