How To Install Porcelain Tile Flooring
Consider making yourself Outdoor Porcelain Tiles installation in case you're a DIYer or handyman. You could save money by putting in your flooring yourself instead of hiring a professional. But, it does require meticulous planning and preparation. If you make a mistake when finishing your floor with porcelain tiles, you could end up needing to spend more time (and money!) to fix your errors. You will feel satisfied when you plan and use the correct tools.
These are some tips to install porcelain tile floors.
Make sure you make sure you prepare your subfloor
If you fail to check and prep the subfloor properly, you run the risk of having to start over again if you find a problem down the line. Make sure that your subfloor is even. If it's not, you may use a patch for necessary adjustments. If you don't plan to put porcelain floor tiles on top of a concrete floor, backer boards can be a good alternative. It's a good idea purchase more backer boards than you anticipate you'll require (even an additional 10%) to ensure that you don't run out.
Mix your tiles
If you have multiple boxes of porcelain floor tile, take the tiles out of the different boxes and mix them together randomly. This will prevent any color variations between batches of tiles from creating a noticeable color shift in your porcelain tile flooring.
Place the porcelain tiles
Make sure you lay your porcelain paving tiles in the pattern you want, before applying any adhesive. Set the tiles on the floor in the middle and then lay them along a line that is towards the wall. A quadrant at a, cover the room. Carrying out this step helps you to ensure you have the right amount of tile needed to finish the task. Additionally, you will be able to make modifications to your tile like cutting tiles that fit around bathroom fixtures.
Smooth your mix
Let your grout or thin-set to rest for 10 minutes prior to when it's ready for use. This will allow dry areas to absorb water. Mix it up again prior to apply. The finished product should be peanut butter-like in consistency.
Back-butter your tiles
Back-buttering involves using your trowel and apply thin set to the tile porcelain slabs. This is similar to buttering bread. This technique is helpful when you're 1) in a corner, and cannot apply thin-set with your trowel on the floor, 2)) have to set the tile a bit higher, or) have an extra large tile, like 12x12 or larger.
Get extra porcelain tiles at a discounted price
Once you've laid the porcelain floor, be sure to save any tiles that are left. They can be put in a box and label the box with the name of the room that you have tiled. If tiles are in other rooms, it is important to mark it. If you should ever need to replace tiles, you won't have to worry about finding perfectly matching porcelain floor tiles.
