haeuslebauer
2010-05-05 08:58:03
- #1
Laying Tiles
Hello Mondäne,
I’m not a tile professional either, but I have always kept the following things in mind when laying tiles:
- The substrate should be absolutely level and clean. There must be no adhesive residue from PVC on the floor. If necessary, prepare the floor with a primer.
- Before mixing the tile adhesive, make sure you have all the tools and materials within reach. The tile adhesive can start to set after about 15 minutes. Even if it's only 7.5 m², it’s better to mix the batch twice.
- Pre-cut the tiles so you don’t get rushed during the laying process.
- Apply the tile adhesive to the floor with a large notched trowel and press the tiles into the adhesive bed. There should be no hollow spaces. Align each tile properly right away since the drying process can be very fast.
- If you have a good eye, you can skip tile spacers for the manageable area; otherwise, just use a rail to check the joint distances.
- For tiles in the hallway area, you should use quality class 3 or 4, as the wear level is higher there than in a toilet.
- You should make sure not to have too much tile adhesive in the joints. Remove the adhesive from the tile surfaces immediately after laying.
- Since it is probably a floating screed, you should use silicone, not grout, around door frames and at wall edges, otherwise you will get cracks in the joints. The tiles might crack, too.
- Work the grout diagonally with a grout board and wipe off excess grout with a large wet sponge. After a short drying period, carefully clean the tiles with a damp cloth. Done!
- Be careful not to load the floor immediately; try not to walk on it for half a day. During the drying phase, ventilate well so the moisture can escape.
What about the other floor coverings after the hallway? If tiles are already laid there, be sure to pay attention to the height so you don’t end up with a small step from the hallway into the living area!
As I said, I’m not a professional, but I always did small rooms like toilets, hallways, or kitchen tile backsplashes myself. My wife never complained about the quality.
If I were you, I would also ask the building materials dealer for tips and suggestions.
If I think of anything else, I will post it here!
Otherwise, I wish you good luck and lots of fun with it.
Hello Mondäne,
I’m not a tile professional either, but I have always kept the following things in mind when laying tiles:
- The substrate should be absolutely level and clean. There must be no adhesive residue from PVC on the floor. If necessary, prepare the floor with a primer.
- Before mixing the tile adhesive, make sure you have all the tools and materials within reach. The tile adhesive can start to set after about 15 minutes. Even if it's only 7.5 m², it’s better to mix the batch twice.
- Pre-cut the tiles so you don’t get rushed during the laying process.
- Apply the tile adhesive to the floor with a large notched trowel and press the tiles into the adhesive bed. There should be no hollow spaces. Align each tile properly right away since the drying process can be very fast.
- If you have a good eye, you can skip tile spacers for the manageable area; otherwise, just use a rail to check the joint distances.
- For tiles in the hallway area, you should use quality class 3 or 4, as the wear level is higher there than in a toilet.
- You should make sure not to have too much tile adhesive in the joints. Remove the adhesive from the tile surfaces immediately after laying.
- Since it is probably a floating screed, you should use silicone, not grout, around door frames and at wall edges, otherwise you will get cracks in the joints. The tiles might crack, too.
- Work the grout diagonally with a grout board and wipe off excess grout with a large wet sponge. After a short drying period, carefully clean the tiles with a damp cloth. Done!
- Be careful not to load the floor immediately; try not to walk on it for half a day. During the drying phase, ventilate well so the moisture can escape.
What about the other floor coverings after the hallway? If tiles are already laid there, be sure to pay attention to the height so you don’t end up with a small step from the hallway into the living area!
As I said, I’m not a professional, but I always did small rooms like toilets, hallways, or kitchen tile backsplashes myself. My wife never complained about the quality.
If I were you, I would also ask the building materials dealer for tips and suggestions.
If I think of anything else, I will post it here!
Otherwise, I wish you good luck and lots of fun with it.