How to properly lay ceramic tiles

You are planning to renovate your home or commercial property. To do this, you have already chosen the tiles for renovation in terms of size, shape, quality and color. But before you begin the main stage of laying, you need to carefully read the advice of specialists and plan the work correctly.

Selection of tools and equipment.

For normal work, the following tools will be needed:

• ruler, tape measure, triangle;
• pencil or marker;
• set of spatulas, including rubber and notched;
• rule and level;
• electric or manual cutter;
• glass cutter or core for figured trimming;
• grinder or other grinding tool;
• mixer or drill with a mixer attachment;
• trowel, rubber hammer;
• bucket, sponges.

In addition to all of the above, additional electric lamps and extension cords are required in case of insufficient lighting.

To protect hands, eyes, skin from dirt, dust and sharp edges, gloves, glasses, a mask or respirator should be prepared. When finishing the floor, the use of knee pads will facilitate the work

When laying, crosses of different sizes are used, this will ensure the same width of the seams between the tiles. Thanks to this, the finished work will look perfect, and the laying process itself will be much easier and faster.

Surface preparation

This is a very important stage, since tiles laid on poorly prepared walls or floors may crack or peel off during further operation.

It is necessary to remove wallpaper or paint residues from the walls. To treat painted surfaces, it is advisable to take special liquid cleaners for old paint or do this with a spatula. If there is old tile, it must be removed using a perforator or hammer and chisel. Laying a new layer of tile on top of the existing one is not recommended.

Next, all surfaces are leveled. This will require putty, primer, and drywall. The amount of work depends on their condition. Concrete and brick surfaces will probably require puttying in several layers, and a screed will be needed on the floor.

Preparation of the adhesive solution

The strength of the masonry and its durability depend on the quality of the adhesive. Building supermarkets offer a wide selection of powder mixtures. Which tile adhesive to choose, you should consult with the master who will lay the tiles, or with a consultant in the store.

You do not need to prepare a large amount of the mixture, as it will quickly thicken and become unsuitable for further use. According to the instructions on the package, add half the required amount of water to a bucket or other container, and then add the powder. Carefully stir everything with a mixer or drill at low speed so that the mixture does not spray into the air. Then add water gradually to achieve the required consistency.

Laying tiles

You should first decide how the tiles will be placed on the surface. Take measurements, determine the center of the wall or floor. It may be worth laying out the tiles to see how they will look and clarify how many elements will need to be cut.

Apply the adhesive mixture to a small part of the prepared surface and to the tiles with a notched trowel. Glue each element, helping yourself with a mallet or rubber hammer. Do not forget to place crosses between the seams, control the correctness of the laying using a level.

At the end of each row, around sockets, switches, etc., you may need to trim the tiles. If you have not done this before, you should be very careful and take careful measurements beforehand.

After laying, you should give time for the glue to dry completely, this may take a day or more. Only after this, remove the auxiliary crosses and grout the joints to fill all voids and cracks. The mixture for this process is prepared in the color that you want: it can harmonize or contrast with the main color of the tile. In the process of drying the grout, its remains are removed from the entire surface of the tile.

All these recommendations only give a general idea of ​​how the laying process goes. There are many small details and subtleties that cannot be placed in one article. Skill and ability come with experience, and each professional has personal secrets and techniques in stock that he is not very willing to share with others. This should be remembered when you think about repairs. Perhaps you should not experiment, but simply entrust the work of laying tiles to proven masters.