How to lay porcelain tiles on the floor

Tiles are one of the most popular coatings used in modern apartments. It can be made of various materials - for example, tiles or porcelain stoneware. Porcelain tiles have their undeniable advantages over tiles, which is why many people decide to purchase them. But the cost of such a coating is significantly higher than a simple ceramic one. That’s why you can try to save on installation costs and do it yourself.

This is not a very complicated process, which does not require special skills and abilities - only your desire and accuracy. You will learn how to properly lay porcelain tiles on the floor in this article.

How to prepare a surface for laying porcelain tiles

The first step is to properly prepare the base so that the installation is of high quality. This is one of the most important stages that significantly influences the final result.

The base must be absolutely smooth, clean and even. To achieve this, you need to use a special mixture called a primer. Apply it to the floor and leave until completely dry.

IMPORTANT! When laying a covering on wood, it is necessary to use a special screed - for example, a cement one, otherwise the floor will not last long due to too great a difference not only in the composition of these materials, but also in the rate at which they deteriorate. In addition, it is not recommended to lay tiles on top of an old layer, but if this is still necessary, treat the previous layer with caustic water.

Laying porcelain tiles on the floor

After the surface has been thoroughly prepared and the primer has completely dried, you can begin to work. Prepare all the necessary materials in advance so that they are on hand during the process.

Then you need to do some calculations. First, select a pattern, and then calculate the position of each part of the coating. You need to start from the middle - this way the coating will be as neat as possible. Next, apply the markings and proceed to the actual installation.

IMPORTANT! Please note that to install porcelain tiles you will need a special glue; “ceramic” glue will not be suitable for it. This is explained by the differences between the two materials - porcelain stoneware is stronger, and therefore heavier, and also does not absorb water. Therefore, when going to the store, be sure to consult with the seller.

Prepare the glue and after the required time, apply it to the surface in a dense layer. It is very important that it is applied evenly, otherwise in the future voids will form under the coating, which will lead to damage to the coating.

Please note that fairly large pieces of tile also have adhesive applied to them, unlike smaller pieces. This will guarantee that the coating will stick firmly, but in this case you need to take care of the required amount of glue in advance.

Nuances and subtleties of the process of laying porcelain tiles on the floor

There are some subtleties that should definitely be taken into account during installation, so as not to be disappointed with the result:

• For example, tiles can only be moved and adjusted within 10 minutes after installation. After this time, the glue begins to act, and you can ruin the whole job. It's better to leave it as is, so as not to redo everything again.
• In addition, please note that the tile laid earlier will be lower than the next one. Obviously, you cannot glue all the elements at the same time, so take this fact into account when further processing the coating.

This nuance is not too noticeable to the average eye, so there is no need to worry. Now you know how you can lay porcelain tiles yourself so that the result continues to please you for a long time.