How to lay tiles on the floor
Before each repair action, you need to familiarize yourself not only with the algorithm, but also consider even the most seemingly insignificant details of the procedure. Thus, in this article we will talk about how to make a warm one yourself, even for a beginner.
The content of the article
How to prepare the floor for laying tiles with your own hands
Of course, you first need to perform some manipulations so that in the future the process will be most productive.
- The first step is to remove the old coating, all possible debris, even the smallest dust particles. This can be done either with a wet rag. You can also sweep the floor.
- Next, what needs to be done is to check the slope of the area using a special level. Thus, by finding the highest point, it is possible to determine the place where the thinnest layer of glue will be.
- Now you can use acrylate primer to cover the surface with a roller.
REFERENCE! It is best to take a small tool, since it is this product that absorbs the least amount of construction material.
- In a situation where the workplace is equipped with a pad, it is better to remove it. And the void that remains after her presence must be filled with concrete.Of course, if you don’t have free time, you can saturate the product, but for this you need to use primer. After which it will take time to dry. Sometimes one hour is enough.
What you need for installation
Collecting the necessary equipment is also a stage of preparation for the work process. Therefore, you will need the following list of tools for this:
- To cut quartz vinyl materials, you will need a stationery knife;
- A ruler and a simple pencil will be needed to create outlines;
- Crosses to delimit tiles during installation;
- A high-rigidity roller and a metal spatula are useful when installing the surface;
- Special adhesive for a special type of tile. In this aspect, it is very important to purchase a specific solution that would be suitable for vinyl tiles. If you take a regular one, sooner or later the coating will peel off from the main part of the floor;
- To provide additional thermal and sound insulation, a substrate is used. The main thing is that it has an adhesive base.
Step-by-step instructions on how to lay tiles
So, in addition to diluting the tile adhesive in the required proportions, you should perform the following steps:
- The first step is to apply a layer of the composition in such a way that various irregularities are not observed. A notched spatula will help in this matter.
ATTENTION! At this stage, you should not apply it to a large area at once. This is explained by the fact that if a defect occurs, then when it is eliminated, the glue may dry on the other side of the floor.
- Consequently, the area there will no longer be suitable. Therefore, it is so important to cover less than 1-2 tiles.Before laying, it is advisable to clean each product to eliminate possible dust, otherwise adhesion will deteriorate in its presence. It is not recommended to use different liquids for this, since the material does not absorb moisture well.
- In addition, it is recommended to apply the solution directly to the back of the product. The technology itself is similar.
- Now we put the first row. At the same time, it is important to wedge the tiles using crosses. Thus, as a result you will be able to notice a neat seam. It may be that one of the parts will protrude above the others. In this case, you should drown it through certain movements. In the opposite situation, when the component part is lower than the rest, you will have to pull it back out and add a little glue to its original location. Then repeat the standard manipulations.
- Some craftsmen recommend using masking tape, because it gives additional fixation.
ATTENTION! When repeating the installation of the second row, you should double-check the surface for possible slopes.
- You also need to remove excess solution using a special sponge. As for cleaning the seams, use the same crosses. You just need to wait a little until the mixture dries, after which you can clean off the excess.
- Therefore, each row must be laid out with the features described above. The main thing is to remember the order of actions. That is, after applying the glue, you need to wipe the tile, then provide it with a solution and press it to the floor. After that, the algorithm follows leveling, checking the slope, distributing products, and eliminating excess material. Thus, you need to cover the entire space with tiles.
- Now you can take measurements and trim where needed.
Therefore, we can say that the tiles are actually finally laid. There is nothing complicated about this procedure. You just need to take into account some specifics, which are so important to achieve a positive result. It is also recommended to finally inspect the resulting structure so that all parts are properly secured and glued. This is especially true for those elements that are located around the perimeter of the room.
How long should I wait after laying tiles?
Of course, you should finally wait some time for the material to finally set and be ready for further use. In addition to the time it takes for the main stage (about 5 hours), hours are needed for the adhesive solution to set. It directly depends on the following factors:
- Temperature conditions. The higher the degree, the faster the structure will set.
IMPORTANT! The conditions must be natural, that is, the room cannot be artificially heated.
- Floor subfloor degree. The minimum acceptable indicator is +5. As for the most optimal environment, it is +20. Accordingly, the colder the space, the slower the material will fix.
- One of the key criteria is humidity. It should be understood that the higher the percentage of moisture in the atmosphere, the longer the composition will take to dry.
REFERENCE! Where the air has high humidity, the structure can gain strength in one week. When talking about primary hardening, we can mention a time period of 24 to 48 hours. Final drying indicates that the tile can be subjected to physical stress.
In every activity there are those actions, the commission of which can lead to an undesirable outcome. Accordingly, those same aspects are listed below:
- It is not recommended to use cheap material in the process. It is worth focusing on the middle price segment. Often, it is precisely this assortment that has a relationship between price and quality.
- The previous point also applies to glue. An incorrectly selected solution can directly lead to poor service life.
- A fairly common mistake is using tiles end to end. To avoid this situation, measurements should be reliably calculated.
REFERENCE! Finishing products should be purchased with a reserve of at least 5 percent of the total quantity.
- Don't skip the surface leveling step. If you exclude it completely, then the details will not be recorded and will soon disappear.
- In addition, you should not apply glue exclusively to the corners of the tiles, as the tension will be distributed unevenly.
- Do not believe the myth that indicates the positive effect of a large amount of the composition when applied.
Thus, it is recommended to carefully and moderately supply each part with the product. And if various defects occur, it is important to eliminate them in a timely manner.
In what rooms is tile flooring appropriate?
Most often you can find it used in the bathroom. Such a huge demand is explained by the ease of necessary cleaning and the ability to not absorb moisture. Also an excellent option is to use this material in the hall. This ensures visual zoning of the room. With the help of tiles you can both highlight the fireplace and differentiate the workplace from the leisure area.
It is important to take into account decorative characteristics.Because the interior of the living room should have a special atmosphere from the individual rooms. To summarize, we can say that it is possible to supply almost any space with the presented product, since it is this space that is considered appropriate.