While ceramic tile can be applied directly to a concrete slab, wooden floors should be covered with cement backer board first. On areas that will not be easily seen, start with whole tiles along one edge. For more visible areas, mark the midpoints of each wall, and pop a chalk line on the floor in both directions. Use the point where the two lines cross as the center for laying out your tile.

Here’s how to tile a floor:

  1. Mix thin-set mortar with water and apply with a notched trowel.
  2. Cut the border tiles to width with a scoring cutter or wet saw.
  3. Press the tiles into the adhesive, and check to be sure they are level.
  4. Use plastic spacers to keep grout lines uniform.
  5. Allow the mortar to set overnight then apply grout in the cracks with a rubber float.
  6. When the grout starts to set, clean off any excess with a wet sponge.
  7. Rinse the sponge in a bucket of water and go over the floor until any remaining grout haze has been removed from the tile.
  8. After the grout has cured for the recommended time, apply a sealer in high traffic areas to keep it from staining.

Watch the video above to find out more.

Read also: Does Tile Need to Acclimate?

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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