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How to Achieve a Perfect Tile Layout

How to Use Grids for the Perfect Tile Layout

How do you use grids to create a perfect tile layout?

  1. Gather materials and determine the average size of the tiles
  2. Measure the grout joint size
  3. Measure the room and begin laying out tiles
  4. Apply adhesive
  5. Cut and set tiles

 

If you’re constantly undergoing do-it-yourself home projects, you would want to keep yourself informed of the correct procedures and materials required for a smooth-sailing process.

Some home improvement projects, after all, are difficult to perfect if you don’t know the necessary methods. For example, laying out tiles can be a laborious task if you don’t know where to begin. In this kind of endeavor, it would be in your best interest to equip yourself with the most accurate and efficient tile layout tips.

Continue reading to learn more about how can take advantage of grids in laying out your tiles.

 

Gather materials and determine the average size of your tiles

Gather materials and determine the average size of your tiles

The first step in any home improvement project is to bring out all your materials and gather them all in one place. This act would eventually make it easier for you to access whatever tool you need for a particular procedure.

In laying out tiles, you would need the following: tiles, tile cutter, nipper, tape measure, pencil, chalk line, adhesive, and grout.

After you have gathered your materials, the next important step is for you to measure a few of your tiles. Using your tape measure, measure the respective lengths and widths of around 10 tiles from the stack.

 

Measure the grout joint size

The grout in your tiling simply refers to the spaces in between each tile on the surface of the floor. Wider grout joint size measurements are generally considered to be more favorable compared to narrower ones. Especially if the surface of your flooring is not entirely flat, wider joints can allow for more breathing room.

Apart from this, the wider grout joints can also help you in adjusting the positioning of your tiles whenever you need to change them. For example, if you’ve accidentally made a mistake on the tile spacing, wider joints can help you move around more tiles with relative ease, versus narrow joints. You should ensure that the smallest measurement of your grout joint would be 3/16 of an inch.

 

Measure the room and begin laying out the tiles

Measure the room and begin laying out the tiles

This phase of laying out your tiles on a grid is probably the most difficult one, as it requires a higher level of precision and accuracy. This part of grid-application requires more meticulous attention to detail. Nevertheless, this portion aims to offer you a step-by-step guide to help you measure your room.

You should begin by marking the center point of every wall in the room. Make chalk markings between the center points of each opposing wall to help you identify the center of the room. Because you want each tile to perfectly fit in their designated space, you should be careful to make the appropriate adjustments to create perfect-looking squares in every intersection.

Start laying out your tiles at the center point of your floor by placing a row of loose tiles in both directions. Cut tiles as needed once you reach the walls. There may be cases where these cuts are smaller than half the measurement of the tiles. You can instead adjust the positioning of the center line by marking a new line around a half-tile size nearer the wall. To ensure a higher level of precision, you may also repeat this step along the intersecting line.

 

Apply adhesive

In applying your tile adhesive, you should ensure not to cover your gridlines in order to help you in the correct placement of your tiles. Depending on the instructions on your adhesive, spread a 0.25-inch thick layer on one grid area.

The best piece of advice for applying tile adhesive is to ensure that you apply only the amount which you can use within a 30-minute period. This is so that you will avoid instances of having to scrape off the dried adhesive.

 

Cut and set tiles

Cut and set tiles

You should be able to cut your tiles with a tile cutter or a nipper, depending on the size that you need it to fit. Use a pencil to mark the size of the area you want to cut off.

Finally, you’re ready to install your tiles. It’s always best to begin the installation in the center of the room, per grid. As mentioned before, always ensure to leave grout joints or small spaces in between each tile.

After you have filled up each grid with tiles, secure the tiling surface with a small block to ensure that the area is free from irregular leveling.

After a 24-hour period, or so, you can now begin applying the grout in the joints which you have left. Simply follow the instructions on the packaging of your grout, then you will be good to go.

 

Key Takeaway

When you think about laying out your own tile, you should always ensure to follow the correct procedures and use the right tools and materials. Not knowing the basic tile layout tips might lead to a botched tile installation project – which is why you have to ensure that your grid measurements are as accurate as possible.

The guide above has hopefully provided you with the necessary steps and procedures for a successful tile installation. Click here for more helpful tips with Floor Center!

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How to Tile Over Your Existing Wall Tiles

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How do you tile over existing wall tiles?

  1. Inspect Your Existing Tiles
  2. Choose the Right Tile
  3. Prepare the Wall
  4. Pick Your Adhesive
  5. Begin Installation

 

When it comes to price, tiling over existing tiles is more affordable than retiling the entire wall or floor. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, this can be a great time-saver. You can finish your tiling work faster without having to deal with a large mess. If you want to save money, tiling over existing tiles is also a cost-effective option. There’s no need to hire extra pairs of hands to complete your retiling work. You can consider this as an easy do-it-yourself project. Here’s how you can tile over your existing wall tiles.

 

Inspect Your Existing Tiles

Inspecting your current tile setup is important. You have to make sure that they’re adhering well to the current substrate. It’s easy to tell when the tiles are successfully installed, make sure that your tiles don’t produce any hollow or drum-like sounds when you tap them. You can check for the sound by tapping each tile with the back of a screwdriver and listen for the hollow sound. If you find that the area sounds solid, you can proceed to tile over it. Tiles that sound hollow have to be replaced before tiling. If your existing surface is uneven, tiling over it will be uneven as well. So it is critical that you make sure that the surface is even before proceeding with your tiling job.

 

Choose the Right Tile

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Current wall tiles can make a huge impact on your project. If the wall tiles you’ve used previously are flat, you can use any tile you want. It’s much easier to install everything on a flat surface. However, you may face some difficulties when the tile pattern is uneven. Tiles with a wave pattern or layers can be difficult to install over. It doesn’t matter if your substrate is even, you will need to adjust according to the design of the pre-existing tile.

Take a straight edge tool. You need this to check how the wall tiles undulate. Use this as a reference when choosing your tiles. If they appear to be too uneven, use small tiles to accommodate the uneven tile surface.

One tile design you can try for your wall tiles is from Floor Center’s 30X60 KY collection. Hex Beige (KY10) and Hex Blanc (KY14) are glossy tiles that are the ideal fit for your bathroom. The light colors reflect your ambient lighting perfectly. The gloss texture allows for easy cleaning.

The Palette collection simulates stone tiles. Enjoy the earth tones of Creme (I-3602) and Beige (I-3603). These 30×60 rustic tiles are perfect for the outdoors. Replace your garden or patio wall tiles with these neutral choices.

 

Prepare the Wall

Prepare your pre-existing wall by cleaning it thoroughly. Clean the tiles with alcohol and a clean rag because this can remove the dirt and grime without adding excess moisture on the surface. Alcohol will also remove any sticky residue from shampoo and soap. Keep your area well ventilated when you’re using alcohol to clean the surface.

For the pre-existing grout, try removing as much as you can. Grout joints can grow mold spores. If these joints stay warm and humid, spores will begin to grow no matter what you place over it. Removing your pre-existing grout won’t affect the tiles you will lay over it.

 

Pick Your Adhesive

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Once you find the tile design you want and properly laid out your joints, you will need to choose the appropriate adhesive. The adhesive doesn’t require special properties like waterproofing and weatherproofing. If you install your tiles properly, you won’t run into moisture problems.

 

Begin Installation

Lay down the adhesive with a trowel evenly on the surface. Begin at the center and work your way out as you lay the tiles. Remember to be careful and avoid sliding the tiles around as you lay them down. Wait for the tiles to fully set before adding your grout.

Mix your grout according to the instructions. If you’ve made the proper spacing between your tiles, this should be easy. Evenly spread the grout and make sure there’s an adequate amount in between each space. Wipe off the excess with a rag and wait for it to dry. Once it’s dry, you should notice a film on the surface. Clean off the remaining residue with grout solution or water.

 

Key Takeaway

Save some extra cash by installing new tiles over pre-existing tiles. You can achieve an updated look by using this method. To make sure that your project is clean, follow the steps above. For other impeccable wall tile designs, visit Floor Center to learn more!