How to Install Tile Like a Pro

New flooring with high labor costs. Doesn’t sound too appealing, does it? Deciding to add a new tile floor is a big decision and expensive bills usually follow it from contractors. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you have the time and energy to devote to new floors, you can install them yourself. Follow these helpful tips to make your next project worthy of a professional.

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Materials you will need:

Safety goggles, glass cutter, sponge, tape measure, level, mallet, trowel, tiles, tile spacers (optional), tiles adhesive, grout, and grout sealer.

1. Prepare the Floor

Make sure to remove all carpet remnants, old hard wood flooring nails and any glue residue. Your floor needs to be clean and level. If you are working with a cement floor, make sure to repair any holes or cracks before proceeding to the next step.

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2. Choose a Tile Pattern

Understand what your tile pattern will look like before you start. Sketch it out, measure it, and lay out your tiles to make sure you like how it will visually be represented. A jack-on-jack pattern is the most common. The pattern consists of tile laid like squares on a checkerboard. A running bond pattern has offset grout lines for each row and is a bit more modern than a jack-on-jack pattern.

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3. Measure more than once!

As you are laying out your tiles before installation, make sure to measure from the center of the room to each of the walls. You will need to center your tiles based on the center of the room so everything looks visually appealing. Draw two reference lines from the center of the room.  Make sure to leave equal spacing between the tiles for your grout. Make any final visual adjustments at this stage to save you money and time in the future.

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4. Time to Install

Start the final installation by laying the floor tiles at the center of the room, where the two reference lines are. Spread the adhesive with the trowel’s notched edge making sure to comb it out in ridges. Firmly set your tile down and make sure to leave space between each tile. If any adhesive oozes up between the tiles during this process, make sure to whip down any excess immediately.

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5. Set them in Place

After you have laid out a whole row of tiles, you can set them into the adhesive with a leveler and a mallet. Moving on to the next row, you may need to use a glasscutter to trim your tiles so that they fit. Glasscutters are available for rent from most hardware and home improvement stores.

6. Finish if off with Grout

Once you are done adhering the entire set of tiles to the floor, wait several hours before grouting.  Read the directions of your grout carefully. Most will have you mix it to the consistency of paste. Once you have achieved that, apply it to the tiles by forcing it between tiles. After 20 minutes, make sure to wipe away all excess grout with a damp sponge. Depending on the brand of grout, it is suggested that you let your tile and grout cure for a week before applying a silicone grout sealer. This will prevent any discoloration or deterioration in the future.{all pictures from source}.