Laying Tile Floor

[Mama2-4]

Hello,
I just wanted to ask for any suggestions or tips any of you may have when laying a tile floor. My husband and I plan to embark on this project in the next couple of days in our kitchen. We already have all the supplies now we just have to do it. I am a little nervous as it will be our first time. We are also going to install radient heat under the tiles...it should be great when done. I am hoping we can get the project done in like 5-6 days. Any advice or tips would be appreciated!!

[mama kate]

wash the excess grout of ASAP!! I was sort of lazy about really scrubbing the haze of the tiles now it is really a pain to get it off!

[caeden&connersmom]

I layed a tile kitchen floor a few weekends ago for my cousin and her husband. I am odd cause I LOVE LOVE LOVE to tile! hehe. I have my own wet saw and everything!

The thing I find that makes it an easier job is to lay out the entire floor first. That way you know where your cut edges will hit, can make adjustments so you dont have one side with a 2" cut tile on the edge and the other side an 8" cut tile. (Also step back and take a look from the entrance into the room vantage point, do you like how the tiles are situated. My preference is a brick pattern, where the middle of one tile hits where the two above meet. Makes the room bigger that way. Also, I find back buttering each tile a LOT easier than spreading the mortar on the floor. You have more control, less mess between tiles to clean out too. Lay one edge on the floor, position it and let it drop about 4 inches onto the floor and you have a pretty good stick. Use a rubber mallet to give it a few pounds all over. A big level is a huge help too so you can lay it across several tiles to make sure you are plumb. DONT step on the tiles you have laid!!! Tile from the inside corner to an exit. Let it set for 24 hours before grouting, let the grout sit about a week before sealing.

Good luck and have fun!! I can twait to do my kitchen and dining room!

[sapphire_chan]

Those little plastic divider thingies they sell are great, even the professional we hired used them. They are also great entertainment as the mortar dries and you watch your cats chase them around. (You can't walk on the tile for 24 hours or so, cats don't harm the tile after about 2 hours or even less)

[Mama2-4]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for all the great suggestions, I am going to share them with my DH! I will let you know how it goes, it will be so nice to have a normal floor, if you could only see it now!!
Andrea

[annekevdbroek]

Ditto on the grout. We tiled two rooms and I did the grouting on the first. For the second I was out of town and my husband did the grouting - and didn't completely appreciate my instructions regarding wiping it off very well. I am still chipping it off (with the plastic handle of a paint brush) and it is a major pain. He laid the tile and said the grouting was much harder work.

[Mama2-4]

Our floor is done! It looks so great and we are so happy with it!! Thanks again for your suggestions. I am still cleaning off grout in some areas as the tile we choose is not smooth and so it got into some of the grooves on the tiles...but I have found it comes off fairly easy with a little scrub brush and some water. When my husband comes home tomorrow he has to hook up a few pipes and then we will have radiant heat under the tile! I am really excited about that.