Materials Needed To Tile A Floor

Floor tile installations require both common and tile specific tools.

Materials needed to tile a floor.

Scoop a trowelful of grout onto the floor and spread it with a rubber float held at a 45 degree angle to the floor. Push grout into the joints by first moving the float in line with the joints then diagonal to them. Add water a little at a time by squeezing it from a sponge. Use tile nippers or pliers to nibble off the uneven edge of a broken tile.

If a straight cut edge shows rub it against a sheet of 80 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper to round and smooth the edge. To lock the tiles in and create a solid floor for your bathroom you ll need to first layer a thin amount of mortar to set the tiles and grout to connect them to one another. You need a few easily accessible tools such as a tape measure a chalk line and a level. Tile specific tools include a notched trowel a rubber grout float and grout.

Before you zip off to the hardwarestore to spend a lot of money take a moment to think about your required tool list. Thin set is cement based but some mortars are labeled as non modified and require a latex polymer admixture that will improve the performance of the mortar and increase bond strength. If you want to tile like a professional then check out our rundown of the 10 essential tools and materials for tiling. If your floor is too thin for tile add a thicker layer of tile backer board.

Wet tile saw or snap tile cutter. Yours might need 1 2 in. Our floor required 1 4 in thick backer. With joists every 24 in you need 1 1 2 in.

Setting tile is fairly straightforward if you begin in the center of the room and work your way out this guide shows you how to work with mortar lay out and level tiles and score tiles to complete a professional looking installation. Backer to reach the minimum thickness. Mortar usually comes in two varieties pre mix and unmixed mortar that comes in a box.