J.J. Smothers has worked at a major Midwest newspaper for more than five years, designing covers and special sections, editing copy and also providing the occasional byline. In his free time he enjoys spending a night with family and friends, working on small projects around the house with his fiancee, heading outside for a run or to the gym for a pickup game of basketball.
Posted under:
Tile FlooringSUPPLIES
- Measuring tape
- Chalk
- A-square
- Plastic spacers
Overview
Installing a new tile floor in any room is one way to help add value to your home as well as update your decor. Before you can start to lay the tile, however, it is highly recommended to square the room to get a sense of how the tiles will look.
Step 1
Divide your room into quadrants. You want to start tiling from the center of the room, so measure and mark the center point of your four walls, then snap intersecting chalk lines between them to know where to begin.
Step 2
Align an A-square with your intersecting chalk lines to make sure they are at right angles and that your lines are perfectly straight.
Step 3
Lay out most of if not the entire floor in a dry run. Start by laying a row of tile along each side of your four intersecting chalk lines. Use the plastic spacers you'll use when you actually use mortar, and extend the tiles all the way to each wall.
Step 4
Adjust the layout of the tiles slightly so that the last tile along the wall is at least half the width of the tiles you are using. Also make sure the last row of tiles along each wall is the same size.
Step 5
Fill in the remaining spaces of each quarter of your room's floor. Use your spacers in between all the tiles, and work outward from the main intersection.
Step 6
Adjust the color or texture of any tiles, if needed, once you have a dry run finished to get a visual of how your final product will look.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : If you are using multi-colored or textured tiles, make sure to set up a system to help you remember where to place those tiles during the actual installation.
