Tiling
Hello Mondäne,
I’m not a tiling professional either, but here are some things I always keep in mind when laying tiles:
- The substrate should be perfectly level and clean. There must be no adhesive residues from PVC on the floor. If necessary, prepare the floor with a primer.
- Before mixing the tile adhesive, make sure you have all tools and materials ready. The adhesive can start to set after about 15 minutes. Even if it’s only 7.5m² (80.7 sq ft), it’s better to mix the material twice rather than once.
- Pre-cut the tiles in advance to avoid stress during the installation process.
- Apply the tile adhesive to the floor using a large notched trowel and press the tiles firmly into the adhesive bed. Avoid creating any hollow spaces. Align each tile properly right away, as the drying process can be quite fast.
- If you have a good eye for measurements, you can skip tile spacers on small areas. Otherwise, use a straight edge to check the joint widths.
- Tiles in the hallway should be at least quality class 3 or 4, as the wear level in this area is higher than in a bathroom.
- Make sure not to have excessive adhesive in the joints. Immediately clean the tile surface from adhesive after laying.
- Since it’s probably a floating screed, use silicone—not grout—around door frames and wall edges to prevent cracks in the joints and possible tile cracking.
- Work the grout diagonally into the joints with a grout float, then remove excess grout with a large damp sponge. After a short drying time, carefully clean the tiles with a moist cloth. Done!
- Be cautious: do not load the floor immediately. Try not to walk on it for at least half a day. During the drying phase, ensure good ventilation to allow moisture to escape.
What kind of flooring comes after the hallway? If there are already tiles in the next room, pay special attention to the height to avoid a step down from the hallway to the living area!
As mentioned, I am not a professional but I have always installed tiles myself in small rooms like bathrooms, hallways, or kitchen backsplashes. My wife has never complained about the quality.
If I were you, I would also ask the building materials supplier for any tips or suggestions.
If I think of anything else, I will post it here! Otherwise, I wish you good luck and much enjoyment with your project.
Hello Mondäne,
I’m not a tiling professional either, but here are some things I always keep in mind when laying tiles:
- The substrate should be perfectly level and clean. There must be no adhesive residues from PVC on the floor. If necessary, prepare the floor with a primer.
- Before mixing the tile adhesive, make sure you have all tools and materials ready. The adhesive can start to set after about 15 minutes. Even if it’s only 7.5m² (80.7 sq ft), it’s better to mix the material twice rather than once.
- Pre-cut the tiles in advance to avoid stress during the installation process.
- Apply the tile adhesive to the floor using a large notched trowel and press the tiles firmly into the adhesive bed. Avoid creating any hollow spaces. Align each tile properly right away, as the drying process can be quite fast.
- If you have a good eye for measurements, you can skip tile spacers on small areas. Otherwise, use a straight edge to check the joint widths.
- Tiles in the hallway should be at least quality class 3 or 4, as the wear level in this area is higher than in a bathroom.
- Make sure not to have excessive adhesive in the joints. Immediately clean the tile surface from adhesive after laying.
- Since it’s probably a floating screed, use silicone—not grout—around door frames and wall edges to prevent cracks in the joints and possible tile cracking.
- Work the grout diagonally into the joints with a grout float, then remove excess grout with a large damp sponge. After a short drying time, carefully clean the tiles with a moist cloth. Done!
- Be cautious: do not load the floor immediately. Try not to walk on it for at least half a day. During the drying phase, ensure good ventilation to allow moisture to escape.
What kind of flooring comes after the hallway? If there are already tiles in the next room, pay special attention to the height to avoid a step down from the hallway to the living area!
As mentioned, I am not a professional but I have always installed tiles myself in small rooms like bathrooms, hallways, or kitchen backsplashes. My wife has never complained about the quality.
If I were you, I would also ask the building materials supplier for any tips or suggestions.
If I think of anything else, I will post it here! Otherwise, I wish you good luck and much enjoyment with your project.
M
Mottenhausen11 Jul 2019 14:38Start in any case in a non-critical area: for example, the cloakroom or utility room. If it doesn’t turn out well there, you can still call in a professional later for the more important areas like the living room and so on.
PS. On YouTube, it looks ten times easier than it actually is.
PS. On YouTube, it looks ten times easier than it actually is.
Laying tiles is not very complicated, especially on a flat floor. For large dimensions, however, I would recommend using a leveling system. Overall, this will save you time and the result will be 100% better than that of some professional tile installers!
Regarding the original thread: the drying times are not that short, and you have enough time to work cleanly. Tile adhesive remains flexible for longer than 15 minutes. Still, the advice to start with small quantities is definitely a good one.
Regarding the original thread: the drying times are not that short, and you have enough time to work cleanly. Tile adhesive remains flexible for longer than 15 minutes. Still, the advice to start with small quantities is definitely a good one.
R
Rechtsfuß12 Jul 2019 09:21@Bookstar @Mottenhausen Thank you for your contributions.
Starting in the utility room is a good tip, and I will keep that in mind. When things get serious, I’m sure more questions will come up, and I’ll post them here again.
If anyone can recommend a good leveling system for around 85m² (915 sq ft), please let me know.
Starting in the utility room is a good tip, and I will keep that in mind. When things get serious, I’m sure more questions will come up, and I’ll post them here again.
If anyone can recommend a good leveling system for around 85m² (915 sq ft), please let me know.
B
borderpuschl12 Jul 2019 12:52Take a look at Karl Dahm. You can also find everything else you need for this there.
Important: If you lay a brick bond pattern without staggered joints, I would never work without a leveling system, as almost all tiles tend to cup. This is especially noticeable with elongated formats (all non-square tiles).
Important: If you lay a brick bond pattern without staggered joints, I would never work without a leveling system, as almost all tiles tend to cup. This is especially noticeable with elongated formats (all non-square tiles).
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