However, while installing ceramic tile flooring is a skill that is developed through
years of experience, your understanding of the basics of installation will increase
your knowledge of the process and enhance your confidence in the professionals working
in your home.
So please allow us to cover some of the fundamentals with you.
Ceramic tile installers are craftsman with age-old skills. Expertise has been handed
down from one generation to the next over dozens of centuries.
Through the years, new methods and materials have been introduced, but tile setting
remains the same hand-operated, labor-intensive process that it has been since ancient
times.
The process begins with the preparation of the ceramic tile foundation, or what’s
called the substrate.
Common materials used as tile substrates in home installations include concrete,
plywood, and drywall.
Professional installers will prepare the substrate by different methods, depending on the
substrate material, and where the installation occurs.
Each substrate has its own unique set of issues, yours included, and is prepared
according to industry and manufacturer guidelines. So you can rest assured it’s
done to recognized standards.
The first step in your ceramic tile installation involves the cleaning of the substrate.
Dirt, moisture, and oil can interfere with the adhesion of the tile, so care is
taken to remove all foreign debris prior to beginning.
Next your installers will level the surface of the substrate. Why is this step necessary?
It’s to provide a strong support base for the tile, and to ensure that the
individual tiles will appear flat when installed.
Flat, obviously, is the goal. If the substrate is not level or flat, the result
could be tiles not being set correctly that can cause chipping or cracking when
weight is applied.
Tile setting has progressed through thick and thin.
In the past, ceramic tile was installed using what is called the thickset or mud
set method.
In this method, a thick layer of mortar was applied to a waterproofed and steel
reinforced substrate. This provided a strong, flat base onto which the tile was
installed.
The thickset method is the most effective installation method for 18” or larger
tile. While it is an involved, labor-intensive and more costly process, it is the
only proper way to install larger tile.
Today, many tile installers have opted for the industry accepted and more efficient
thin set method, where the tile is adhered directly onto a backer board
that is nailed to a plywood or concrete substrate using a much thinner layer of
mortar.
This backer board is called a CBU, or cement backer unit, which provides a supportive
and water resistant layer between the porous substrate and the mortar and tile applied
on top of it.
And now, the planning stage.
Once the substrate has been prepared, the next step is to create a layout plan.
This plan shows the dimensions of each room, and will help determine the amount
of ceramic tile and other materials needed for the installation.
Professional installers will use this plan to estimate the amount of product needed, and
to anticipate any installation issues that may be caused by architectural features
like stairs, transitions, and cabinets.
Your installers will also use the layout plan to determine the pattern and orientation
of the installed tile.
When it comes to accuracy, we tow the line.
Now a chalk line is used to lay down a guide for our installers to work from.
This leaves a temporary line that can be used as a straight guide.
The installers may lay out some tile with spacers to give them a better sense of
how the tile will fit into the room. Some installers will just use the chalk line
as their guide and get right to the installation.
Once they have determined the correct layout, the next step is to apply the adhesive
mortar to the substrate.
The last step is all about grout.
Once the tiled floor has been set into place and left to fully cure, usually 12
to 24 hours, the grout is applied. Quick set grout is also an option for smaller
areas or where time does not permit. Please discuss this upgrade option with our
sales associate.
Grout is available in a wide range of colors, and in sanded and unsanded
forms.
Sanded grout is commonly used for grout joints that are wider than 1/8th of an inch.
This type of grout joint is typically used with floor tile because it helps strengthen
tile joint and it will not sag after it is cured.
Unsanded grout is an option that may be used with narrow grout joints, wall tile
and many natural stone installations.
So, you may be wondering, how long before I can walk on my new floor?
The mortar and grout need 24 hours to cure before walking on the tile.
This ensures that the tiles won’t shift or become loose before the adhesive
thinset mortar and grout have a chance to set.
In some installations the tile may be light mopped daily for several days to prevent
the grout from cracking, pulling moisture from the underlying mortar, or curing
unevenly.
And that is how your new ceramic tile floor will be professionally installed.