Whether you’re new to professional tiling or you’ve been in the industry for years, it’s always a good idea to brush up on the most common practices.
In this blog post we’re addressing bathroom tile installation. We’ll talk all things bathroom flooring to ensure you’re up to speed on all the latest methods.
Here’s the most efficient process:
Before you begin it’s very important to clean the floor, thoroughly. Any dust or debris left over after stripping will interfere with the adhesion of the tiles, causing loose areas in the floor. Using a high-powered vacuum to sweep up all of the dust is a great method, and if you don’t already have one in your arsenal we highly recommend getting one.
After the floor is clean, it’s time to prepare your tile. Most likely you’ll be installing precut tiles, but you’ll still need to cut a few to fit around showers, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, and any other fixtures in your floor. If you only have a handful of tiles you need to cut, using a snap or push or pull cutter is perfect for the job. If you’re cutting a lot of tiles, break out the wet saw – the job will go by quicker and make it a lot easier on you.
Once your tiles are cut, it’s time to get your adhesive ready. If you’ve been in the business for a while you probably already have a favorite – but if not take a look at the ones we sell. We have a variety for every type of job and one sure to satisfy your needs.
Just remember to mix your thinset outside so it doesn’t throw dust all over the newly cleaned floor. It’s a mistake all professionals have made at least once, but avoiding it saves you from having to vacuum all over again, wasting precious installation time.
After you’ve mixed the thinset, it’s time to spread it. No matter how quickly you’re able to work and how much experience you have, try not to overspread your area too quickly. The thinset could start to skin over before you reach that area to tile, weakening the bond between tile and adhesive. Work in small areas and use the appropriate sized trowel. Working small and efficiently will get the job done much quicker than spreading yourself too thin and rushing to complete an area. Select the Best Trowel Size
Determine which area of the bathroom is the best place to start laying the tile – it’ll probably be an open corner, just use your best judgement. Lay the tile down carefully and apply a good amount of pressure. Give the tiles a bit of a twist to encourage the thinset to adhere and set – once you’ve done a few you’ll get into a groove and it’ll become second nature.
Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the tiles after you set them into the thinset – just remember to cover the tiles with a cloth so you don’t damage their integrity. Use spacers to keep the tiles evenly spaced, and be sure to step back every few tiles to make sure everything is flowing together. Depending on your experience level you can go a bit longer without double checking, but it’s easier to take a step away and evaluate early on than lay tile for ten minutes and realize you need to remove 50% of it because of an error.
If an error is made, it’s quite a simple fix. Just lift up the tiles, remove the old thinset if the thinset has skinned over, re-spread the thinset, and install the tiles once more. Once all of your tiles are installed it’s time to take a break and let the adhesive cure.
Once the adhesive is completely cured it’s time to install the grout. Use a rubber float to spread the grout into the appropriate areas, removing excess grout from the tile surfaces as best as you can along the way. Undoubtedly you’ll be left with some excess grout on the surface, simply clean that up with a damp sponge. It’s always nice to have extra labor helping you clean the grout as you go – you can spread the grout and they can clean up the excess as you work. Just be sure they’re rinsing the sponge after each pass to get a proper clean.
Use your favorite method for grout curing, like mopping daily or covering with kraft paper, or follow the instructions on the grout packaging. Work cleanly, efficiently, and quickly and your customers will undoubtedly be pleased with their new bathroom flooring.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding bathroom tile installation don’t hesitate to reach out. We can also address any questions regarding our bathroom tile installation products. You can contact us online, give us a call at 844.751.2625 to speak to one of our representatives, or send an email to customerservice@tileprodepot.com. We’ll be happy to assist you however we can.
