DIY Network

Tiling a Floor Tiling a Floor From "Weekend Decorating" episode WDC-206

The basement is often the most overlooked area of the home. But with some fresh new ideas, a little ingenuity and a weekend, you can turn a dark unused room into a contemporary, comfortable den. Join Nancy Golden, host of Weekend Decorating, as she creates a room infused with warmth and serene style.

Room area: before.

Room area: after.

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On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 having the greatest degree of difficulty, this project rates a solid 3. It took 12 hours, spread over the course of two days. Prep work, done in advance, included painting the walls and ceiling, installing lighting fixtures and laying floor tile. The cost of supplies and accessories was $2,200.

When starting any project, it's important to be organized and efficient with your time: this is especially true when working with a weekend deadline in mind. The first step is to create a floor plan, detailing where everything will be placed. For this project, Golden used a computer decorating program that allows her to create a detailed diagram of the room without having to move the furniture around. (Note: Always remember traffic flow when doing any design project.)

When your floor plan is finished, gather all needed furnishings, accessories and tools before the weekend of your room transformation.
Materials:
Paint roller
Tray
Brushes
Paint
Painter's tape
Brown kraft paper
Tile
Tile spacers
Tile sponge or float
Tile adhesive
Trowel
Grout
Level
Tape measure
Safety glasses
Chalk line
Roman shades
Nails
Nail gun
Canvases
Fabric
Lighting

Preparation

• Paint walls and ceiling a shade of mint green.
  
• Install two ceiling lighting fixtures.
  
• Install floor tile.
  

  	Floor: before.
  	Floor tiles in place.
  	Figure A
  	Figure B
  	Figure C
  	Figure D
  	Figure E
  	Figure F
  	Figure G

  Tiling a Floor

  Tile is a nice addition to any basement: here it protects against moisture and provides a visual contrast to the rest of the house.

  Steps:

  1. Before beginning the flooring process, make sure the floor is clean of dust and debris. This ensures the tiled surface will be level.

     Tip: Check manufacturer's instructions for tile installation before purchasing or beginning tile installation.

  2. Measure to find the center of the room, then snap two chalk lines that intersect exactly in the center of the floor (figure A).

  3. Before starting the project, start with a dry run, laying out the tiles and the spacers (figure B). This determines where to start the process and helps determine the width of your grout lines.

     Tip: The spacers used here are 1/4", but they come in different sizes.

  4. The tiles used on the concrete subfloor are 13"x13"; they measure almost flush with the wall without cutting.

  5. Snap an additional chalk line, the width of a tile, out from each wall. This will help keep the tile placement perfectly straight.

  6. Continue laying out tiles and spacers until placement is correct.

  7. A self-mix thinset mortar is used for tile installation. Pour just about an entire bag of the dry mixture into a large bucket. Add just enough water to get the dry mixture wet, and begin mixing. Continue to mix until the texture is creamy. Then let the mortar stand for about 10 minutes to get tacky.

  8. When the mortar is ready, begin working on one section of the floor. Spread the mixture on a 2'x2' section of the floor and use a notched trowel to obtain an even layer of mortar. Work in small sections to keep the mortar from drying before the tile is in position.

  9. Begin positioning the tiles in place (figure C).

  10. When you get to a wall where a standard tile will not fit, mark and make cuts with a standard tile cutter (figure D). If you don't use a tile cutter, you can mark the tiles and have your tile supplier cut them prior to installation.

  11. Continue the process, using the chalk line as a guide and placing spacers between each tile to ensure uniform distance between the tiles (figure E).

  12. When all the tile work is complete, allow the tiles to dry in place for several days before grouting.

  13. Grout is available in a variety of textures and colors. Golden used a blue-gray grout that complements the color of the tile. Use a rubber trowel or float to spread the grout across the tiles at an angle to be certain to get it between each tile (figure F).

  14. When the gout is in place, wipe away the excess with a damp sponge or cloth (figure G). You will need to repeat this process several times, being careful not to remove the grout lines around the tiles.

  Next Weekend Project: Security Light Installation

  Weekend Projects Index
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Tiling a Floor
  	Steps and Lighting
  	Window Treatments
  	Furnishings and Accents