DIY Network

Diagonal Floor Tile Give new perspective to a tile floor. From "Bathroom Renovations" episode DBTR-505

There's no magic trick to adding interest to a tile floor: Just lay out the tiles diagonally instead of squared off with the wall for a more dynamic look. Amy Matthews demonstrates in this easy how-to.

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Materials:

travertine tile thinset tile adhesive water 2 mixing buckets drill with paddle mixer speed square tape measure pencil 2-foot level

square-notched trowel tile spacers wet saw safety glasses knee pads grout mix grout float grout sealer

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Diagonal Floor Tile

Note: When tiling a floor – or doing any job that requires being on your knees for a significant time – make sure to use a good pair of knee pads.

• A diagonal tiled floor starts in a corner. Pick a corner that's square and true, and lay out one floor tile so that the tile's corners almost touch the walls. Use a tape measure and a speed square to make sure the tile is evenly spaced from the corner (figure A).

• Draw reference lines on the floor across the top and bottom of the tile. Use a level to extend these lines (figure B).

• Wearing safety glasses and a dust mask, use a drill with a paddle bit to mix thinset tile adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions until it's the consistency of cake frosting.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and a dust max whenever mixing thinset or other masonry adhesives. Remember to use caution when working with a power drill or other power tools.

• Spread thinset between the two reference lines with a square-notched trowel, then press the tile into place.

• Continue setting tiles, using spacers to ensure even grout lines (figure C).

  Note: Be careful not to spread too much thinset at one time; if it dries out, the tiles won't stick. To test the thinset, press it gently with a finger. If the thinset isn't sticky enough to come off on your finger, it's not sticky enough to hold a tile.

• Cut tiles as needed using a wet saw. When cutting a tile diagonally, Amy Matthews used two speed squares to line up the tiles and keep them in position during cutting (figure D).

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a wet saw.

• Allow the tile adhesive to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the adhesive is cured, grout the tile and seal the grout, following the instructions that came with the products.

RESOURCES :
Tile
Rubble Tile
Website: www.rubbletile.com