DIY Network

Kitchen Upgrade: Installing Floor Tiles From "Sweat Equity" episode DSEQ-102

Kim and Marc Chaney installed new maple cabinets in their kitchen. While professionals fabricate their new countertops, Kim turns her attention to installing new floor tiles. General contractor Adam Berlin guides Kim as she sets 12-inch travertine tiles. At $5.96 per square foot, Kim gets a good deal on the tiles but she'll have to take advantage of her good fortune by installing it herself and cut the cost of this process nearly in half.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Materials:

grooved trowel
thinset
bucket
drill
plastic spacers
wet saw

Tile Installation Tips:

• Plan your layout ahead of time. Where you place the first tile determines where the rest of the tiles will end up.

• Try to avoid thin or narrow cuts when you are close to the perimeter.

• The exact tile you are using may not be available in the future, so be sure you buy enough for future repairs.

• Leave about a quarter inch space around the perimeter of the tile floor to allow it to expand and contract.

• Don't let glue and grout dry on your tiles. Keep a bucket of water and sponge on hand to clean up any excess.

Safety Alert: Always wear protective eyewear when working near power tools.

Tile Installation

• To create a uniform surface and protect the tiles from damage, Adam first gets Kim started on setting backer board onto the subfloor. After mixing a batch of thinset, she loads a liberal amount onto a grooved trowel and spreads it evenly onto the subfloor. Then, she places cut segments of backer board onto the thinset and secures them with a series of screws (figure A).

• Next, again using a grooved trowel, Adam has Kim spread more thinset onto the backer board (figure B). She holds the trowel at a 45-degree angle to form uniform ridges, which help keep the tile in place via suction.

• Adam shows Kim how to lay the tiles neatly onto the thinset. As Kim sets each tile, she uses plastic spacers to keep them properly aligned (figure C).

• Near walls or tricky corners, Adam measures for cutting tile and allows Kim to use a wet saw to trim it to size (figure D).

• After setting the last tile, the Chaneys make sure to wait 24 hours before walking in the kitchen (figure E). Later, they finish the tile floor by filling the seams with grout.

Tiling Techniques Center For more information on tiling inside your home, visit DIY's Tiling Techniques Center.

Next: Tech Out Your Kitchen

RESOURCES :

Maverick Home Remodeling, Inc.
Website: www.maverickhomeremodeling.com

Aristokraft
Website: www.aristokraft.com

Granite Marble Slab Warehouse
Website: www.granitemarbleslab.com