Finding a good tiler can take a long time, and therefore the repair process itself. Therefore, if the repair is urgent, and you no longer have time to wait, you can try to learn how to lay granite with your own hands. This will significantly speed up your work, plus it will help you save a lot of money. We’ll look at how to do this using the example of step-by-step instructions in our article.
How to choose porcelain stoneware for the floor
Before you start studying the principles of laying porcelain stoneware, you need to choose the best material option, based on the following characteristics.
Design:
- matt (unpolished);
- glossy (polished);
- lappated (Semi-polished);
- structured;
- glossy;
- mosaic;
- glazed;
- rectified.
Technical specifications:
- thickness;
- form factor;
- moisture resistance;
- wear resistance.
Important! Do not save money and take the cheapest tile, such porcelain stoneware often has uneven edges. Buy tiles with a small margin, as stoneware from different batches may vary in tone.
A wide range of granite floor tiles is presented in the online store of the company “Shaturabud”. Among the huge variety of designs, textures and color solutions, you will definitely find exactly the option that is perfect for your solution.
Choosing an adhesive
The most popular option is cement-based glue. It is distinguished not only by its extremely affordable price, but also by its simplicity in operation. Literally everyone can handle the styling.
Chemical adhesive mixtures may only be needed when laying on specific surfaces such as wood or metal. If the tile is placed on a concrete screed, this option will be unnecessarily expensive, and the result is the same as in the case of cement glue.
Preparing the base for laying
- If stoneware is laid on an existing concrete screed, then before starting work, its surface must be prepared, putty all irregularities. For this purpose, special adhesives based on epoxy or concrete have been developed. If the concrete screed is new, then it should be allowed to dry (at least 25-30 days).
- An uneven surface will significantly increase costs due to increased glue consumption during installation. And the process itself will become extremely problematic.
- You can increase the adhesion by thoroughly cleaning the surface and then priming it;
- Before you start laying stoneware in the kitchen or in the bathroom, you need to take care of high-quality waterproofing. This will help avoid flooding the neighbors from below in the event of a water pipe leak.
How to put porcelain stoneware on the floor: step-by-step instructions
- Layout. This step is required only if the porcelain tile has decorative elements. And it is not necessary to lay out all the plates on the floor. Just draw a sketch. The layout should be done from the center of the room.
- Preparation of porcelain stoneware. We calculate the required number of tiles. Cutting inserts can be done after laying all the plates.
- Preparation of glue. It is better to prepare glue in small batches, this approach prevents its premature hardening. In order to prepare the glue, it is enough to pour the dry mixture from the bag into a bucket of clean water.
- Applying glue. A spatula-comb is ideal for applying glue. It is advisable to apply a portion of glue to the plate itself, with this approach it will be easier to monitor the uniformity of the layer, and excess glue will not protrude through the seams.
- Laying of porcelain stoneware. First, we apply one of the edges of the tile to the floor, and then we lay it completely. You can align the tile position using the construction level. When laying slabs along the walls, it is necessary to leave a 3 mm technological gap.
- Grout. 24 hours after laying the tile, you can start removing excess glue and grouting the joints. Pre-prepared grout mixture is applied to the joints using a rubber spatula. After grouting the joints around every 10-15 tiles, the excess mixture must be washed off the surface with a damp sponge. If the seams are poorly rubbed, they must be rubbed again.
After finishing the grout, first dry and then wet cleaning should be carried out. Investing porcelain stoneware yourself is easier than it seems, the main thing is to follow the recommendations, choose the right materials, and do the work calmly, without haste.