Tiling a Floor
Info Guide

There are several different kinds of tile types that you can use for tiling a floor...

Choose from:

• vinyl
• rubber
• ceramic
• cork
• stone or slate
• carpet tiles

Most floor tiles are quite large, so it shouldn't take you too long to complete your floor tiling project...

For more flooring information, click here...

For more information about vinyl flooring, click here...

Flooring doesn't need to be a big job, then... but as ever, it does make the job a lot easier if you are well prepared and know what you are doing...

Vinyl floor tiles
Carpet tiles
Rubber tiles
Cork tiles
Ceramic tiles
Mosaic tiles
Quarry tiles

Vinyl Floor Tiles

• Lay vinyl tiles onto a level, clean and dry surface. A concrete floor, or a wooden floor is suitable.
• To find the best starting place for tiling the floor, lay a string between the 2 central points of 2 opposite walls. This should give you a very straight line to line your tiles up against.
• Vinyl tiles are usually self adhesive - which means that tiling a floor can be very quick and simple. Vinyl tiles is the option we normally choose, to quickly and cheaply re-do a floor, with miminum effort. They are particularly suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.
• Leave the tiles in the room they will be used in, for at least 24 hours before laying them, so that they can become acclimatised.
• The tiles may have arrows on the backing paper, to show the direction you should lay them in - if so, observe this.
• To stick the tiles down, remove the backing paper, line one edge up with the guideline, then carefully lower the tile down.
• If the tiles are not self-adhesive, use the manufacturer's recommended adhesive on the floor, taking care not to get any adhesive on the face of the tiles.
• The tiles should be butted up close, to touch each other.
• Part tiles, and curves around basins, toilets, pipes etc can easily be cut with a craft knife or stanley knife, and the help of a paper template.

Carpet tiles

• For carpet tiles, use the same process as for vinyl tiles.
• Carpet tiles aren't usually self adhesive, or glued down at all..! Just lay them straight onto the floor, as for vinyl tiles.
• Many carpet tiles do have arrows on the back, to show which direction to lay them in. This shows the direction of the pile, or a non-slip direction. Many carpet tiles are made to be non-slip by using special rubber ridges on the back.
• To make sure that your carpet tiles don't slip, when tiling a floor, stick down every 3rd row of carpet tiles, with double sided carpet tape.
• Also stick down carpet tiles in doorways, or other areas where slippage might be likely.

Rubber tiles

• Treat rubber floor tiles as vinyl tiles, but use a special latex adhesive.

Cork tiles

• Treat cork tiles as vinyl tiles.
• You should use a special 'thixotropic' adhesive.
• See this page about tile types for more information about tiling with cork tiles

Ceramic tiles

• Ceramic tiles can be used for tiling a floor, in a similar way to a wall. See these basic instructions for tiling bathrooms and kitchens for more details.
• Ceramic tiles should be laid on:
  • a concrete floor
  • a suspended wooden floor, covered with plywood
• The surface should be level, smooth, clean and dry, before you start.
• Wooden guide battens can be laid level with the intended first rows of whole tiles, to butt your first tiles up to. (See these basic instructions for more details on how to do this.) Start in the corner farthest from the door.




• Use tile spacers to give an even space between tiles
• Check your work regularly with a spirit-level - especially to make sure that the new floor surface will be level.
• Leave the adhesive to dry for 24 hours before walking on the floor, or grouting.
• To cut part tiles, you will normally need a tile-cutting jig.

Mosaic tiles

• The process for tiling a floor with mosaic tiles is the same as for ceramic tiles. You can also look at the procedure for using mosaic tiles on a wall.
• Mosaic tiles are a good choice for laying around awkward obstacles such as a toilet, basin or pipes, as single tiles can easily be removed from the sheet, and/or shaped with small pincers.
• Try not to use mosaic tiles on the front edges of steps, as they will very easily get broken. Instead use a matching (or contrasting) rounded-edge, ordinary ceramic tile

Quarry tiles

• Quarry tiles are very tough and hard-wearing - an excellent choice for floors receiving high traffic. We were lucky enough to have gorgeous quarry tiles in our kitchen when we moved in. We love them, and wouldn't change them.
• Quarry tiles must be laid on a flat, level, dry floor. A concrete floor is suitable. For a suspended wooden floor, lay thick, exeterior-grade plywood to a base.
• Fix wooden battens to the floor, to create a straight-edged starting position (as for these basic instructions).
• Soak the quarry tiles in water, as this makes them stick better.
• Quarry tiles should be laid on mortar. Use 1 part cement to 3 parts builders sand. Add water until the mortar is stiff enought to retain a mark when touched.
• For tiling a floor with quarry tiles, you should lay a bed of mortar around 1/2 an inch thick. Only do a small section at a time.
• Then, dust a little dry cement on top of the mortar.
• Lay the tiles carefully, using spacers, and checking often with a spirit level, to check that they are level. You can level them down wirh a length of wood and a mallet.
• Quarry tiles are very thick, so use a tile cutting jig to cut part tiles. It is best to arrange your tiles so that you just have to cut straight lines, otherwise it can be quite difficult.
• Leave the floor to dry for at least 24 hours.
• Finish tiling a floor with quarry tiles with grouting, (as in the basic instructions). Use cement, or a specialist waterproof grout. To clean the surface of the quarry tiles, sprinkle sawdust on, then wipe with a cloth.

For all floorings, consider the edgings you will use, including the threshold bar at doorways, for a professional touch. Ask at your local DIY or flooring store, if you aren't sure about which products or procedures to use.

Be well prepared and think your project through carefully, and I'm sure that you will find that tiling the floor is not actually so complicated as all that..!

Many projects for tiling a floor can actually be completed in a weekend.

Find out more Flooring Information

Basic Instructions for Tiling Bathrooms and Kitchens

Return to the main DIY Tiling Guide page

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