How to Tile Bathroom Floors

Tired of doing the same routine every weekend? Why not spend one weekend of your month doing something different… maybe give your bathroom a makeover for a change? After all, you do a lot of activities here (it’s supposed to be sacred, right?) and your family would definitely appreciate a bathroom with a new look.

A bathroom makeover doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace all the items inside. It could be as simple as just changing the tiles of your bathroom.

Changing the tiles of your bathroom floor can make that radical face lift your tired bathroom needs. First off, you need to make a blueprint of what you want done in your bathroom. Involve your family in the planning process so you’ll know what they like too. You can canvas for the price of materials that you will use and see where you can save more. When all the planning and price-comparing is done, it’s now time to begin your bathroom makeover challenge. For those with experience, tiling the bathroom is fairly easy and can be done without professional help. For those without experience, a few tutorials and researching about tiling bathroom floors can provide them with just the right information and know-how to do the tiling project themselves.

Steps on How to Tile Your Bathroom Floor

• Take out the toilet first. Turn off the water at the shut-off valve and then flush. The remaining water in the toilet can be removed with a sponge. Proceed with removing the nuts and screws that hold the commode to the floor.
• Remove the molding of the current flooring. Don’t forget to include the molding at the base of the wall.
• Make a dry-run of your desired pattern or design. You can use a cardboard to set the design first.
• Prepare the mortar by mixing enough water to finish a small part of your tile. Lay the mortar down on the bathroom floor using the flat edge of a trowel. Create uniformed edges by using the trowel’s notched edge.
• After the dry-run, you are now ready to install the tiles in your desired pattern. When you are laying the tiles, remember to put some pressure on each tile so it will stick to the mortar adequately. Keep the spaces between the tiles uniform through the use of a vinyl spacer.
• Cut the odd-shaped tiles. Use a wet saw or water-cooled tile saw to cut the tiles.
• Apply grout after the mortar has completely dried. Use a rubber grout float and water in doing so. Push the grout into the crevices between the tiles using the float. Scrape off the excess while holding the float at a 45-degree angle. Use a wet sponge to wash off the extra grout once it has dried.
• Allow ample time (3-4 days) for the mortar and grout to completely set. After setting, you are now ready to apply your sealer.

More Tips in Tiling Your Bathroom Floor

• Scrape the subfloor with a putty knife if there is adhesive left on your old bathroom flooring.
• You could use a quick-setting mortar to finish your job quickly. Note though that mortar will dry in approximately 2 hours and you will have to act fast before it dries.
• Cover the toilet hole with a wet rag so that you will not smell any sewer gas.
• As mortar tends to dry fast, it is advised that you do not lay more than 6 feet of new tile at a time.

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