Tips for Laying Porcelain Floor and Wall Tiles

 

Ceramic tile has been a firm floor material in many households for a long time. Porcelain floor tile is a new type of ceramic tile that is starting to gain popularity due to its many advantages when compared to other sorts of ceramic tiles.

Benefits of laying porcelain floor tiles

 

    Durability: One of the best things about porcelain floor tile is its durability. Because it is fired at higher temperatures and made from more refined clay, it is far denser than standard ceramic tile. If installed correctly, it could easily last a life time – which is the reason many people love it.

    Hygiene: Porcelain tile is a very easy tile to look after and maintain. It is non-porous so it can't harbour bacteria and its thick, dense nature makes it resistant to staining. Because of this these tiles are very easy to clean and are great used in kitchens and bathrooms alike.

    Moisture: Porcelain tile is less prone to absorbing moisture, due to its dense nature. This is very useful, especially in cold climates that are prone to bouts of frozen weather. Porcelain tiles will not crack like other tiles, making them very popular in cold climates.

 

Disadvantages of installing porcelain tiles on your floors and walls

 

    Density: Whilst it's dense nature leads to many of its positive attributes, it also can prove disadvantageous too. Due its density this sort of tile is very hard and proves quite difficult to cut.

    Weight: In addition to being a very dense material, porcelain tile is also very heavy. It you accidently drop one of these tiles, it will break. Because of the weight you will need to make sure that the subfloor is strong enough to support them adequately.

 

How to lay porcelain tiles on a floor or wall

 

Bathroom porcelain tile and kitchen porcelain tile are two of the most popular types of usage for this material. For an ultra-classy finish you could use polished porcelain floor tiles, which can transform an entrance way. Once you have decided on the specific type of porcelain tile you want, along with where you want it, it's time to get it installed.

 

Before assuming that the task can be carried out with ease, it is worth taking into consideration all of the jobs involved in tiling.

 

    Create a rough design plan and mark all surfaces to be covered and then lay out work
    Prepare surfaces and remove all old tiles, grout cement and adhesive
    Follow a design pattern whilst applying tiles
    Use a cutting tool to cut the tiles to shape, especially at edges and corners or around obstacles such as sinks and pipes. You will need specialist equipment for that.
    Space and even the tiles by using a spirit level
    Prepare and apply grout
    Use specialist porcelain tile sealer
    Finish the tiles with the appropriate waterproofing solutions and applications

 

As you can see, there is more to installing porcelain tiles then simply whacking on a bit of grout and adding on the tiles. Due to the heavy nature of porcelain tiles it would be easier for a professional to cut them to ensure accuracy and neatness.
How to hire a porcelain tiler

 

Before hiring a professional tiler there are a few things you will need to consider. Think about the following criteria:

 

    What do you want to tile? Will you be tiling a kitchen? A mosaic-style bathroom? An office?
    How large is the area in square meters?
    What sort of porcelain tiling do you want? What shape and size tile would you like?
    What colour and texture would suit the area?
    Who do you want to buy the tile from?

 

Once you know the project, you can begin your search for a tiler.

 

Ask friends or family for any recommendations. Alternatively use the yellow pages and google to find local tilers in your area. Once you have found a few you should ask each the same questions:

 

    Do you have any references?
    Do you have a portfolio?
    How many years have you been tiling for?

 

As well as asking questions that will be relevant to your specific project, for example:

 

    Can you supply the tiles are wholesale price?
    How long will the tiling process take?
    Will you clean up afterwards?
    Do I need to do any preparation work beforehand?

 

Once you are satisfied you will need to get a number of quotes from a number of different local tilers, a good number to aim for is 3. Don't assume that the tiler offering the lowest price is the best, you should also take into account experience, references and their portfolio.