Essay Example on How to Lay Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile gets construed as part of the ceramic tiles which are regularly used to cover the walls and floors of the buildings. Its water absorption rate is estimated at 0.5 percent and can either get glazed or unglazed (Samulski and Stephanie, 2). The low water absorption rate also shows that the surface of the tile allows tiny absorption of moisture. The paper, therefore, gets founded on the procedure of laying porcelain tile due to the ease in procedural work when laying it. There are important considerations which should get put in place before starting the process of laying the porcelain tile. For example, what forms the substrate floor. Concrete substrate gets argued to offer one of the preferable foundation for the laying of the tile. The modification of concrete which contains the additives for flexibility and added adhesion equally forms the component of the thin-set mortar used with the porcelain tile.

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Steps of laying porcelain tile

Step One

One should Paint the top of the concrete, then apply an anti- fracture and a membrane material which is water resistance (Samulski and Stephanie, 5). The person should consider the availability of the paint brush and paint rollers. Paint brush should get used for the perimeters and edges and rollers for the center.

Step Two

The second phase gets founded on laying several porcelain tiles in rows and dry-fitting them on the floor. In laying the tile, it gets advisable that a spacer's joint should get used to simulate the tile joints. A keen measurement should equally get taken on a two-foot section of the tile and locate the size of the spacing which exists between them. The location of the grout connection that is closest to the two-foot marks which gets depicted on the tape measure should also get noted. The measurement shown should then be taken down (Samulski and Stephanie, 9).

Step Three

The third phase is on making a choice of both the longest and easily seen wall in the doorway or area where the tiles get laid. Two pencil lines which get construed as parallel with the wall at the measurement should also be taken down. It gives at least two-foot distance from the marked wall to the line (The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile, 3). The final issue on the third step is on making chalk line that goes between the marks. The process should be repeated for other walls to give chalk- line crosshair.

Step Four

The step mainly entails placing of a framing square in the center of the already marked two chalk lines to get confident that the lines which intersect assume the shape of a square. Adjustments should then get made with a drawing pencil and a new line drawn to accommodate the chalk marks. The final issue of this step is on using a two-foot grout line measurement to mark and make an additional snap that is parallel to the chalk lines (The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile, 3).

Step Five

The step mainly entails the mixing of thin- set in the bucket with the use of both the paddle and the drill. At this point, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the inclusion of water. Cold water gets considered and an allowance of five to ten minutes given for the thin- set to settle (The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile, 10). Once this juncture gets reached, the whole process should get repeated.

Step Six

The mixed thin- set should then get applied within the grid square in the corner chosen. Slow pressure is recommended to ensure total coverage across the tiniest segment that got marked by the chalk line (The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile, 11).

Step Seven

The level concern gets based on the mounting of pressure on each tile into the bed of mortar. The next issue is on moving the tiles side by side to ensure they assume bonding. The tiles should then get aligned with the pencil lines and adjacent lines.

Step Eight

At this level, the tiles should be cut on the edges using either the tile cutting board or wet tile saw. At least quarter inch around the perimeter should be left to accommodate expansion (The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile, 14).

Step Nine

The grout should get mixed in the bucket according to the instructions of the manufacturer to avoid whipping air in the mixture; margin trowel should get put into use (Ultimate Guide & Stone Tiling, 8).

Step Ten

The mixed grout should then get applied to the floor using the grout float. It should get smeared on the top of the tile joints and pressed down with the edge of the float. It should then be allowed to settle for twenty minutes (Ultimate Guide & Stone Tiling, 9).

Step Eleven

At this point, the bucket should get filled with water, and a sponge should get dumped in it and used to wipe the laid surface of the porcelain (Ultimate Guide & Stone Tiling, 12).

Step Twelve

The step involves caulking the visible edges, such that they are against tubs and cabinet bases. They should then be left empty to allow them to expand with variations of weather and keep the pressure off the porcelain floor (Ultimate Guide & Stone Tiling, 15).

Conclusion

In summary, porcelain tiles get noted as one of the best tiles to lay due to their durability, uniqueness regarding the appearance and ease in laying. Depending on the substrate used, porcelain assumes twelve steps as depicted in the entire paper.

Works Cited

Samulski, Stephanie. Tcna Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation: 2011. Anderson, S.C: Tile Council of North America, 2011. Print.

The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile. Minneapolis, Minn: Creative Pub. International, 2011. Internet resource.

Ultimate Guide: Ceramic & Stone Tiling: Ceramic, Stone, Glass, Mosaic, Porcelain. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Creative Homeowner, 2012. Print.