Bathroom floor tiles: features of preparation and installation

Recently, tiles are installed on the bathroom floor in almost every renovation. This is due to the excellent performance characteristics of the material. Thanks to its use, the apartment owner receives a reliable, high-quality and beautiful floor, which will remain the same for many years as it was immediately after installation. Although wall tiles and floor tiles are similar, there are some differences when installing them on the floor.

 

What you need to know about preparation

Cleaning and leveling the surface

The first step is to remove the previous finishing material. Most often, tiles are used on the floors of apartment buildings, which can only be removed by mechanical force. To do this, use a hammer drill, a hammer and a chisel. This way the old ones are eliminated:

• tile;
• screed;
• waterproofing.

[note]After this, the corners of the room are carefully processed. If any cracks are found, they must be eliminated using tile adhesive. Otherwise, laying tiles on the bathroom floor may lose durability and strength due to deterioration in waterproofing properties.[/note]

The final stage is to remove accumulated debris and dust.

Separately about waterproofing

Considering the operating conditions of the bathroom, this room has high requirements for waterproofing. This process may be missed, but if there is running water in the room, experts recommend not neglecting it. This will allow you to protect yourself and your neighbors in case of unforeseen circumstances. If you plan to install a water heated floor, then you cannot do without waterproofing.

In addition to the floor covering, it is recommended to pay attention to the walls at a distance of up to 20 cm from the floor. In this case, the choice of waterproofing is of great importance. Often, apartment owners who are renovating a bathroom use materials that are installed with glue. But if you need to protect only the floor covering, you can use a more reliable coating.

Wall treatment method

1. A primer is applied to the floor surface to securely fix the material.
2. Then the powder is mixed with water until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
3. The finished waterproofing is applied with a roller.
4. A spatula is used in hard-to-reach places and corners.
5. The walls must be treated, at least to the height of the floor covering.
6. The protection is applied in several layers at intervals of 5 hours.
7. After this, the room should remain for at least a day.

Leveling the floor

In order for bathroom floor tiles to be laid with the highest quality and last as long as possible, it is important to provide them with a flat surface. A special screed is used for this. If the master performs all the steps correctly, the tiles will be laid evenly, and further work will be easier.

The surface can be leveled with cement mortar or self-leveling mortar. Due to their properties, they spread around the entire perimeter and, when solidified, form a perfectly flat surface. In order to prevent water from getting into hard-to-reach places, a slope is made towards the center along the entire perimeter.

After the screed is formed, a leveling solution is poured under it. Start the process from the far corner, moving towards the exit. The solution should spread evenly over the entire surface.

[note]It may take up to 3 days to dry completely. This is the only way to ensure the most even, durable and reliable base for installing the tiles. [/note]

We carry out installation

Before laying floor tiles in the bathroom, you must first apply a primer to the surface. This substance will guarantee reliable fixation of the adhesive solution to the floor, which means that the tiles will be fixed more securely. Typically, a special brand of ceramic tiles are used for the floor. The installation process involves several steps:

1. First, the tiles are laid out on the floor to see how they will look.
2. If it is necessary to cut individual elements, then the pieces are placed as close to the walls as possible.
3. Begin laying from the most visible place so that further cutting of tiles is less noticeable.
4. To get an even installation, experts recommend marking the prepared surface with chalk or a marker.
5. To fix the tiles, a special adhesive solution is used, which is applied using a notched trowel.
6. Maintaining the interval between individual elements is ensured by special plastic crosses.
7. Be sure to use a level to ensure a level surface.

Remaining glue must be removed immediately until it hardens and adheres firmly to the surface. Such a situation can significantly complicate the work and increase the time it takes to complete it. After the entire floor tile is fixed in the bathroom, you can begin installing the cut pieces, if any.

[note]Tile cutting can be done with a tile cutter or a special grinder wheel. [/note]

In order for the resulting floor covering to serve reliably for as long as possible, it must be allowed to stand for three days. After complete hardening, the seams are sealed with a special grout. The modern range of building materials allows you to select a sealing composition depending on specific operating conditions, as well as match it to the color of the tile itself.

The final step is to remove excess hardened grout using an important sponge or rag.

Tiles are the ideal material for bathroom floors

Thus, you can get a high-quality floor that can withstand moisture and mechanical stress. To maintain its appearance, it is enough to follow simple care requirements. First of all, under no circumstances should you use abrasive detergents. Often, manufacturers indicate all these requirements on the packaging and in the attached instructions.