Tiling a floor

The steps, in order

1. Check the base

   Flat, dry, clean, with nothing that sounds hollow. Run a 2 m straight edge in every direction: hollows are filled before tiling, with levelling compound, not with extra adhesive.

   Tools: aluminium straight edge, spirit level

2. Prime and set out

   Apply the primer the adhesive maker specifies. Then lay tiles dry from the centre line of the room, so the cuts fall under units and along hidden walls rather than at the doorway. Work out tiles, adhesive and grout with the tile calculator.

   Tools: roller, chalk line, cross line laser

3. Mix the adhesive

   Mix tile adhesive with the amount of water printed on the bag, using a paddle at low speed. Let it stand a few minutes, mix again, and only mix what you will lay within the stated working time.

   Tools: mixer or drill with a paddle, bucket

4. Spread and lay

   Comb the adhesive with a notched trowel whose notch size depends on the tile format. For large tiles the maker often requires back-buttering as well, adhesive on the floor and on the back of the tile. Lift a tile now and then: its back should be covered.

   Tools: notched trowel, rubber mallet, spacers or levelling system

5. Cut

   Straight cuts on a manual tile cutter. Notches and curves with a grinder fitted with a diamond blade. Thick porcelain or a lot of cuts: a wet saw, more accurate and dust free.

   Tools: tile cutter, grinder with diamond blade, wet saw

6. Grout

   Once the adhesive's curing time has passed, work the grout diagonally across the joints with a rubber float, then clean off with a barely damp sponge before it hardens.

   Tools: rubber grout float, sponge, bucket

Consumables

• Tile adhesive of the class stated for your tile and your base.
• Primer and, where needed, levelling compound.
• Spacers or levelling clips and wedges.
• Grout for the joint width you planned.
• Tiles with a margin for cuts and breakage, larger for a diagonal layout.

Safety on this job

• Dry cutting: tile dust contains silica. Wear a suitable respirator, or cut wet.
• Grinder: glasses, gloves and the guard in place; never a wood or metal disc on tiles.
• Wet adhesive: gloves, it irritates skin.
• Knee pads: a day of tiling is a day on your knees.