A new granite flooring taking the place of an old and worn out flooring will make a sudden impact into the look of your room. Granite tiles are one of the most popular forms of flooring for its beauty, elegance, and amazing ability to transform a room into a luxurious area.
The great thing about installing granite flooring is that you can easily install the flooring yourself in a weekend, and the tiles themselves are relatively inexpensive.
What You'll Need
The great thing about installing granite flooring is that you can easily install the flooring yourself in a weekend, and the tiles themselves are relatively inexpensive.
What You'll Need
- Granite tiles
- Plastic spacers
- Wet saw
- Notched trowel
- Grout
- Grout float
- Mortar
- Grout sealer
- Rubber mallet
- Sponge
Prepare the Sub-floor
Before laying down any granite flooring you must make sure the sub-floor is clean. Remove any old tiling, paint, residue, adhesives, or sand down old wood floors. Patch up any scratches, or holes in the flooring, and make sure it is free of any debris.
Lay out Tiles
Begin with a plan before you start putting down tiles permanently. Start at a corner of the area and start laying down tiles. Use the plastic spacers so you know who each tile will fit. When you get to the places where the tiles will need to be cut, take the measurements and cut them on the wet saw.
Cutting your pieces now will help you to keep a steady flow in laying your tiles and not giving the mortar a chance to set before you can get to it.
Cutting your pieces now will help you to keep a steady flow in laying your tiles and not giving the mortar a chance to set before you can get to it.
Using Mortar
Mix the mortar according to the directions on the bag. Mix to a thin, mud like consistency. Using your trowel, lay down an thin, even layer over the surface of the area to be tiled. Lay down a backer board on the floor and screw down tightly. The backer board will give your granite flooring a hard, stable platform.
Spread out Mortar
Once the backer board has been installed, start applying the mortar for the tile installations. Covering small areas at a time, spread out the mortar with the trowel at a 45 degree angle to the surface. This will keep the grooves, and notches at a consistent depth and level.
Apply Granite Flooring
Working in a smooth manner, begin laying out the tile according to your plan. Place a tile in the first corner and press down firmly in the corners. Twist the tile a little to let it get a good grip of the mortar and form a bond. Tap the tile lightly with a rubber mallet to get out any air bubbles to make sure of a firm contact. Set up spacers in between the tile and repeat this process until all the tiles are set. Allow 24 hours to cure.
Grout Tile
Mix the grout in small batches and begin spreading it out over the tile. Force the grout into the space between tiles as you remove the spacers. Allow the grout to cure for 72 hours and then clean off with a sponge and warm water. After the grout is dry, seal it with grout sealer for protection against water and stains.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
