- 1). Prepare the surface where you plan to lay your porcelain tile by removing any nails, screws or staples. With a caulking or crack filler, fill in holes or cracks in the surface that may be left.
- 2). Clean the surface with a vacuum, broom and mop. Make sure the area is dry and free of debris. Apply a floor leveler if your porcelain is going onto a floor that is not level. The floor leveler is a liquid you can purchase at the hardware store. Pour the liquid onto the area and allow it to settle, making the floor level.
- 3). Cover the area with a thin cement backer board. Lay the pieces perpendicular to the floor and screw them in according to the pre-cut pattern. The screws should lie about 6 inches apart.
- 4). When you are ready to start laying tile, mix the mortar or tile glue as directed. Begin in the center of the far wall and work toward the outside. Use a trowel to place the glue on the back side of the porcelain tile or directly onto the backer board. Press the porcelain tile onto the backer board and hold it for about 10 seconds.
- 5). Continue to work from the center of the room toward the outside walls, putting a spacer between each tile, until all the porcelain tiles are in place. When it is time to cut, measure from the corner or wall to the porcelain tile. Add the width of the spacer to your measurement. This is the amount of tile you will need to cut.
- 6). Measure the porcelain tile from the outside corner, and use a pencil to mark the place you plan to cut. Using a wet saw or tile cutting tool, cut the piece of tile to your measurement.
- 7). Lay all the porcelain tiles, including the ones you cut. When you are ready to start grouting, mix your grout in a bucket to the consistency of peanut butter. Using a tile float or large, damp sponge, begin wiping the grout in between the tiles, filling in all the spaces. Keep spreading the grout between the porcelain tiles until it is smooth.
- 8). Allow the glue and grout to dry. Spray a moisture sealant onto the grout to help prevent moisture from seeping onto the backer board. You can purchase moisture sealant at the local hardware store.
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