How to install ceramic tile flooring Part 1

Ceramic tile, if chosen intelligently and installed correctly, protects and beautifies any surface it covers. It has lasted for centuries on facades and paving areas throughout the world. The variety, style, and endless color selection of ceramic tile has a guaranteed place as a high-end finishing material. Additionally, ceramic tiles are fairly easy to install, if done with the proper planning and preparation. And a do-it-yourself tile installation can save you money too.

The following is first in a series that explains the detailed procedure when looking to install ceramic tile flooring. This will help you install a new ceramic floor or replace an old one.

First of all, making a plan for your ceramic tile flooring is the best means of achieving long-term success. With a good sense of how you want your floor to look and function along with other structural elements, installing ceramic tile flooring will make sense to your space in every way. Taking these other elements into account is the first step to consider when looking to install ceramic tile flooring. The first thing you should do is to draw a floor plan of the room. This plan should include all the details and information, especially things that are NOT directly involved in the project: for example, doors, cabinets, toilet, and electricity supplies, among others. From this point, you will be ready to consider the following in detail:

• Evaluate the size of the room to be tiled. Measure the room from one wall to the opposite wall. Now, similarly measure the opposing walls to calculate the square footage of your chosen area. This area is important to note, as it will tell you the number of tiles to purchase to cover that area.

• Think about the size of your chosen tile. The number of tiles you need will obviously depend on the size of the tile you wish to lay. Also, the tile pattern you will like on the floor may be a factor in considering how many square feet of ceramic tile you will need to order.

• If the room is not a perfect 'square' because of an irregular floor plan, do not include this space while taking initial measurements. It will be difficult to locate the center of the room if you include this space. The procedure to factor this space for tiling can be done separately.

• Select your ceramic tile type, size and pattern. Environmental factors and expected usage demanded upon the type of tile you have in mind should all be accounted for when making your choice. There is also a wide range of sizes in tiles to choose from. Some common sizes can range from 6" x 6" to 13" x 13" and 24" x 14", and many more in between and beyond.

• Remember to talk to your sales rep with regard to expected and acceptable damage which is often a reality when ceramic tiles are damaged during shipping. Seek advice on how many additional square feet should be ordered to account for this.

• Selecting the tile color will be followed by the grout selection process. Grout is the cement-based filler or bonding material used for filling joints between tiles. There is no certain rule about the combination of tiles and grout and their color variance. Variation in color will be a reality. So in a pinch, choose your grout for practical reasons above aesthetic ones. Ordering samples of your chosen ceramic tile is a great way to get the best match for color. But for practicality in applying the grout, and maintaining it afterwards it�s a good idea to talk to your seller. Also, read all product instructions and make sure you follow them closely.