How to properly lay porcelain tiles for a heated floor with your own hands

Hello readers of my blog! Today we will talk about how to properly lay porcelain tiles for a heated floor with your own hands. It would seem that the matter is not tricky, but when you are faced with this problem, you have to think about how to do it correctly, what preparation to do, what materials to choose. Thus, I decided that this article would be useful to someone, and I am devoting my efforts to this subject. In it I will answer a number of questions that will arise immediately before How to properly lay porcelain tiles for a heated floor with your own hands, and some even after that. This topic is quite broad, because before work, thorough preparation is necessary, but how to do this? And this is a separate topic. You can learn about all this in great detail in the article below.

Technology for laying porcelain tiles on the floor

To decorate premises, porcelain tiles are often laid on the floor with your own hands, if you have professional skill and relevant knowledge. The material allows you to get a high-quality floor finish, while having different shapes, colors and sizes.

In what ways can porcelain stoneware be laid?

Porcelain tile is an artificial stone that belongs to a special class.

It has high strength and zero porosity. If you take a closer look at the choice of installation methods, then it will not be difficult to cope with the task. This will create a coating that can be subjected to significant loads.

When deciding on the installation method, you should take into account all the main points associated with reducing or increasing the space of the room:

There are different types of porcelain tile layouts, including simple and complex. The choice of one method or another is influenced by the following factors:

Laying porcelain tiles can be made from finishing materials of different colors or sizes, so you should take into account all the subtleties associated with the technology for creating such a floor covering. You can lay tiles in the following ways:

To combine different zones into one, a through pattern is usually used, and a single pattern is used to separate the surface of the base.

The listed options can be combined with each other. The color, size and shape of porcelain tiles are extremely varied. The technology for laying porcelain stoneware on the floor involves the use of special types of this material, providing a variety of ways to create a ceramic floor covering.

What are the differences between ceramic and porcelain tiles

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are closely related, consisting of clay, reinforced by high firing temperatures, and glazed to create a smooth, hard-wearing floor surface. However, there are some notable differences between the two.

Clay type

Ceramic tiles are made from darker clays, while porcelain tiles are made from whiter clays. The clay used in the production of porcelain tiles is more refined than that used to make ceramic tiles and is often mixed with other minerals such as quartz, feldspar and sand to create a hard and durable shape. Porcelain tiles also bake at a higher temperature than ceramic.

Tile finishing

There are also key differences in how pre-fabricated porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles are applied. While ceramic and porcelain tiles can come in any design and color, porcelain tile designs typically run throughout the entire structure of the tile, whereas ceramic designs are simply applied to the surface.

Certificates

Porcelain tiles must also be certified by industry groups to be considered a quality product. PTCA (Porcelain Tile Certification Agency) evaluates porcelain tiles based on water absorption ratings.

How to prepare the base for laying porcelain tiles

Porcelain stoneware is a floor covering material that requires careful preparation of the base surface. Masonry is carried out after applying an adhesive layer to concrete, wood flooring or plasterboard. The laid layer of tiles must be a high-quality coating.

If you plan to decorate a room with this material, you should study the technology of laying porcelain stoneware on various types of surfaces. When laying porcelain tiles on a concrete base, differences of more than 15 mm will need to be identified and eliminated. To level them, a screed mixture is used.

After cleaning the installation site, you can proceed to its processing, which requires sealing cracks, crevices and holes in the base. Quite fragile porcelain stoneware can only be laid on a flat base.

Leveling is carried out by eliminating protruding places on the surface of the base, removing depressions and depressions. Each crack or seam is pre-cleaned and then sealed. If there are minor imperfections on the base, they should be skipped and a thicker layer of glue applied.

If the surface for laying porcelain tiles is dry, without cracks, dirt or voids, then a screed can be made on the prepared base.

Putting the floor in order requires taking into account the load-bearing capacity of the floor, which may be under the influence of excessive load.

When the base has already been prepared, you can begin priming. It should be intended for laying floor materials. If the working surface is glossy or shiny, then it is best to sand the surface to a matte finish.

Preparation for installation of porcelain tile flooring determines the result of all work. The tiles must be laid on a surface that has been pre-treated with special impregnations. Experts do not recommend installing tiles on old wooden floors.

All elements of the worn-out structure are pre-selected. Sometimes wood flooring is replaced with a concrete base rather than new boards. In this case, the filling is carried out along the logs, and all free space is filled with expanded clay.

Installation of heated floors under porcelain stoneware tiles is carried out in advance. First, all work on installing the system is carried out, and after that the screed is performed. The flooring must be installed after laying the waterproofing layer.

Then you should proceed to preparing the solution and pouring the screed. When the concrete has already been poured, treated with an antiseptic, and primed, you can begin laying the facing material. The heat is always transferred to the porcelain stoneware surface, which remains warm for a long time.

Laying heated floors under porcelain tiles: tips and secrets

How to choose an electric heated floor for tiles
Today, building materials such as porcelain stoneware are gaining popularity among owners of their own homes for installing flooring. It is convenient and practical and corresponds to all modern fashion trends, but it has one drawback - low temperature.

A solution to this problem has been found and it is represented by the “warm floor” system. Such a system allows you to heat the room with the ability to regulate this process, but everything looks beautiful in the photo, but what are the nuances of installing such a system in practice. The article will discuss how to install a heated floor under porcelain stoneware and achieve its maximum efficiency.

We will consider the process starting from the moment when the house has only a primary floor.

Next, to achieve maximum efficiency of the heated floor, it is recommended to install porcelain stoneware on the following layers of materials:

• screed or primary floor;
• heat-reflecting material (Izolon);
• thermal film;
• polyethylene film;
• drywall;
• tile adhesive with a layer of 1 cm;
• porcelain stoneware

Laying a heated floor under porcelain tiles

At the stage of laying the layers described above, it is worth thinking about installing a system of heating elements. This procedure is carried out in the presence of at least a heat-insulating layer on which the heating elements will be located, and it is also permissible to use a special heat-reflecting layer that enhances the heating effect by redirecting the thermal energy directly into the room.

When installing a heated floor under porcelain tiles, which type is better to choose, there is no difference, since there is only one condition: the material laid on top of the heating elements must be specified immediately, since not all of them can be disassembled and repair work carried out.

Porcelain stoneware is considered one of those materials that is very difficult to remove and repair work underneath it will be very expensive. As soon as the integrity of the wiring in the entire “warm floor” system is checked and the tests confirm the ability of the house’s electrical wiring to withstand the additional load, installation can be carried out and the elements can be connected in a static manner.

It is important to remember that the heating elements should not touch the hydro- and thermal insulation

Porcelain stoneware base

The primary floor will not be the only layer of such density, since to install porcelain stoneware it will be necessary to pour a cement screed over the film of the heating system located on top. A replacement for such a layer can be sheet material such as plasterboard.

The screed should be cement-sand, and it is worth remembering that cement will cause additional cooling of the coating, and sand will have the opposite effect. A special metal mesh is laid under it, which increases the adhesion of the layers, but in the case when an infrared heated floor is used under porcelain stoneware, it is better to abandon it, because the conductivity of electric current through it is very high and a short circuit is inevitable (for more details: “How to lay an infrared heated floor under tiles - installation instructions"). The screed should be between 5 and 7 centimeters thick in order for ideal heat transfer parameters to be maintained and the porcelain tiles to heat up quickly.

Laying porcelain stoneware slabs

The prepared surface will be ready for laying tiles. It is worth taking care in advance to purchase adhesive for heated floors under porcelain tiles, since this is a specific composition that has sufficient resistance to high temperatures and does not dry out when heated.

Glue for porcelain tiles is applied to the heated floor in a thin layer, dries within 24 hours, and in 72 hours the tiles will be perfectly connected to the floor, and then all that remains is to carry out the beauty work: grouting joints, washing out tiles, etc., so that There is no shame in bringing guests or taking pre-sale photos. If you use high-quality grout, the floor will be additionally protected from moisture penetration into the cracks between the tiles.

Practice shows that installing a “warm floor” system under porcelain stoneware is as easy as shelling pears, and any person with minimal construction skills can carry out such work. At the same time, the effect of the system is such that the room will immediately become comfortable and cozy.

What tools and materials are used

Before laying porcelain tiles on the floor, you will need to prepare the following tools:

The size of the material used will determine the choice of trowel: the larger the dimensions of the tile, the larger the teeth of the trowel should be. To obtain a constant seam width, you need to use crosses.

Materials you need to prepare:

To ensure high-quality transportation of porcelain stoneware, the manufacturer uses technical wax or paraffin when processing the material, which helps protect the tiles from breakage. Before using porcelain stoneware, it is necessary to remove the protective paraffin or wax layer with detergents or cleaning agents. Paraffin can be easily removed from the tiles using a spatula.

Before carrying out work, you should prepare a plan for laying porcelain stoneware. It reflects the installation method, determines the pattern, and the thickness of the adhesive layer.

When installing the coating, you can use the method of laying tiles end-to-end. It has its drawback, which is the need to use material of exactly the same dimensions, so some products will remain unusable. Laying porcelain stoneware on the floor without seams allows you to save materials and obtain a uniform floor covering.

Since porcelain stoneware does not have the property of water absorption, this characteristic is decisive when choosing an adhesive. Before laying porcelain tiles on the floor, it is not advisable to prepare cement mortar for fixing the tiles.

This will not provide increased adhesion of the mixture to the tile surface. Experts recommend using only adhesives with polymer additives. When choosing an adhesive, you should take into account the load at the places where the tiles are installed, as well as the nature of the base itself.

Necessary tool

To carry out the work of laying porcelain tiles on a heated floor, we will need the following tools:

1. Measuring instruments (ruler or tape measure) as well as a building level.
2. Grinder and tile cutter.
3. A container for water and also for mixing glue.
4. Rubber trowel.
5. Set of spatulas for working with tiles.
6. Marker.
7. Construction mixer or drill with appropriate attachment.

Do-it-yourself technology for laying porcelain tiles

Before laying porcelain tiles on the floor, you should carefully assess the surrounding environment. Installation of tiles cannot be carried out when the room temperature is less than 5 °C. Work on laying porcelain tiles should not be carried out when the floor is heated or the heating is on.

First, the middle of the floor is marked, for which a cord is used.

It stretches along the longest wall. Laying begins from the middle of the base, where there is a mark, so that the middle of the whole product runs in the direction of the cord line. The laying surface in niches is distributed so that cut products of the same width are located in the middle of the surface or run along its edges.

Before applying glue to the base, the tiles are laid out on the floor. This allows you to adjust the pattern, avoiding mistakes during the laying process. Next, symmetrical laying of porcelain stoneware is carried out.

Whole or cut elements of equal width are laid on the edges of the porcelain stoneware surface. Wall protrusions and outer corners are covered with whole products, and inner corners with cut elements. In passages between adjacent rooms, seams are placed along the line of transition from one room to another.

If the adhesive solution is well mixed and has the consistency of thick sour cream, then it can be applied to a small surface and then leveled with smooth and notched spatulas.

After applying the adhesive composition to the surface, porcelain tiles should be laid within 15 minutes.

In this case, the product is placed on the edge, and then rests against the previously laid one. After this, the entire tile must be applied to the surface with the adhesive. Each subsequent element should be slightly moved away from the adjacent product.

The tiles to be laid should be lightly pressed into the adhesive solution. Do not fill gaps between adjacent tiles with glue. To ensure a constant gap, you can use crosses.

Instructions for using glue on heated floors

How to lay tiles on the floor in a toilet, characteristics of tiles, tools for work and how to lay tiles with your own hands correctly

Initial data: the room has a warm floor with a water heating system, a cement-concrete screed is made on top. There are no defects that require mandatory elimination before laying artificial stone.

To carry out the work, you will need to buy glue for porcelain tiles, a deep penetration primer for concrete surfaces, a notched trowel, a construction ladle and trowel, a container for preparing the solution and an electric mixer. To cut tiles you need a tile cutter, the distance between the seams is set using plastic crosses, the position of the surface is checked with a bubble level. Use a rubber hammer to move the tiles. The primer is applied with a roller or brush.

Step 1: Prepare the surface. Carefully remove all construction dust; it is advisable to vacuum the screed. To increase the strength of the surface and improve the adhesion of the adhesive, the base should be coated with a special primer.

Garbage collection

Surface dust removal

Apply a primer to the screed; it is recommended to mix it before use; due to long-term storage, delamination may occur. The primer is applied with a brush or roller to a completely dry base. How to check humidity? Very simply, cover a small area of ​​the floor with plastic wrap at night. If traces of condensation are found on it in the morning, the floor should still be dried.

Applying primer

Carefully ensure that the primer covers the entire surface of the screed without gaps; remember that the adhesion performance of the adhesive significantly depends on this. The manufacturer guarantees the values ​​indicated on the packaging only if the recommended technology for using the composition is fully followed. If the surface of the screed absorbs the primer too quickly, the operation will have to be repeated. Further work can be started only after the primer has completely dried.

Step 2. According to the instructions, prepare glue for porcelain tiles. Pour water into the container, add dry glue with a construction ladle and thoroughly mix all the ingredients with a mixer. The percentage is indicated on the bag.

Adhesive for porcelain tiles

Step 3. Prepare porcelain tiles for installation. To increase the adhesion of tile adhesive and tiles, the back side should be coated with water with added primer. The amount of primer is in the range of 10–20%; due to this operation, the quality and reliability of installation significantly increases. Coat the tiles with a small brush, and place the finished ones vertically in a free space. You can cook 10 pieces at a time. and more. The specific quantity depends on their size and the productivity of the tiler.

Step 4. Using a trowel, spread the prepared glue onto the surface of the screed and level it using a notched trowel. Do not try to immediately apply the composition to a large area; if you have little practical experience in laying tiles, then the width of the applied adhesive should be equal to the width of the tile.

Applying glue to the floor, leveling the layer with a notched trowel

Step 5. Apply a thin layer of glue to the surface of the porcelain stoneware and level it.

Step 6. Immediately after laying the tiles, level them vertically and horizontally; they should lie strictly in the same plane as those previously laid.

Laying tiles and checking their position

The best way to level tiles is to use wedges (Tile Leveling System)

Equal gaps between them are made using plastic crosses. At least two crosses must be used on each edge; this is the only way to prevent distortions. The position of the tiles is leveled with a rubber mallet; if there is none, then hit the protruding places with your fist. The final check is done with a level, but remember that its length should allow you to simultaneously control at least two adjacent tiles. Apply the level in at least two directions; the more, the more accurate the results will be. After 1–1.5 hours, installed crosses can be removed and reused on new rows.

Checking the position of porcelain tiles and adjusting with a mallet

The wedges are removed with a mallet after the glue has dried.

Tile Leveling System (TLS)

If trimming is necessary, take accurate measurements, but do not forget to leave a gap between the flooring and the walls. Small gaps will later be covered with baseboards. Grouting of joints is done only after the glue has completely dried, the time is indicated on the packaging.

How to check the level of masonry and grout seams

To check the evenness of the porcelain stoneware covering, you must use a building level. Before installing correctly, you should take into account the difference in the levels of the previous and subsequent layers.

If there is a need to take a break from work, it is important to take into account that the previously laid layer of porcelain tiles has already settled. The subsequent layer, which is planned to be laid later, will only settle. For this reason, different layers of material cannot be laid at the same level.

To lay porcelain tiles correctly, it is necessary to check the level of the laid coating, taking into account that the laying time before the glue hardens is 10-15 minutes. During this interval, items can be moved or removed. The adhesive joint should not have voids, otherwise the tile will crack during use.

A plastic cross for porcelain tiles should be selected depending on the size of the tile. If a material of 30x30 cm is laid, then the seam size should be 3-5 mm. Silicone is used to fill gaps between the wall and the floor, including where pipes pass.

The drying process takes about a day, and the seam becomes completely strong only after 3 days.

Grouting of joints is carried out after the glue is firmly connected to the porcelain stoneware. For this purpose, you can use a fugue of a suitable color. With the help of contrasting grout, the pattern stands out, and the use of a plain material allows you to create a neutral coating with a uniform surface.

When starting to grout the joints, it is important to check their condition, since they should be empty. The entry of any foreign materials into the seam can not only lead to damage to the seam, but also to difficulty in the grouting process. The solution is applied to the cladding diagonally relative to the location of the seams between the elements.

You can use a clean, damp sponge to remove any remaining joint filler. You can start regular cleaning of the floor covering after 2 weeks, but not earlier.

After completion of all work, the quality of the completed coating should be assessed. To do this, attention is usually paid to the following categories:

If the appearance of the porcelain stoneware coating creates a pleasant impression, then it is done correctly. The absence of unevenness indicates good quality of work.

Porcelain tiles in the kitchen

How is porcelain tile different from ceramic tiles? These two materials are similar to each other in appearance, composition and performance characteristics, but due to different production technologies they have significant differences.

Unlike tiles, porcelain stoneware has no porosity, internal voids or microcracks, which provides it with significantly higher strength, water and wear resistance. In addition, it is not afraid of exposure to household chemicals, alkali, acids, or temperature changes. It is because of these qualities that porcelain stoneware is more suitable for the kitchen than any other material, including stone and traditional tiles.

In terms of hardness, porcelain tiles are even superior to natural granite, since they have 8-9 points on the MOOC scale, for comparison: granite is only 6 units, and corundum is 10 units.

Porcelain tiles are made from a special mixture of kaolin clays with the addition of mineral pigments, quartz powder, and metal oxides as coloring agents. It is called ceramic for the reason that it necessarily goes through the stage of high-temperature firing, combined with pressing.

The price of porcelain stoneware floor tiles ranges from 250 to 1800 rubles/sq. m., and the minimum cost for installation is 500 rubles.

Tiles win in this sense; Despite their high strength, porcelain stoneware can crack from a very strong impact; Such a floor will be colder than linoleum, laminate or parquet. Therefore, it is better to insulate the floor. Otherwise, just lay a non-staining carpet in the dining area.

How to distinguish porcelain tiles from regular tiles? This is very easy to do, just look at the cut - on porcelain tiles the coloring pigment is painted to the full depth, as it is added at the very beginning of production.

Installation features

Which adhesive to choose for porcelain tiles

Installation of an electrical cable includes the following nuances:

• floor screed not less than 3 cm;
• the base of the floor has insulation;
• the presence of reinforced metal mesh on the insulation;
• A plasticizer is required in the screed.

When choosing which heated floor to put under porcelain tiles, you should consider an electric mat as one of the options. The system consists of thin wire fibers up to 3.5 mm, placed in a certain way on a polymer sheet. Advantages of electric mats:

• quick installation;
• the path is simply rolled out and fixed, you can immediately lay tiles on top;
• a thick screed is not needed;
• the installation process is economical;
• no need to lay out the wire yourself, it is already built into the mesh;
• installation can be performed by anyone;
• the mat is suitable for any room;
• the floor height will rise by a maximum of 1.5 cm;
• starting from the 2nd floor, insulation under the mat is not required.

Taking into account all the nuances and expert advice regarding what type of underfloor heating is needed for porcelain stoneware, you can also consider the option of a thin electrical wire that can be laid out in the required increments. The master performing the work will always tell you how to do the work correctly. This alternative version of a heated floor will retain all the advantages and quality indicators of an electric mat.

Infrared heated floors are definitely not suitable for porcelain stoneware. Because the tiles are mounted on mortar. And the system is an electric film that is mounted without the use of fixers. This system is suitable for laminate, parquet or linoleum.

Because Since infrared heated floors work using carbon paste applied to a thin plastic plate, which is exposed to an alkaline environment, it is absolutely not suitable for heating rooms with tiles. The system can last for some time, but only until the aggressive alkaline environment spoils the plastic base. The same situation can arise if you use adhesive for heated floors under porcelain tiles.

In general, infrared heated floors have the shortest service life. Let's consider reviews of heated floors for porcelain tiles and expert advice.

Let's go to the store - how not to make a mistake in choosing

When you come to the store to buy porcelain stoneware floor tiles, arm yourself with a pen and a notepad in which you write down:

It’s better not to buy the option you like right away. Return home, think everything over, and calculate the required number of tiles with a 10% margin and taking into account the format.

Consider what components you will need - grout, baseboards, corners, thresholds. If you want to save money, look for the tiles you like in other stores and online stores by article number or simply by brand name, collection, etc.

Properties of ceramic tiles

The thermal conductivity of ceramic tiles varies from 0.2 to 0.8, which is significantly less than stone, but higher than other coatings. This difference in thermal conductivity of different tiles is due to the different porosity of the materials used by different manufacturers; Porosity depends on how the tiles are made.

In addition to thermal conductivity, it is sometimes important to take into account the surface roughness or, in other words, the depth of the tile relief. Because rough tiles transfer less (and sometimes much less) heat to the foot standing on it than smooth ones

Well, this is understandable: on a rough surface we touch the tile not with the entire surface of the foot, but as if with separate points:

By the way, there is also the opposite effect: when the floor is turned off in the summer, your feet will be less cold on the rough tiles.

So, the tiles conduct heat well when underfloor heating is running. On the other hand, when the heating is turned off in the summer, standing on the tiles barefoot is uncomfortable, so you need to look for some way out or compromise, as was written about in the article about the properties of floor coverings.

Choosing a design – beautiful and non-staining

It should also be taken into account that porcelain tiles are available in a variety of design solutions. Here, the appropriate option must be chosen taking into account the overall style of the room. Traditional design options include:

Wood-look porcelain tiles for the kitchen are chosen so that the floor appears traditionally massive, but at the same time is practical. And this is a very reasonable decision, because today you can find very naturalistic tiles that look as much like wood as possible. In addition, such a floor will be organically combined with laminate or parquet boards in other rooms and the hallway.

In addition, porcelain stoneware may differ in texture. Thus, the natural (matte) coating is not processed after firing, so it has increased wear resistance.

And when glazed floor tiles are made, the matte surface of the porcelain stoneware is cut off and lightened in a special way.

Porcelain tiles for floors are not much inferior to ceramic ones in terms of standard size variations. The most popular formats are: 30x30 cm, 40x40 cm and 60x60 cm. But you can choose both very large tiles (120x80 cm) and very small ones (5x5 cm).

Choosing tile adhesive

Among the features of such a material as porcelain stoneware, one can note the complete absence of water absorption, which plays a big role in the choice of tile adhesive for heated floors. Due to this feature, the selected adhesive should provide an increased level of adhesion. Therefore, it is extremely undesirable to use a standard cement composition.

In addition, before choosing an adhesive for laying a heated floor, you need to familiarize yourself with its characteristics, in addition, carefully analyze future operating conditions. Accordingly, in the presence of large loads, a composition with a high level of stability is needed. It is also necessary to take into account the temperature regime, which is acceptable for certain types of glue.

Well, now let’s move on directly to how to lay porcelain tiles on tiles or floors.

Getting ready to lay porcelain tiles - what is required for the work, leveling the base

Laying porcelain tiles with your own hands requires preparation. At this stage, the required amount of tiles, glue, and grout is calculated. To the amount of tiles obtained in accordance with the area of ​​the room, 8-12% is added for trimming and other errors.

Porcelain tiles can be laid seamlessly, but this will require rectified material, with ideal geometry and very expensive.

Tools and consumables are being prepared:

The floor tiles themselves may also need preparation - sometimes the material comes with a protective wax or paraffin coating. Wax can be removed with a soap solution, and paraffin can be removed with a spatula.

The base for installation must also be prepared, since significant differences in height will not be eliminated with the adhesive mixture. Poor quality concrete floors are leveled with self-leveling mixtures. After drying, the new screed is primed and then cleaned.

The surface must be dry and clean before installing porcelain stoneware.

Option 1. The floor level is raised by 35-50 mm, heating cable into the screed

If it is possible to fill a screed with a thickness of 35-50mm, you can use a heating cable as a warm floor. Its main advantage is that by changing the laying step, you can set any capacity per square meter. heated area, so it can be used both as a comfortable floor heating system and as additional or complete heating of the room. And the use of special thermal insulation under the heating cable will reduce heat loss to a minimum, reducing energy costs and increasing the efficiency of the floor heating system.

Required conditions:

• If the thickness of the screed is more than 50 mm, there will be weak heating of the surface and increased energy consumption; if less than 30 mm, there will be an alternation of warm and cold zones (thermal “zebra”).
• The cement-sand screed should not have sharp stones or air pockets, so as not to damage the heating cable and prevent it from overheating.
• The heating cable must be securely fastened and the cable turns must not move when pouring the cement screed. Displacement of cable turns can lead to uneven heating of the surface - “thermal zebra”, and in some cases, even to overheating and failure of the cable if the minimum distance between turns is not observed (less than 40 mm).

This is interesting: The technology of laying warm electric floors - we tell you in detail

How to lay porcelain tiles on the floor with your own hands

So, how to lay porcelain tiles correctly. Experts recommend laying according to preliminary markings.

You need to find the optimal starting point - from the middle of the room, and the axis line should correspond to the center of the first tile row. If, with this arrangement, narrow pieces remain near the wall, then it is necessary to change the location, “bring out” the trimming to where it will be invisible.

Before laying the floor tiles, you need to check the adhesion of the adhesive mixture to the base. Good adhesion will not allow you to immediately separate the glued element.

The adhesive solution is prepared with special care - no lumps are allowed in it, and the consistency should correspond to thick sour cream.

A metal trowel is used to apply adhesive to the tiles, and then the excess mortar is removed with a notched trowel. It is important that the glue is applied in an even layer.

And in order for the floor tiles to be laid with equal gaps, special plastic crosses are used. After installation of the coating is completed, the seams are thoroughly cleaned of excess mortar. To do this, use a damp, clean rag.

Keep in mind that once the adhesive has set, cleaning the tiles will become much more difficult.

How to lay porcelain tiles on the floor with your own hands

Laying porcelain tiles is a long and troublesome task.

The technique is somewhat similar to laying ceramic tiles, but has its own characteristics. To lay porcelain tiles with your own hands, it is not enough to have a theoretical understanding; it is important to strictly adhere to the rules and have considerable endurance. After all, the whole complex of work takes a lot of time.

Before laying porcelain tiles on the floor, you need to choose a masonry pattern. Even if ordinary square sheets of porcelain tile are used, they can be laid in different ways, and this will change the perception of the space of the room.

In addition, it is rarely possible to lay porcelain stoneware on the floor without cutting the material. Therefore, first you need to determine how many tiles you will have to cut, and how wide the cutting parts will be. If the cut is more than half of the sheet, you can divide the cut part by 2 and lay the cut tile around the perimeter of the room, and in the center there will be a whole one.

Another option is not to divide anything, but simply lay porcelain tiles on the floor, starting from one of the walls.

But then you need to be prepared for the fact that the entire opposite wall will be cut off, and symmetry will not work. Often they choose the option of laying at an angle of 45 degrees. This visually increases the volume of the room.

Rectangular porcelain tiles lengthen the room. Small tiles increase space, while large tiles decrease space. A pattern of a combination of large and small tiles adds softness to the room.

Step-by-step instruction

So, let's start with the installation itself.

1. First of all, mix the adhesive mixture and then apply it to the surface. First we level it with an even spatula, then with a notched spatula.
2. Next, lay the tiles on edge and level them. Please note that it is necessary to check in all positions.
3. The next step is to also adapt the subsequent tiles. But they already need to be moved a little away from the previous ones, leaving a small gap. For this purpose, special crosses or systems for laying tiles are usually used.
4. Each new laid tile must be checked with a level. Within the next 10 minutes after installation, you can still correct it and adjust its position.

Important! If you take a break between installations, you should take into account that the previously laid material settles somewhat when the adhesive mixture dries. That is why, with further laying of the first part of the coating according to the level, we will end up with an uneven surface with a discrepancy in level.

In addition, controlling the voids between the seams becomes a fairly important factor, as this can lead to cracking of the tile itself. Speaking about the timing of control, we can say that the glue itself usually dries within a day, while the full strength of the coating occurs only after three days.

Preparing the base before laying porcelain stoneware

It is difficult to find a more demanding material for the subfloor than porcelain stoneware. However, it is just as difficult to find a more durable, strong and reliable flooring material. Work should begin not with the question: how to lay porcelain stoneware on the floor, but with how to prepare the base for installation.

The floor must be absolutely flat, dry, grease-free and clean.

Evenness is the first and main problem. The floors in modern apartments can hardly be called smooth; construction companies do not aim to provide future residents with an easy life during renovations. But in private houses, built conscientiously and under the full control of the future owners, things are better.

However, leveling may still be necessary. Doing this with porcelain tile adhesive is very expensive. Therefore, it is best to use self-leveling mixtures.

For inexperienced builders, this is a cost-effective and easy way to achieve a level floor. If the height differences are significant, it is better to do the rough leveling with cement, and the surface, finishing leveling, with a self-leveling mixture. Concrete fields are treated with a primer for better adhesion to the glue.

When the floor is level, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned and degreased.

You can do this with caustic soda. Porcelain stoneware slabs can only be laid on a dry floor. If a “warm floor” system is installed under the floor, it needs to be warmed up so that all the moisture on the surface evaporates, then turn it off and wait until it cools completely.

A separate installation option is wooden flooring. Since wood is a living material, breathing and capable of changing its proportions, porcelain tiles must be protected from any changes in the base, even the most minimal ones. That’s why a special underlay is laid on the wooden floor.

In this case, the adhesive for porcelain tiles must be either one-component elastic, or, if it consists of two components, then on a polyurethane or epoxy base. For a wooden floor, laying it on plasterboard may be the solution. But this base must be primed to prevent water absorption.

Main types

Types of electric heated floors:

• with electric cable;
• electric mat;
• infrared heated floor.

Each type has its own nuances in connection and operation.

Floor heating using a cable is preferable, since it is quite easy to install. Installation can be done in a floor screed or in tile adhesive. Even a non-professional can handle it. Manufacturers of heating systems provide a guarantee for the operation of the equipment even if the installation is carried out independently by the buyer. The system is connected to the electrical network. Sellers in specialized stores will advise you on how to choose a heated floor for porcelain tiles. It is also worth asking for advice from professional builders.

Builders and apartment owners leave the most positive reviews of the electric heating field under porcelain tiles.

Floor heating using an electric cable is the most commonly used. In addition, it is one of the most sought after. The essence of its work is to heat the nichrome alloy using electric current. Nichrome is most often used in the heated core of the system. Each individual heating branch has protective shells that protect the floor surface from overheating and current access, and also preserves the integrity of the core in case of possible mechanical damage.

The cross-sectional thickness of the cable is 7 mm. It comes with one or two cores. The two-core cable is equipped at the ends with a coupling and a wire that connects to the network. Professionals choose a two-core system, and today single-core cables are almost never used. This choice is due to ease of operation and installation, since the less popular electric heating does not have an end coupling and is more difficult to install.

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Preparing porcelain tiles for installation

Porcelain stoneware is a very fragile material, so it is protected from breakage during transportation. Technical wax or paraffin is applied to the front side of the panels. Before installation, the protective layer must be removed.

It is better to remove wax by washing the slabs using a fat solvent and other cleaning agents. The paraffin will have to be carefully cleaned with a spatula.

How to lay porcelain tiles on the floor: procedure

Step 1. When the base and the porcelain tile itself are prepared, you need to prepare the glue.

Regular cement mixtures will not be able to hold large porcelain stoneware slabs. Therefore, you only need to use special adhesives. When mixing glue with water, you need to ensure that the mass is homogeneous, without air bubbles or lumps.

The glue retains its characteristics from 2 to 8 hours. This time is usually indicated in the instructions. Therefore, it is better to cook it in portions.

Step 2. Glue is applied to the floor surface.

The layer must be uniform, without voids. For small tiles, apply with a trowel with 8 mm teeth; for large tiles, apply with a trowel with large teeth. The thickness of the applied adhesive should not be more than 5 mm.

The glue is applied under each tile separately. That is, when the first tile is laid, then glue is applied for the second porcelain stoneware slab. An adhesive composition is also applied to the back side of the tile.

Step 3. Carefully lay the first porcelain tile.

To do this, it is placed on its edge, aligned along one of the planes. It is best to mark the alignment lines using a laser level, but if there is no level, you can make markings. Then the porcelain stoneware is smoothly lowered onto the adhesive composition.

Step 4.

Level the porcelain tiles. For large format tiles, you will need a mallet or other rubber mallet. The tile must lie flat; evenness is checked using a building level.

Step 5. Excess glue must be removed.

After this, repeat steps 2-3 for the second tile. To ensure high-quality alignment of the tiles relative to each other, special crosses are used. They are laid at the joints of the slabs, so the gap between the slabs is equal.

Making a water heated floor

Step 1. The rough base is thoroughly cleaned. Debris is removed and dust is removed using a construction vacuum cleaner.

Preparing the subfloor

Step 2. A layer of waterproofing material is laid. Individual strips of waterproofing are connected to each other using tape. Insulation is laid on the surface. If the waterproofing is under the screed, then it does not need to be re-installed.

Laying insulation

Step 3. The insulation boards are fixed to the floor using special “fungi”, holes for which are drilled with a powerful drill or hammer drill.

Drilling holes for "fungi"

Insulation boards are attached to the floor

Step 4. A reinforcing mesh is laid on the surface of the insulation and secured using “fungi”. The mesh is laid with an overlap in 1 cell, and the individual webs are fastened to each other using plastic clamps.

Connecting reinforcing mesh sheets

Drilling holes for fasteners

Fixing the reinforcing mesh

Step 5. A manifold is installed to which the water floor pipes will be connected. The collectors are wall mounted.

Installed floor heating collector

Step 6. A special compensation tape is attached to the wall along the floor to compensate for the thermal expansion of the screed.

Compensation tape

Step 7. In accordance with the laying diagram, the pipe for the heating circuit is laid on the reinforcing mesh and secured to it using plastic clamps.

Laying pipes for a heated floor circuit

Heated floor pipe circuit length calculator

Step 8. The pipes are connected to the manifold. Before pouring the screeds, they are filled with water.

Connecting pipes to the collector

Step 9. Beacons are installed on the floor. Beacons are leveled using a construction laser level

It is important to remember that the thickness of the screed, starting from the level of the pipes, should not be less than 4 cm

Beacons installed

Step 10. The cement screed is poured in accordance with all the rules. After it has completely dried (about 28 days), the selected floor covering can be laid on the floor. You cannot turn on the heated floor until the screed is completely dry.

The screed is poured

Video - Installation of water heated floor

Warm water flooring cannot be installed in all rooms. For example, in old houses the load on the heating system due to it can be very high, and the housing and communal services organization may prohibit connecting the system. However, in new buildings there is usually a separate tap for connecting such a system and there will be no problems with organizing heating. Also, a water floor can be installed in cottage-type houses. And you will have to choose the coating according to your taste.

How to avoid mistakes when laying porcelain tiles on the floor?

How to lay porcelain tiles on the floor is already clear, but during the installation process many unforeseen situations can arise, so you need to know what mistakes can happen and how to avoid them.

After applying the adhesive and laying one tile, it can be leveled (moved, moved, moved) for no more than 15 minutes, preferably 10. Otherwise, the adhesive will begin to set, which may subsequently negatively affect the fastening of the slab.

Sometimes during installation you need to take a break from work, it’s still quite a long job. It won't work without breaks. It should be taken into account that tiles laid an hour ago will be lower than those that are placed on the floor now.

This is natural shrinkage, it is not large, less than 1 mm. However, it can be noticed. The porcelain stoneware tiles being laid will still settle, and if the horizon is leveled immediately, the slabs will end up at different levels.

The glue partially sets within 24 hours. After this, you can grout the joints.

However, it is still impossible to exploit such a “daily” floor. It is best to let it sit for 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on conditions and glue. And then all that remains is to enjoy the result of the work done.

Well, now it's time to finish the article. All the material I wanted to share has been reviewed. I hope it will be useful to you, and you will use it if you need to lay porcelain tiles for a heated floor with your own hands. Improve your own practical skills and gain new knowledge, as they say: “It’s never too late to learn!” That's all, thank you for your attention, successful and easy repair!

Water heated floor

A water heated floor is a metal-plastic heating pipe that is passed under porcelain stoneware. One of the advantages of this option is its low cost, since an additional water heating pipe can be easily connected to the central heating of the house.

The disadvantages of a water system include poor regulation of heat supply, which depends only on the amount of water simultaneously circulating through the system and the likelihood of cracks in the pipe, which can lead to big trouble - flooding of the lower floors with water from the system, and to repair the pipe you will have to remove all porcelain tiles .