i‘m thinking about laying my own tile. ( this way i could save $2700) yeah, i know its a pain int he butt. BUT i‘m still going to do it because i like doing my own work. I‘m laying down 24x24 tiles. do you have any advice or secrete or techniques to offer? its a straight edge tile so i was thinking about using no spacers. I was also told to spread thinset on the tile in addition to the cement floor.
27 hundred dollars? What the hell are ya going to tile, a football field?..Ok, first I would think twice about not using spacers but that's up to you.. When you buy the tile check for the size notched trowel that's recommended and use it on the concrete floor and flat butter the back of the tile, and use a rubber mallet to tap it firm.
Yes, 24x24 square edge tile is very accurately sized and can be laid with 1/16 joint. But only with careful attention to every detail. The slab needs to be dead on, less than 1/8 in ten feet variation. If a 10' straight edge placed on the slab has a space of more than 1/8 under it you will need self-leveling mortar. Flat trowel the back of each tile with thinset just prior to setting it. Move the notched trowel so all the ridges are parallel. Do not move the trowel in random directions. You will trap air under the tile and when you try to level them thinset will ooze out and make a mess. Try to apply thinset with the accuracy that once the tile is set it doesn't need to be adjusted. If the floor is flat, the thinset is consistant and the tile is accurate, you can't help but have a good floor I would reccomend at least 3/16 grout. Finish the grout as flat as possible, with new sponges and minimal water. Pre-seal the tile before grouting to make clean-up easy.
