DIY Flooring

These are commonly made of ceramic, porcelain, or stone, although recent technological advances have resulted in rubber or glass tiles for floors as well. Ceramic floor tiles may be painted and glazed. Small mosaic tiles may be laid in various patterns. Floor tiles are typically set into mortar consisting of sand, cement and often a latex additive for extra adhesion. The spaces between the tiles are nowadays filled with sanded or unsanded floor grout, but traditionally mortar was used.

Natural stone floor tiles can be beautiful but as a natural product they are less uniform in color and pattern, and require more planning for use and installation. Mass produced stone floor tiles are uniform in width and length. Granite or marble floor tiles are sawn on both sides and then polished or finished on the facing up side, so that they have a uniform thickness. Other natural stone floor tiles such as slate are typically “riven” (split) on the facing up side so that the thickness of the tile varies slightly from one spot on the tile to another and from one tile to another. Variations in tile thickness can be handled by adjusting the amount of mortar under each part of the tile floor, by using wide grout lines that “ramp” between different thicknesses, or by using a cold chisel to knock off high spots. With any type of tile flooring, a smooth even finish is paramount for safety.