The Anatomy of a Tile Floor
1. The Substrate
The best tile floors begin with a solid foundation. Ceramin may be durable but is brittle and a weak foundation underneathe could cause the tiles to crack. This problem occurs most often in older where settling and shifting of the structure has created movement between the beams and the floor.
Plywood: To make the subfloor of these homes more solid a ceramic tile contractor may screw down a layer of 3/8-inch plywood. This also protects the old floors and the beams from the adhesive moisture when putting down the new tile.
Concrete Backerboard: The same size as as a sheet of plywood backerboard is a concrete panel sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass. As both products are waterproof this substrate material is perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
Mortar Bed: This is a multi-layered base consisting of roofing felt as the sealing layer. Then a wire mesh is placed down for reinforcing followed by a Portland cement-based finishing layer.
Concrete Slab: This is especially common in basements. Concert rarely moves and holds the mortar well.
Crack-Proof Underlayments: These are layers of plastic or mesh-like products that absorb any movement below before it can harm the tile.
Thinset: A layer of a Portland cement-based product that smooths out imperfections in the floor. This is a great equalizing product if the ceramic tile installers are going over an old tile floor.
2. Mastic
Mastic is a specialty-mixed, Portland-cement product that has to be mixed with water. The slurry should be the consistency of pancake batter before use. With a special trowel the mastic is applied so that the notches on the trowel make ridges all equal in height. When spread out it looks like a miniature farmer's field after plowing. Always mix just enough mastic so that it takes fifteen minutes to lay down the tile otherwise it will begin to dry and will lose its adhesive quality.
3. Tile
The usual type of tile installed is ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and glass. These are placed in a pattern either pressed tightly together or evenly-spaced.
Ceramic: This is a common, clay-based tile that is baked in a oven for strength. The design is usually imprinted on the surface. In size they can be between two and eighteen-inches square.
Porcelain: Porcelain is much like ceramic except that they are more durable and the pattern goes right through the tile. This is great for high-traffic areas where the design on a ceramic tile could be scraped off after time.
Natural Stone: Granite, marble and slate are natural stones that make great floors. They are installed like ceramic tile but are not completely impervious to water and stains and so have to be sealed.
Glass: A specialty item glass tiles are mostly used for bathrooms and adornments for floors and backspash tile.
4. Grout
A type of fine mortar grout is made in many colors. This is pressed into the spaces between the tiles and acts as a defining border for the ceramic tile as a well as a holding agent. As grout is porous it should be sealed.
Ceramic Tile Contractors Know Tile
Although installing a ceramic tile floor can be a do-it-yourself project the best way to get a perfect floor is by hiring tile flooring contractor.
Kim Kinrade writes for renovation, travel and news sites. When he is not doing this or renovating old houses he finds the time to write novels.
