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Floor
Tiles - Planning and Laying
Floor
tiles for heavy duty or commercial specialty applications can
contain up to 100 percent post consumer rubber. They are made
from used truck and airline tires. Floor tiles containing 90 to
100 percent recovered plastic are also readily available
Planning:
Always plan the design and layout on paper first, especially if
you are going to mix shapes and designs. Take account of the fixtures
and fittings in the room as the design will have to work alongside
these features. Try to avoid patterned tiles at internal corners
where they will have to be cut and the beauty of the design could
be lost. Also try to avoid using a quarter or less of a tile on
an end wall, as the small parts are very difficult to accurately
cut without breaking the small end section.
It
is always wise to buy a few extra tiles, in case you crack or
break a tile while cutting it to fit, or to keep as a spare in
case of accidental damage in the future. Laying tiles on a floor
is similar to the method for laying them on a wall. However due
to their thickness, a floor tile cutter with angled jaws is required
to cut the tiles, or hire a floor tile cutting tool.
Use
a wooden stick and mark the length of tiles along its length and
then use it as a tile gauge. Remember to allow spacing for grouting.
Laying
the tiles:
Use a waterproof, floor tile adhesive which allows slight flexibility
when set. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and using a notched
or plain trowel, as directed, to spread the adhesive on the floor
to cover a manageable area for laying approximately 10 tiles.
Use
a layer of adhesive on the back of the tile and press into the
desired position. It is very important to lay the first tile correctly,
as its position will determine the position of all the other tiles
in the room. Use a batten nailed to the floor to give a straight
edge to guide the positioning of the tiles. Remember to use plastic
spacers or thick card to regulate the distance between the tiles.
These areas will be grouted when the floor is complete and must
be equally spaced for neat, accurate results.
There
are many more flooring articles in our flooring
section. There is more specific information in the links at
the beginning of this article. They can guide you where you need
to go.
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