An excellent tile installed badly becomes an average floor; a standard tile installed properly can last for decades. Tile installation is the stage that really makes the difference.
1. Preparing the substrate
Everything starts with the substrate, which must be flat, dry, stable and properly cured. With large formats, surface defects are immediately visible, so flatness must be checked before laying.
2. Correct adhesive and double spreading
Use a cement-based adhesive suitable for the format, substrate and destination. For large formats and outdoor areas, double spreading is good practice: adhesive both on the substrate and on the back of the tile.
3. Tile grout lines: how wide?
Grout lines are not an aesthetic defect but a technical element. Rectified tiles allow minimal joints, often around 2 mm; outdoors and with non-rectified materials, wider joints are required.
4. Grouting tiles
When the adhesive has hardened, grouting can begin: cement-based or epoxy. It is essential to remove residues before they dry.
How much material to order
Calculate the square metres and always add about 10% waste allowance for cuts, offcuts and future replacements. Before the full order, choose your surface and evaluate a sample on Sample.now.
