Tiles Methodology:

TOOLS:

Professional tools should be used on floor tile installation: Notch trowel, Manual or electric Cut
devices, metric gauge, bubble or laser light level, Electrical mixers to prepare grout and thin set mortar
and so on
Safety PPE shall be used as per Company Safety Policy

Cleaning: Substrate must be clean and free of any contaminant like: dust, oil, grease, soap scum and
so on, in order to ensure that tiles installed have enough bond strength

Verifying levelling: Laser light or bubble level (80 inches length) should be used in order to verify
substrate level

Levelling and substrate repair: Any damage, lose or uneven areas must be repaired, patched and
levelled.

Installation:
Center of the room must be identified and marked, draw chalk lines from center point to all walls, then lay
out a row of loose tiles vertically and horizontally as shown on picture attached, grout joint must be
considered using Paper Joint. Center of the installation must be moved if original layout leaves cut tiles smaller
than 1⁄2 tile. No tile size less than 6” should be laid along all Corners.

Cut tile accepted Cut tile not recommended.

Tiles Installation:

1. Cutting Tiles:

It is recommended to use manual cutter or electrical wet saw cutter following up next steps:

1. Mark the tile, to cut the tiles correctly the first time, use a grease pencil to mark the line once you
measure. It is helpful to use a ruler to measure and mark instead of a measuring tape, so you have a
straight edge.

2. Use a Diamond Blade Saw; it is the best option when it comes to cutting tiles. This will give you a
precise cut without damaging the rest of the piece.
If you need to make a hole in a ceramic tile, special tools and abrasives can be purchased to make
holes at the diameter you need. These tools may be purchased individually, but also come in
 packaged sets. Using a hammer drill, use one of the hole cutters to bore through the tile, keeping the
cutter vertical and using light downward pressure.
Practice on a few tiles with whatever cutting method you choose to use. You may find that one
method works more efficiently for you than another. You will also be able to develop your technique
so that you make fewer mistakes and more accurate cuts.

2. Setting Tiles:
Push the tile into the adhesive/Mortar by twisting it into place. This twisting motion will seat the tile
firmly to the adhesive. Apply pressure to the tile so that it makes contact across the whole of the
adhesive/Mortar that was applied with the notched trowel. Insert tile spacers as each tile is set. On
every Interceramic carton, gout joint is described. For Non rectified Floor tile the grout joint must be
at least 1⁄4”; for Rectified Floor tile the grout joint must be at least 1/16”, it is recommendable at least
1/8”.
For wall tile products (water absorption >15%) recommendable grout joint is at least 1/16”.
3. Grout Joint:
based on ANSI A108.02 standard “General Requirements: Materials, Environmental and
Workmanship-2010”
Grout joint size: To accommodate the range in facial dimension of the tile supplied for a specific
project, the actual grout joint size may, of necessity, vary from the grout joint size specified. The
actual grout joint size should be at least three times the actual variation of facial dimension of the tile
supplied. Example: for tile having a total variation of 1/16 in. in facial dimension, a minimum of 3/16”
in. grout joint shall be used. In no circumstances shall the grout joint be less than 1/16”.
Running bond/brick joint patterns: For running bond/brick patterns utilizing tiles (squares or
rectangular) with any side greater than 15 in., the grout joint shall be, on Av- enrage, a minimum of
1/8 in. wide for rectified tiles and, on average, a minimum of 3/16 in wide for calibrated (non rectified)
tiles.
The grout joint width shall be increased over the minimum requirement by the amount of edge
warpage on the longest edge of the actual tiles being installed. For example, for a rectified tile
exhibiting 1/32 in. edge warpage on the longest edge, the minimum grout joint for a running
bond/brick joint pattern will be 1/8 in. + 1/32 in. or 5/32 in., on average. Of necessity, in any
installation, some grout joint must be less and some more than the aver- age minimum dimension to
accommodate the specific tiles being installed.

4. Grouting:
Grouting Joints, using grouts manufactured with Portland cement. Allow Tile Time to Dry. Be sure the
tile adhesive has had ample time to dry before you begin grouting to avoid problems.
5. Grout preparation.
Carefully read and follow all instructions and precautions on the grout package. When mixing your
grout compound, it’s important to take into consideration timing, since grout will harden in the mix
bucket. Start making your mixture wet to dry, meaning dry grout mixture in your mixing bucket, and
wet agent in another appropriate receptacle. For un- or non-sanded grout, gradually mix the two
together until you get a mixture about strong enough to sustain a trowel upright. For sanded grout,
look for a mixture about the consist- tenkey of cookie dough. Note that when selecting grout, style is
not the only factor. For joints over 1/8”, sanded grout is typically recommended, and for all joints
smaller than 1/8”, un- or non-sanded grout is suggested.
6. Apply the Grout.
Once the tile is ready to have the grout installed, it’s time to get to work. Before grouting, make sure
the joints between tiles are clean and free of any debris. Apply the grout with a rubber float trowel,
forcing it into the joints and filling them completely, and then remove excess grout with the float.
Begin cleaning the tile surface immediately to prevent film or excessive clean up later. Sprinkle dry
grout directly from the package over your work area. Use terry-cloth rags to rub dry grout into the
 joints in a circular motion, until the joints are uniform and the tiles are clean. To finish the joint, add a
second, very light sprinkling of grout over the same area, and polish it in the same way. Applying grout
in this manner leads to harder joints, removes excess water, and fills the joints completely so they are
flush with the surface of the tile.
Notes: Some Interceramic polished porcelain floor tile has water soluble wax on the sur- face. Do not
clean the wax because it is intended to protect the surface against grout ́s stains during grouting joint
process.
Remove Grout Film. A finished tile floor will sometimes contain a certain amount of dusting or film. If
a grout film develops, wipe the tile with a dampened sponge, rinsing and wringing it often. Re-polish
the floor with a terry-cloth rag. Avoid acid or bleach when cleaning the floor, as this can discolour the
grout and damage the tile.

7. Damp Curing (For grouts manufactured with Portland cement):

Note: For epoxy grout, preparation, application and clean procedure is describe on the manufacturer package,
carefully read and follow all instructions and precautions.