If you're a true DIY-er, or even an expert, you might have thought about doing the task of your own Porcelain Patio Tiles installation. Doing it yourself can save you money versus having your new floor professionally installed. But, it does require meticulous plan and pre-planning. If you do make a mistake while completing your porcelain tile floor you might have to put in more effort (and cost!) to fix your errors. If you have the right plan and tools, you will be able to enjoy the sense of accomplishment which comes from laying your own porcelain floor tile.

These are some helpful suggestions for installing porcelain tile floors.

You must prepare your subfloor

If you fail to check and prep your subfloor, you risk having to start over again if you find problems later. Check that your subfloor is level, and if it isn't, apply an adhesive patch to make the needed adjustments. If you don't plan to install porcelain floor tiles over a cement floor, backer boards can be an excellent option. It is recommended to purchase backer boards that are larger than what you think you will need, even an extra 10% to make sure you don't run low.

Mix your tiles

If you have multiple tiles of porcelain floor, take the tiles out from the various boxes and mix them randomly. This will stop any color differences between batches of tiles from making a noticeable shift in color in your porcelain tile flooring.

Place the porcelain tiles on the floor.

Make sure you lay your porcelain slabs, in the desired pattern, prior to applying any adhesive. Put tiles in the middle of the room, laying them along a line that is towards the wall. A quadrant at a and then cover the entire room. By doing this, it helps to ensure that you have the proper amount of tile to complete the job. You'll also be able to make any changes you need to the tile, like cutting tiles to be able to fit around a bathroom fixture.

Smooth your mix

If you want your grout's thin-set or grout to be smoother, allow it to sit for 10 minutes after mixing. This allows dry areas to soak up water. Then, mix it a final time before applying. The finished product should be peanut butter-like in consistency.

Back-butter your tiles

Back-buttering involves using your trowel and apply thin set to the tile porcelain patio tiles. This is similar to buttering bread. This method can be helpful if you are 1) located in a corner and you aren't able to apply thin-set with your trowel on the floor, 2) have to set the tile a little higher, or) are using larger tiles, such as 12x12 or larger.

Save additional porcelain tiles

Once you've laid your porcelain tile floor, make sure to keep any tiles left. They can be put in a box and mark the box with the name of the room you've tiled. If there are tiles in other rooms, it is important to mark them. Down the line, if you need to replace a tile you won't need to worry about finding the perfect porcelain floor tiles.