Floor tiling a porch

[JLukins]

Just had a porch built on the front of the house and I want to tile it with non-slip and sturdy tiles. I am a complete novice and just want a few pointers.

Here's some information:
- Part of the floor is already tiled but I will need to go over this. The existing tiles are nobbly but I can't leave them because of the way it's been done.
- The rest of the floor is fresh concrete.
- The roof is being fitted on 31st Jan. (How long before I can tile?)

My biggest concern is cutting the tiles and grouting tidily.

What products should I use to stick the tiles to the floor and what can I use to grout?

Thanks.

[honeymonster]

You need to ensure that the concrete has dried before you fix the tiles, this can take weeks! I think that concrete should be left one week for every inch of concrete that has been laid.

When laying the tiles a slow curing tile adhesive is best for diy use IMHO as rapid setting ones can set too fast and make it difficult. BAL seem to be one of the preferred manufacturers.

How to tile a wooden floor is here-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tilin ... floors.htm

This is the same as tiling a solid floor, but different adhesive is used.

[JLukins]

Good article but it misses two important points:

1) What is the best way of cutting tiles - which tool is best?
2) If, after measuring, you want to avoid a sliver of a tile how do you compensate? Start with a half tile in bottom left?

Also, what about grouting?

Thanks.

[skiking]

Cutting depends on the type and thickness of the tile you have. Some can be cut with the normal hand scorers or professional tile cutters or you may need an electric tile cutter (a bit OTT and messy for the thinner tiles). I think everyone will have their own preference depending on how much tiling they do.

As for laying and avoiding anything too small to cut without snapping I just get a simple length of wood and mark off the tiles complete with the spacer and place this wood on the area I want to tile and adjust accordingly so I get the right sizes where I want then - usually the cut tiles in the corner out the way. Once happy with the placement with the guide I then mark the surface of the area to be tiled with the marks from the length of the wood and then tile accordingly.

[ultimatehandyman]

You have to measure the area and then decide the best place to start, sometimes thin slivers cannot be avoided.

Some of these articles should help-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tilin ... ng_out.htm

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tilin ... cutter.htm

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tilin ... cutter.htm

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tiling/grouting.htm