Surface Prep Work for Indoor Floor Tile Installation

An indoor floor tiling for properties can easily provide several helpful benefits. Floor tiles are extremely resilient against impact, extreme temperatures, stain penetration, water damage, and wear, which makes them suitable to places that have high foot traffic and other types of heavy activities. Another great benefit of indoor floor tiling is that it is easy to clean and maintain. Sweeping and mopping this tiling is enough to clean its surface. The only maintenance that it needs is the application of sealant every 5 years.

Being cost-effective and eco-friendly also pushes property owners to invest in indoor floor tiling. And if you will be installing this type of floor tiling, then you must do some prep work first. Preparing the surface for indoor floor tile installation can be finished promptly if the subsequent steps are followed.

Remove the Old Flooring

The number one step for surface prep work is to remove any existing flooring. But before you work on this step, you must ensure that you wear a face mask, knee pads, and goggles to prevent any types of injuries. Once you are fully protected, you can now start the removal process of the old flooring through a pry bar or a hammer. In removing glue residue and debris on the subfloor, you must use a sharp scraper to achieve a clean, even surface. Carpet tacks and trims must be removed if your floor was carpeted.

Evaluate the Subfloor

Assessing and verifying the characteristics of your subfloor can help you achieve a great indoor floor tile installation. Before installing your floor tiling, your subfloor must have a sturdy and flat surface. The minimum thickness of your subfloor must be 1.125 inches, which is sufficient to supply the needed surface for the floor tiling. If your subfloor is somehow flexible, then you must add more floor support so that it can be rigid and sturdy even with the addition of tiles.

Remedy Uneven Surfaces

Nobody wants to walk on a floor that is uneven and unstable. Therefore, you must cover uneven subfloor surfaces with plywood or cement. In choosing the adhesives for these materials, you must find those that are compatible with them. A primer must also be applied to the plywood or cement so that it can be more durable and have adequate protection against damaging elements. When dealing with these materials, you must carefully read all their application instructions to avoid committing mistakes.

Patch Substantial Holes

Concrete subfloors may have holes that already accumulated throughout the years. For your floor tiles to be effective, you must make sure that these holes are patched up and covered. You can patch them up using concrete patches. Afterward, sand the patched surfaces to make them even and smooth. Plywood or a ceramic tile backer board can also be utilised if your floor is made from concrete.

Scrub Any Debris and Dirt

Any dirt, oil, glue residue, and debris must also be removed before installing the floor tiles. To effectively remove them, you must scrub the subfloor surface with a cleaning solution and allow it to dry for a few minutes. You must also remove any accumulation of dust on your subfloor surface through a vacuum cleaner. Once everything is removed, then your subfloor is now ready for floor tile installation. Keep in mind that for your tiles to last for a long time, they must be bonded with mortar or tile cement.

Following these steps can guarantee you a subfloor surface that can effectively hold your floor tiles for a very long time. For more information about indoor floor tile installation, feel free to contact us at Century Tiling & Stone. We have been in the business for many years and as experts, we understand all aspects of tiling services that we provide and we offer them to both residential and commercial clients.

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