Installing cement tiles is not hard. If you follow our instructions as to how to install cement tiles you will find the job quite simple and very satisfying.
Encaustic cement tiles can transform any space in your home. In the bathroom, you can create a hardwearing that will look great for many years. In the kitchen, you can add colour and design with splashbacks, walls or floor of encaustic cement tiles. Make your entranceway a welcoming place with our warm natural looking tiles. Make a statement in your sitting room, or a cosy feeling in the study. Spruce up your patio and prepare for summer.
Make the most of the lockdown a put your time to good use. Installing cement tiles can even be a family project and everyone will love the end result.
So, let’s get started, and find out how to install encaustic cement tiles.
Choosing
Before you can install your new cement tiles you need to choose them. Take your time browsing through our enormous selection of encaustic cement tiles. There is an extensive choice of colours and designs to choose from. Some are modern, some are traditional. Some are intricate, others are abstract. Some are multicoloured, others are a single colour. Some are bold and bright; others are subtle and muted. Some are big, some are small. There are square, herringbone and hexagonal to choose from. Consider the space where you will install your new handmade encaustic cement tiles and the effect you want to create. Enjoy looking through the different options with your family. Take this opportunity to discuss the merits, or demerits, of each design and let everyone have a say in the decision.
Measuring
Once you have made your choice, you must take accurate measurements of the space you are going to tile. Get the kids to help holding the measure and calculating the square footage. This can be an on-hands maths lesson. Remember to add an extra twenty percent to your final figure. This will ensure that you have enough tiles to complete the job after any loss that might occur with cutting tiles. Next, place your order, and we will promptly deliver your beautiful handcrafted encaustic cement tiles.
How to install encaustic cement tiles?
Clean the area where you are going to install your cement tiles. Make sure that the surface is level and smooth. Sand down any imperfections to create am extremely smooth surface to ensure perfectly laid tiles. Mark the centre of the space and begin laying from there. You can use plumb lines to make sure that your tiles are correctly aligned.
Use a 3/8” notched trowel to apply the flexible adhesive over a small area. Make sure that this is evenly spread. Then, start laying your tiles. Make sure that you are clear about the direction they need to lie to create the design you want. Many of our encaustic cement tiles look quite different if you lay them in a different way.
It is a good idea to take tiles from different boxes. As each of our tiles is handmade using natural colours there are slight variations in the exact shade. This is part of their charm but taking tiles from different batches will achieve a more homogenous overall effect.
You should leave a gap of 1mm on each side of each tile for the grout. Use a long spirit level to ensure that your tiles are lying totally level. To achieve a perfect finish, use a rubber hammer to gently set the tile further into the adhesive. Do not hit too hard, it is better to gradually seat the tile into place with small gentle movements. Work outwards from the centre towards the walls. Here, you will most probably need to cut some of your encaustic cement tiles to fit.
Choose light colours of grout or go beyond, choose the same colour in your cement tiles, so the grout does not stain the tiles. If you are having dark black plain cement tiles you can choose black grout.
How to cut encaustic cement tiles?
You will need a circular saw with a concrete cutting disc to cut you encaustic cement tiles. Carefully mark where you need to cut. Use a marker pen and a ruler to precisely mark the line. Pass the cement cutting disc attached to your circular saw along this line a couple of times. We recommend that you use protective glasses and a mask to do this as cement dust will form. It is quite easy to cut cement tiles but do make sure that you are cutting the right way.
Grouting
Let the adhesive set thoroughly for forty-eight hours before grouting. Avoid walking on your new tiles during this time. The grout should have a creamy texture, Apply the grout over your tiles using a sponge. Make sure that all the gaps are uniformly filled with the grout. You can choose a grout colour that contrasts with or that matches your tiles. The colour of grout you choose will determine the finished effect, so think carefully about the colour you choose. If you choose a dark colour grout and your tiles are pale you may need to apply a protective sealant first to stop the grout from staining the surface of your tiles.
Use a flexible rubber scraper to remove the excess grout immediately after spreading. Pass the scraper several times to ensure that all the spaces are full of grout and to remove all the grout from the surface. Let the grout dry for twenty-four hours and then use a clean damp cloth to remove the last traces of grout from the surface of the tiles. Finally, seal the surface of your encaustic cement tiles with a high-quality sealant. Let this dry for forty-eight hours before wetting or walking on your tiles.
Make this unexpected opportunity of having lots of time at home a positive experience. Working together on projects such as this will unite your family, make the time pass quickly, and everyone will feel satisfied and proud of the end result. Also, every day you will enjoy this embellishment to your home and remember the fun you had achieving it.