Step One: Prepare the floor. Clean the surface and make sure there is no wax or grease. Rough spots will show through tile so the floor must be made level if it is not already. If the floor is in too bad of condition, you may want to lay down a new plywood surface.
Step Two: Find the center of the room. Ignoring irregularities (such as breakfast nooks or window seats) lay a string from each corner to the one directly opposite it. The strings will cross in the middle of the room – and this point is the exact center.
Step Three: Open the tile cartons, place the tiles so that you can select from cartons at random (this will negate any differences between boxes of tiles). Prepare a plan of how the tiles will be laid if there will be a multi-colored pattern. This is a critical step; you will have a lot of difficulty correcting the pattern once the tiles are laid.
Step Four: Apply the cement. It should be smoothed in an even layer across the surface. When the cement is tacky you are ready for the next step.
Step Five: Lay the floor tiles. Start in the middle and set the tiles in place. Don’t slide the tiles into place or they will push the cement. Each tile should sit firmly up against the other ones, don’t leave any gaps. When you reach the wall it may be necessary to cut the last row of tiles to make them fit. Cutting the tile can also be necessary if you have to tile around any other obstructions. You may want to add a final coating to protect the tiles and make them easier to clean.
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