How to Install Porcelain Tile on Concrete

a hand pressing a tile down on the ground
  • 4-20 hours
  • Beginner
  • 200-1800
What You'll Need
Porcelain tile
Tape measure
Bucket
Grout
Grout float
Adhesive
Wet saw
Tile spacers
Sponge
Water
Chalk line
What You'll Need
Porcelain tile
Tape measure
Bucket
Grout
Grout float
Adhesive
Wet saw
Tile spacers
Sponge
Water
Chalk line

Porcelain tile can be installed in a variety of different applications and can provide you with a beautiful floor. Porcelain tile is also extremely durable and can stand up to a lot of traffic. With a little bit of work, you should be able to install porcelain in any area in your home. Here are the basics of how to install porcelain tile on concrete.

Step 1: Preparation

Before you can install the porcelain tile on concrete, you are going to need to prepare the room. In order to do this, you should remove the baseboards from around the outside of the area. You will also want to remove any flooring that is currently installed on the concrete. Remove any furniture or other personal belongings from the room as well.

Step 2: Centering the Room

You will then need to determine where to start laying the tile. In most cases, you will want to start in the center of the room. To do this, you are going to need to determine where the center point of each wall is with your tape measure. Then you will need to snap a chalk line in each direction so that you can find the center of the room. You can then start laying tile in the corner of where the two lines meet.

Step 3: Begin the Installation

Once you have determined where to start laying the tile, you should be ready to begin the installation. You are going to need to apply some of the tile adhesives to the floor with your trowel. Once you have the adhesive on the floor, you need to spread it out with your notched trowel so that it will create ridges in the adhesive. Then take one of the porcelain tiles and press it down into the adhesive. Then put tile spacers on the corners of the tile so that you can guide the spacing between it and the next tile. Take another tile and press it down into the adhesive directly up against the tile spacers from the first tile. Then put tile spacers around the second tile and continue in this manner until you get to the wall.

Step 4: Cutting to Fit

When you get to a wall, you are going to need to cut the tile in order to fit. To do this, take your tape measure and determine the appropriate size of the tile that you need. Then you can make a mark on the back of the tile with a wax pencil or a marker. Then use your wet saw to make the cut on the tile. Then you can put the cut piece onto the floor. After you are done laying all of the tiles, you need to allow it to set up overnight.

Step 5: Grouting

You can then apply the grout to the grout joints in between the tile. Make sure that all of the grout joints are full of grout. Then you will need to clean the tile with a sponge to remove any grout that is on top of it.