If you intend to have some beautiful floor tiles in your home, you will want to ensure your floor is carefully prepared beforehand as thorough preparation is the secret to a great tiled finish that is as professional looking as possible. Laying tiles on a floor that has not been carefully prepared can be ruin the finish and be potentially dangerous if tiles are not perfectly level or securely attached.

It is critical that you prepare the floor first. You will need to remove the old flooring and check the subfloor, ensuring it is completely level. By doing this you will have a tiled floor that will last a long time, enhance the value of your home and be practical as well as beautiful. It is a tedious job preparing a substrate for tiling but anyone can do it regardless of your DIY skills; it is simply a matter of being diligent. If you have spent lots of money on beautiful porcelain tiles, don't waste that cash by failing to prepare your floor properly – it's a simple matter of protecting your investment.

Step One

If your tiled floor will be in a bathroom switch off the water supply and remove any sanitary ware that you can. With a toilet you need to ensure the tank is flushed before attempting to remove it - then unscrew the base and remove the wax ring on the floor otherwise you will never get a level surface and it is impossible to accurately tile around a WC base and get a good finish. The same applies to a bidet or floor standing basin pedestal.

Step Two

Now lift all old flooring whether that's laminate, old ceramic floor tiles or carpet. If there is underlay and grippers from a carpet you will need to remove all of this. Any adhesive needs to be removed with a rigid scraper. Then vacuum to clear all dust and debris from the floor, mop over, let it dry and vacuum again. If the floor is not completely clean and clear of dust then your adhesive will not stick fully and you will just be creating problems for yourself further down the line.

Step Three

Remove all unnecessary screws, nails or staples left over from the previous floor installation. You might require a screwdriver and pliers to do this so that you don't damage the wood or other flooring material. If any of the holes left are large (eg. screw holes) then fill the gaps before proceeding.

Step Four

On wooden floors in particular check for any water damage or rot and replace the damaged floorboards. It is simply a waste of time, effort and money to install tiles on a wooden floor that is sub-standard.

Step Five

Lay backer board to create a sound surface on which to apply the tiles. This will also prevent water ingress should the grout subsequently become damaged, because it blocks moisture. Lay the backer board in place and screw down firmly to the substrate. Fill gaps between the boards with thin set tile mortar and cover the gaps with reinforcing. Leave the mortar to set before laying your tiles.

You surface will now be fully prepared enabling you to achieve a professional tiled finish.