Installing New Flooring
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Looking for a complete tutorial to install new flooring in your bathroom? The Appliance Educator team is excited to bring you the next blog in the Renovation Series - Installing New Flooring. Last week, we showed you how to prepare for your floor installation. This week, it’s time to install the flooring! To start, you’ll need:
Safety Gloves
Notched Trowel
Type 1 Tile Adhesive
A Paint Scraper
Floor Tiles
At this stage, all of the existing tiles should be removed as much as possible and the floor should be clean of debris. Don’t worry about any small pieces of cured glue that remain. The mortar will easily adhere to the surface without any sanding! If you haven’t done so, now is a great time to check on the health of your sub-floor and note any warping, water-damage, or bending that can occur over time.
For flooring, our Appliance Educator purchased the Anatolia Tile Ikon in Matte Porcelain. This tile is available locally and online through Lowe’s and will help pull color from the gray vanity (we’ll show you how to install that later!) and white subway tiles in the shower.
With your tiles all cut and ready to install, it's time to lay down some flooring! Our Appliance Educator decided to go with Mapei Type 1 Tile Adhesive. For more information about the adhesive, you can click here. Mapei offers a wide range of mortar and tile adhesives to choose from and different adhesives work best for different flooring materials. So it’s best to ensure that the adhesive you are using, is meant for the flooring material.
To lay down tile, you’ll want to use a notched trowel to cover at least 80% of the back of the tile. Spread the adhesive onto the tile in one direction to ensure an even layer. You’ll want to lay the tile firmly down to properly secure the material. If you need to make any minor adjustments to the tile, we recommend you do so as fast as possible. The adhesive cures pretty quickly and it’s easier to realign the tiles when the adhesive is still wet. The tiles should cure for about 24 hours before you step on the new flooring.
Installing a new vent cover is surprisingly simple! All you need to do is measure out the size of the vent opening and purchase one that fits properly. Our Appliance Educator purchased this vent cover from Amazon. They simply slide into the vent without any additional tools. If you are susceptible to allergies, it can be helpful to purchase filters for your vents.
The next Renovation Series will show you how to install a new vanity, faucet, and shower systems! Be sure to follow Appliance Educator on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to get the latest updates on our Renovation Series and help you DIY the home of your dreams!
