How to install granite tile flooring

Homeowners who have recently decided to go with the renowned beauty and durable longevity of granite tile flooring should be ecstatic of their decorative conclusion. While you can't put a price on how grand and sophisticated your new floor will look, granite tile certainly comes with a higher price, especially because it's cut from pure natural stone. But for anyone who fancies themselves as being more DIY repair savvy, knowing how to properly install granite tile on your own can always save you a little extra money. Take a look at how to effectively install your granite tile flooring on your own:

Inspect your subfloor

Before you bust out the tools and get down to business, you'll have to make sure the surface you've about to lay the tile over is smooth and sturdy. Once your old flooring has been taken out, you'll need to inspect the subfloor to assess whether it's stable enough to install a new flooring material on top of it. The biggest factor to consider with efficient subfloor for your granite tile is making sure there is no flexing or bowing going on. Granite tile is an extremely strong and heavy material, but can still crack is the subfloor underneath begins to bend when under pressure. If you notice any cracks within the subfloor material, fill them before installing the granite tile. If bending is apparent, you'll probably have to get new subfloor installed prior to laying on the granite tiles. However, if you have concrete slabs as a subfloor material, you likely won't need to repair the concrete, unless you notice significantly long cracks. 

Determine your space

Your subfloor looks great, you have your new granite tiles ready to install – let's get started! The first step toward installing your granite tile flooring is to determine how much space and material you'll need to fill up your selected area. Let's say your granite tile square are cut 12 inches by 12 inches. Measure out the total square footage of the room you're trying to add the flooring to and divide it by one tile square. That's how many pieces of granite tile you'll need to cover the entire space. Remember, it's always a good rule of thumb to have at least 15 percent more tile than you think you'll need, because you never know if you'll have to cut extra granite to fill in any extra space.

Mark your chalk lines

To get a better visualization of where you'll need to fit in every tile piece, you'll need to lay down some chalk lines to have a better frame of reference when installing the granite. Mark where the center of the length of your floor is as well as the center of the width. The spot where both lines cross is the middle of your room. Measure out the length of your granite tile and create a grid corresponding with the middle of the room that will accurately fit in each tile.

Spread the thinset

Thinset mortar is the adhesive formula that secures the granite tile with the subfloor underneath. Review the instructions on how to properly mix the thinset mortar together. Using a quarter-inch notched trowel, start spreading the thinset all over the marked off subfloor, beginning at the center of the floor where the chalk lines cross. Make sure the thinset is evenly spread throughout the floor and carefully clean off any excess mortar that has drifted off the chalk line grid.

The thinset mortar is what keeps the tiles secure against the subfloor.

Install the tiles

Now you're finally ready to start laying down the tiles. When you're about to set down a piece of tile, make sure you're holding it at about a 45-degree angle, with the top tilted toward you. Carefully slide them in and make sure each tile slips securely within the boundaries laid out by the chalk line grid. When physically laying a tile down, dip the lower end down to the thinset first, then gently lay the top half the tile after. Continue with each tile until you have all of them in place. If you notice any unevenness or tiles that are not securely intact, use a rubber mallet to gently knock them into a firm and fastened state.

Grout the tile

Finally, the last step you'll need to accomplish before officially welcoming in your new granite tile flooring is grouting the surface. Floors that are made of natural stone tile will need to be grouted, primarily as a final precautionary method to keep tiles in place as well as ensure no small gaps eventually develop between each piece. You'll want to wait at least 24 hours after laying down the final piece of tile, just to make sure every slab is safe and secure. After waiting, be sure to scrape off any excess mortar that has slipped through the cracks of the tile, while also giving the surface a quick sweeping over. Follow the instructions on how to mix the grout on the packaging and let the blend settle for 15 minutes. Spread the grout mixture onto the tile, and pressing it into the joints of each adjacent piece. Wipe away any excess grout substance once you're done, and let the surface dry for another 24 hours. Afterwards, get ready to enjoy all the stylish and durable perks of being a granite tile flooring owner for many years to come!