How To Get A Straight Line For Tiling A Floor

The first step in laying out tile is to mark a layout line in the room.

How to get a straight line for tiling a floor.

Use a tile saw or wet saw both rentable if necessary for cutting numerous or thick tiles. Watch this video to learn how a pro does it. Use a chalk line to extend this line from one side of the room to the other. To get a straight level start position a ledger on the wall leaving a gap below about 1 2 in.

The ledger shown here is a length of steel angle held in place by wood blocks screwed to the wall. Pin a line of string across the room and use that to line up the tiles. Snap the chalk line leaving a straight chalk mark on the subfloor. You ll see how to s.

Use a tile cutter for small straight cuts. The tilers who did our hall reproduction victorian pattern drew a line on the floor and used that. Reach out with your other hand and lift up the chalk line about 10 to 12 inches from the floor pulling straight up then release the line so it snaps down onto the floor creating a crisp straight line. Draw a line parallel to the entrance across the three marks using the longest straightedge available.

Clean up right away. I think they used a long straight edge too but only to tamp the tiles into line. A strip of plywood or a perfectly straight board will do the job too. Less than a full tile.

If the tile is too thick for nippers try the following method. Find and mark the matching point on the wall directly opposite. Planning the layout for a tile project is usually the hardest and most time consuming step. And mark the center point on the floor.

If the wall is too long to snap the chalk easily kneel by the midpoint of the line and press it down to the floor with one hand. Square your layout to the room entryway how to square for tiling measure between the two marks and mark the center point. In general to lay the tile itself mix thinset and spread it on the floor using the notched edge of a trowel starting at the intersection between your chalk lines on the floor. Pull the line very taut and the hold the line down on the mark with one hand.