How to Lay Tile: Step-by-Step Tile Installation Guide

Learning how to lay tile involves much more than spreading mortar and placing tiles on top. A successful tile installation starts with a properly prepared substrate and planned layout, followed by correct mortar application, adequate coverage, consistent spacing, accurate cuts, grouting, and appropriate movement accommodation.

The exact installation method depends on the tile, substrate, setting material, location, and environmental conditions. This step-by-step guide explains the general process for installing ceramic and porcelain tile while identifying the points where product instructions and applicable installation requirements need to determine the details.

Step 1: Inspect and Prepare the Substrate

Before laying tile, make sure the substrate is suitable for the intended installation. It should be structurally appropriate, properly prepared, clean, and sufficiently flat for the tile being installed.

Remove dust, grease, oil, wax, paint, loose material, and other contaminants that could interfere with the bond. Cracks, damaged areas, excessive unevenness, or other substrate problems should be evaluated and addressed using methods appropriate for the installation.

Do not rely on additional setting mortar beneath individual tiles as a substitute for correcting an improperly prepared substrate.

Depending on the project, preparation may also include an underlayment, uncoupling membrane, waterproofing system, backer board, primer, or other installation component. Wet areas such as showers require an appropriate water-management and waterproofing system rather than tile and grout alone.

Explore waterproofing and uncoupling membranes for tile installations requiring those systems.

Step 2: Plan the Tile Layout

A good layout reduces awkward cuts and helps keep the finished installation visually balanced. Measure the installation area and establish reference lines before mixing mortar.

Dry-lay or measure representative rows of tile while accounting for the planned grout-joint width. Check how the layout terminates at walls, doorways, corners, fixtures, transitions, and other visible boundaries.

Adjusting the starting point before installation is considerably easier than discovering halfway across the room that the final row requires a collection of tiny tile slivers.

For patterned installations, identify the pattern and reference points before setting begins. Continue checking the layout against those reference lines as the installation progresses.

Step 3: Gather the Tile Installation Tools

The exact tools depend on the tile and project, but a typical installation may require:

• Tape measure, pencil, chalk line, straightedge, or laser
• Mortar mixer and mixing paddle
• Mixing bucket and margin trowel
• Notched tile trowel
• Tile spacers
• Manual tile cutter, wet saw, or another appropriate cutting tool
• Diamond blades or drilling tools where required
• Level or other appropriate measuring tools
• Grout float
• Grout sponge and wash bucket
• Appropriate personal protective equipment

Our essential tile installation tools guide explains the major tool categories and where each fits into the installation process.

Step 4: Choose and Mix the Setting Mortar

Use a setting material appropriate for the tile, substrate, installation environment, and application. Do not assume that every tile installation uses the same type of mortar.

For cementitious mortar, measure and mix according to the manufacturer's instructions, including the specified water ratio, mixing procedure, slake time when required, remixing procedure, pot life, and application limitations.

A proper mortar mixer and paddle can help produce a consistent mixture without relying on improvised mixing equipment.

Avoid adding additional water later simply to make mortar that has begun setting easier to use unless the manufacturer specifically permits it.

Step 5: Select the Correct Trowel

The notched trowel controls how mortar is distributed across the substrate. Trowel selection depends on factors including tile dimensions and backing, substrate flatness, mortar, installation environment, and the coverage being achieved.

There is no universal trowel size for every tile of a particular dimension. The selected notch must apply enough mortar to achieve the required coverage without creating unnecessary buildup.

Use the flat side of the trowel to key mortar into the prepared substrate. Then add additional mortar and comb it with the notched side.

Our guide to V-notch, square-notch, and U-notch trowels explains how different notch profiles affect mortar application.

Step 6: Comb the Mortar in One Direction

Comb the mortar into straight, parallel ridges rather than swirls or intersecting patterns. Directional troweling makes it easier for the ridges to collapse as the tile is embedded.

Only spread as much mortar as can be covered while it remains within the setting material's usable open time. Jobsite conditions can affect how quickly mortar begins to skin over.

If the surface of the mortar has skinned over and no longer transfers properly, follow the setting-material manufacturer's instructions rather than simply placing tile over it.

Step 7: Set the Tile and Collapse the Mortar Ridges

Place the tile into the fresh mortar and move it back and forth perpendicular to the direction of the trowel ridges. The objective is to collapse the ridges and establish proper mortar transfer across the back of the tile.

Periodically remove a freshly placed tile and inspect the back to confirm that the selected trowel and setting technique are producing adequate coverage.

Industry guidance generally requires at least 80% mortar contact for many interior dry installations and at least 95% for exterior and wet-area installations, with sufficient distribution to properly support the tile, particularly around edges and corners.

Large-format tile and other demanding installations may require additional measures, including applying a thin coat of mortar to the back of the tile, commonly called back-buttering, to help achieve the required coverage.

Step 8: Maintain the Grout Joints

Use tile spacers or another appropriate spacing system to maintain the planned grout-joint width while setting the tile.

Spacer size should not be chosen solely according to whether the installation is on a wall or floor. Tile dimensional variation, edge characteristics, manufacturer requirements, layout, and applicable installation requirements all influence appropriate joint width.

See our tile spacer sizes and spacing guide for a more detailed explanation.

Step 9: Control Tile Lippage

Continue checking tile position and the relationship between adjacent tile edges as the installation progresses. Substrate flatness, tile warpage, mortar application, setting technique, and layout can all affect lippage.

A tile leveling system can help control differences in elevation between adjoining tile edges during installation, particularly with some large-format and narrow-joint installations.

These systems do not flatten an uneven substrate or eliminate tile warpage. Proper substrate preparation and setting technique are still necessary.

Our guide to when to use a tile leveling system covers those limitations in more detail.

Step 10: Measure and Cut the Tile

Measure cuts carefully around walls, corners, fixtures, penetrations, transitions, and other obstructions. Account for grout joints and required movement accommodation when determining the finished dimensions.

The correct cutting tool depends on the tile material and the type of cut. A manual tile cutter can be efficient for many straight cuts in compatible ceramic and porcelain tile, while a wet saw or other powered cutting tool may be appropriate for different materials, shapes, or cuts.

Our tile cutting tool guide compares the major options.

Step 11: Allow the Setting Material to Cure

Once the tile has been installed, protect the area from traffic or disturbance according to the setting-material manufacturer's requirements.

Do not assume that every installation can be grouted after exactly 24 or 48 hours. Required curing or drying time varies with the setting material, tile, substrate, temperature, humidity, and installation conditions.

Follow the setting-material manufacturer's instructions before allowing traffic or beginning the grouting process.

Step 12: Prepare the Grout Joints

Before grouting, confirm that the tiles are firmly set and that the setting material has cured or dried sufficiently.

Remove conventional removable spacers and clean the joints of excess mortar, debris, and contaminants that could interfere with grout placement. Maintain the joint depth required by the grout manufacturer.

Also clean the tile surface as necessary before beginning the grouting process.

Step 13: Apply the Grout

Select a grout compatible with the tile, joint width, installation environment, and project requirements. Different cementitious, premixed, epoxy, and other grout technologies have different mixing, application, cleaning, and curing requirements.

Apply the grout according to the manufacturer's instructions, working it thoroughly into the joints with an appropriate grout float.

Remove excess material and begin cleaning according to the grout manufacturer's specified procedure. Cleaning too early, too aggressively, or with excessive water can affect some grout products.

Step 14: Provide Required Movement Accommodation

Movement joints are different from ordinary grout joints and are an important part of a properly designed tile assembly.

Do not fill locations intended for movement accommodation with rigid grout simply because they resemble the surrounding grout joints. Perimeters, changes in plane, transitions, and other designated locations may require appropriate movement accommodation according to the installation design and applicable requirements.

Tile spacers and wider grout joints are not substitutes for required movement joints.

Step 15: Complete the Final Cleaning and Sealing if Required

After grouting, complete the required final cleaning using methods compatible with the grout and tile. Address remaining grout haze using the grout manufacturer's recommended procedure rather than immediately reaching for an aggressive cleaner.

Sealing requirements depend on the materials used. Some tile, stone, and cementitious grout products may benefit from or require an appropriate sealer, while other surfaces and grout technologies may not require sealing.

Check the tile, grout, and sealer manufacturer instructions before applying a sealer to the finished installation.

Common Tile Installation Mistakes to Avoid

• Installing over an unsuitable substrate: Tile installation begins with a properly prepared and sufficiently flat surface.
• Skipping layout planning: Poor planning can leave narrow cuts and visibly unbalanced tile placement.
• Using the wrong trowel: The notch must provide enough mortar to achieve the required coverage.
• Swirling mortar: Straight, parallel ridges are easier to collapse when the tile is embedded.
• Failing to check coverage: Periodically lift freshly installed tile to inspect actual mortar transfer.
• Using grout joints as movement joints: Ordinary grout spacing does not replace required movement accommodation.
• Grouting too soon: Follow the setting-material manufacturer's curing or drying requirements.
• Automatically sealing everything: Determine whether the particular tile and grout actually require sealing.

What Makes a Successful Tile Installation?

A successful tile installation comes from treating the assembly as a system rather than concentrating on any single step. Substrate preparation, layout, mortar selection, troweling, coverage, spacing, cutting, movement accommodation, grouting, and curing all affect the finished installation.

Manufacturer instructions and applicable installation requirements should determine the specific materials and methods for your project, especially for showers, exterior installations, large-format tile, natural stone, gauged porcelain tile panels, and other specialized applications.

Tile This carries professional tile installation tools for measuring, mixing, cutting, setting, leveling, grouting, cleaning, and finishing tile installations.