How to lay floor tiles

Floor tiles look great and provide a hardwearing, waterproof surface for a kitchen, hall or bathroom. Tiling a floor isn't a job for the complete novice but a competent DIYer should be able to tackle plain ceramic or quarry tiles. For a more varied pattern with different sized slate or stone tiles, call in a professional.

Time to complete job: A weekend for a small kitchen or bathroom.
Approximate budget: £200 and up.

Buying the Tiles
It's worth buying all the tiles you will need in one go to avoid any differences between batches. When calculating the amount of tiles you need, allow an extra 10% for wastage.

Preparation
As with wall tiling, the surface must be smooth, level and dry. Wooden floorboards should be covered with 12mm (1/2in) exterior grade plywood sheets, screwed down to form a level surface. Concrete floors are the perfect base, as long as there is a damp-proof course. If not you should have one installed before starting work. Fill any depressions in the concrete with self-levelling compound.

For more information see the Tile Association.