Tag: <span>installation</span>

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Before you set about installing marble floor tiles you should do a little bit of homework on the techniques involved. The reason for this is that it could save you a lot of time and money. We have all heard of the old saying if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail.

Every professional tile installer was once a novice too. He honed his trade by teaming up with an experience tile installer or by enrolling in a full or part time course to learn his skills. You may not have the opportunity to do this. Another method of obtaining this skill is to learn some of the basic techniques and avoid the most common mistakes. The job will turn out to be a major success if you do this.

There are many mistakes people make when installing marble floor tiles. I will highlight the major ones so that if you are laying marble floor tiles you have a chance to anticipate the mistakes before they happen.

The first mistake to watch out for is not preparing the surface properly. Your floor is like a blank canvas of a painting before you start to paint. You need to check the levels of your floor before you start, otherwise you could end up with a floor that is sloping away in one or two directions. This could jeopardize the entire job and is very hard to put right once the job is completed. Cleaning the surface must be done before the installation of marble floor tiles. Normally marble tiles are placed on a hard surface like concrete. This surface gathers and holds dust and dirt. Not cleaning the surface will result in loose marble tiles. This can sound like a cracking noise as you walk across the completed job. This is not the desired effect you are looking for.

The second mistake is not laying out your marble floor tiles correctly. You want the tiles to look symmetrical on the floor and the pattern or design to fit the floor. A large marble tile on one side of the floor finishing with a small marble tile on the other side is not a good look on the floor. Doing a dry run with no adhesive is always a good option, especially if you are a novice at the task.

Another mistake people make is in the cutting of marble floor tiles. This can occur very easily and should be avoided because generally marble floor tiles are expensive to purchase. I have heard of marble tiles breaking and chipping while been cut. A reason for this may be that the wrong tool was used for that application. Not cutting to correct size is another mistake that occurs. This results in a lot of wastage and a more costly job. A good rule of thumb I use is to measure twice and cut once. This piece of information has stood me well in the past.

The final thing to look out for is not cleaning the grout correctly on the marble floor. This may not be noticed on the marble tiles until the next day because of the drying process. It looks like a white film with smudges all over your beautiful marble floor. This is like falling at the last fence. You have done all the hard work and the job looks terrible because you have rushed the last step in anticipation to finish. Mistakes will always happen. We need to find a solution when they do. Or the best solution is to learn how to avoid them in the first place.

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Source by Jimmy Gleeson

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Acrow Props are an extremely versatile product which can be found on many construction sites. They are commonly used on building sites to provide a quick and simple method of providing temporary support for formwork for reinforced concrete floors and beams. Acrow props are equally useful as raking shores to support formwork for columns, walls and staircases. They are invaluable in repair work, demolition or for replacing a permanent support, for supporting canopies, lintels and the like while brick work or concrete is setting.

Acrow props consist of two circular steel tubes, an inner tube with a top plate that slides up and down freely inside an outer tube which is attached to the base plate. The inner tube has holes down its length so that you can quickly extend the inner tube to just below the desired height and insert a steel pin to lock in that length. To extend the prop to the correct height the top of the outer tube is threaded and a collar, which is similar to a nut on a bolt, picks up and supports the steel pin. So by rotating the collar and moving it up it extends the inner prop. This allows you to achieve the exact height required.

The ‘Acrow Prop Safe Installation Guide’ gives you a checklist of what to check before you even start and then shows you what you need to check to ensure the safe installation of your acrow props. Once installed there is a list of items that need to be checked regularly to ensure the continued safe performance of your acrow prop installation and then finishes off with a checklist for their safe removal.

Pre-installation Checklist

• Start by planning the job. Make sure you have the right number and sizes of props. Inspect the site and if necessary mark out the prop locations.
• Have you correctly selected the right sized props for the job? Do you have enough to support the weight? Never exceed the safe working load (SWL) for your specific size props. Refer to the manufacturers load charts. If unsure, consult your Engineer or other responsible person, who will consider the weight of the overhead structure that is to be supported and work out the correct size and quantity.
• It is the responsibility of the user to check the props each time before they start work. When inspecting the props, items to check include:-
  • Check that the inner and outer tubes are straight and that they slide easily.
  • Check to ensure that the collar rotates freely around the thread and that the tread is not damaged or blocked.
  • Check to ensure that there is no damage to the pin. If the pin is secured by a chain, make sure that it is still attached. If it is fitted with a wrap around pin then it does not need to be secured by a chain. Only use the original pin, do not use any other pin.
• Do Not try and repair any faulty prop. If a prop is faulty it should be immediately tagged and isolated and is not to be used.

Installation Checklist

• Warning props which are designed to be used in compression CANNOT be used to in tension.
• Always wear the appropriate safety equipment when using this equipment.
• Ensure that the work area is cordoned off to prevent public access, only essential people should work in the area.
• Ensure that the props are installed by qualified people who have the necessary knowledge and experience to do the job safely.
• It is important that the prop is installed vertical to ensure that it can support its specified load. Props must never be used more than 1.5 degrees off vertical as this can substantially decrease its capacity. This is about 50 mm (2 inches) out of true vertical for every 1.8m (6 feet) of length.
• Make sure that the base plate and top plate of your prop is bearing directly on the surface. Ensure also that the floor surface and roof surface are sturdy enough to support the weight that will be placed upon it.
• When props are bearing on a flexible surface, such as a gravel surface, each prop should stand on a timber soleplate or equivalent. A timber soleplate should be at least 225mm (9 inches) wide by 38mm (1.5 inches) thick. It should be long enough to project at least 300mm (1 foot) either side of the prop’s base plate. A soleplate can also be used above the head plate to help spread the load if required. If you are unsure or have any doubts please refer to your engineer or other competent person.
• Acrow props come in 5 different sizes so Do not use props that are too short by making up the gap with timber. Always use the correct length Acrow prop.

Post Installation Checklist

• Props left to support a curing slab can loosen up with time. As the slab cures it naturally contracts which can cause the prop to loosen up so it is recommended that they be inspected by a competent person and retightened regularly.
• As a minimum, all props must be inspected at least once a week.
• Ensure that the area safe from the general public if props are to be left in position unattended.
• Do not string or tie anything to the props.

Prop Removal Checklist

• Start by planning the job.
• Always wear the appropriate safety equipment when using this equipment.
• Ensure that the work area is cordoned off to prevent public access, only essential people should work in the area.
• Ensure that the props are removed by qualified people who have the necessary knowledge and experience to do the job safely
• Do not remove or adjust any prop until you are certain that it is safe to do so.
• Always return the equipment to the hire company in a clean condition.

Always seek professional advice before undertaking any propping / shoring projects. A propping job that goes wrong can be disastrous, endanger lives and be an extremely expensive exercise to repair.

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Source by Steven Preston

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Electrical installation is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Small mistakes can result in serious consequences. The term is also a broad term that can refer to a number of different services, this could be as simple as changing a light switch or as complicated as re-wiring your entire property.

When it comes to the idea of electrical installation you should also keep in mind the fact that there are a lot of jobs that can be undertaken. All of these jobs may require different types of material and there are certain factors that determine what sort of material you will need in order to carry out your required task, some of these factors could be:

oThe intended use of the installation and the amount of power that will be needed from the electric circuit

oThe type of occupancy as well as the size of the building

oWhat national and/or local regulations are in place

oThe environment in which the wiring will be operating

Wiring installations are regulated by the IEE Requirements for Electrical Installation. However on the 1st of January 2005, new legislations were brought into effect. From this date it meant that all new installations, alterations and additions to your electrical systems had to be inspected to ensure that they comply with strict safety performance tests. These standards cover the design, installation, inspection and testing of appliances in order to reduce hazards from domestic installations in the hope to reduce accidents associated which them such as fires and electric shocks.

These new regulations plan to address the fact that in the UK alone there are 10 deaths and over 750 injuries each year that are caused by faulty wiring in the home. These findings also highlighted the fact that every year more than 12,200 domestic fires are caused by faulty electrics.

An example of the services that are available to you are electricity cables, the setting up of data networks, testing appliances, installing and testing of fire alarms as well as emergency lighting for hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, CCTV systems, cameras and security systems also form part of the term electrical installation.

Most of the electrical installations within the home are fittings that are known as fixed. The fixed fittings can be seen, for example, in a new kitchen. A new kitchen will require a number of fixed electrical features such as additional sockets, extra lighting, such as spot lighting for otherwise difficult to see areas and also extra appliances such as built in cookers, washing machines and dishwashers. Fixed appliances are electrical aspects that are fixed to the building including sockets, switches, fuse boxes and ceiling fixtures including lighting features.

Getting the right electrical installation that is needed for your home or business is highly important. You need to have adequate fixtures available to cater for all of your appliances but this type of work is highly specialised and takes a great deal of skill to ensure the correct and safe work is carried out, because of this it is important that you enlist the help of a professional to carry out any electrical work that you wish to have done to your property.

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Source by Helen Cox

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Laminate hardwood flooring is one of the easiest and economical ways to give a new look to your home. If you go for simple hardwood flooring you might need to pay more and it will take more time to get installed. Moreover, the process of installation of laminate flooring is not as tough as other floorings. If you want long lasting laminate flooring in your home, always go for high quality wear layer. One thing that increases the preference of laminate floors over hardwood floors is its moisture resistant quality. Aluminum oxide finish of the wear layer protects the laminate floor against stains, scratches and scuff marks. Therefore, laminate flooring is the best option for kitchen or bathroom.

In order to install laminate flooring, you don’t need to dig the sub floor, if it is properly prepared. In other words, the floor should be smooth and there should not be any uneven sections. These days glue less laminate floors are available that can be installed without much of efforts. If you’ve little experience, you can install glue less floors on your own and save a lot of money. In case, there are few holes in the sub floor, use filler to make the floor smooth. Laminate flooring is very much durable. With a very little care you can keep the same floor for years. Easy maintenance of laminate hardwood flooring makes it one of the top choices especially for working women.

You just need to vacuum and mop the laminate flooring regularly. Whenever you feel that dust and grit hampering the shine of the floor, wipe it with damp mop. Kids tend to throw food stuff on the floor. School going kids usually use the walls and floors as their drawing book. To get rid of paint or crayons’ stains, you can buy dedicated cleaners supplied by the laminate floor manufacturers. You can make use of few home remedies as well. Acetone will be an effective alternate to remove tough stains instantly. However, before using any spray, acetone or polish on hardwood flooring, make sure you’ve already gone through the instruction manual. Most of the manufacturers give warranty for 10 to 15 years but several conditions are attached to it such as you should not use a particular acid or chemical to clean the floor. Warranty will be void if you use anything which is not instructed in the manual.

There was a time, when you didn’t have much of options in terms of patterns and colors of laminate flooring. But today, range of beautiful patterns is available in the market. Most famous ones are stone tile, ceramic finishes and grout lines. You can choose from traditional and simple patterns to bright and trendy designs. Moreover, if any portion of the floor gets tough stains that cannot be removed. Whether you’re choosing oak, walnut, birch or driftwood laminate flooring, you can be sure of an elegant and fresh look of your home.

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Source by Ashley Silver

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Installing a door knocker may seem like a simple project, but it seems that there are a few questions to be answered before getting started.

I just had one of the best laughs I have ever had. While watching one of my favorite TV shows, the main characters walked up to a house to knock on the door. I had to look twice but there it was, a beautiful little urn style door knocker not only mounted way to high on the door, but it was installed upside down. This situation required a very tall visitor to use a door knocker that probably could not generate enough knock to be effective.

Needless to say, knuckles were used instead.

This was a good laugh but it did expose a reality to a guy who sells door knockers for a living.

Door knockers are usually purchased that uses either surface mounting or through the door mounting.

Surface mounting would be the simplest. Screws pass through the body of the door knocker and into the door behind.

Through the door mounting as the name implies, uses bolts that pass through the door and screws into the door knocker to hold it in place.

The through the door method is a bit more complicated because holes must be drilled through the door to match the mounting points on the door knocker. To complicate matters many times the mounting bolts themselves must be cut to the proper length to match the width of the door.

If you are replacing an existing door knocker that uses through the door mounting you must find a new door knocker that uses the exact same bolt pattern, or, as it is properly called, bolt center as the previous one has.

The bolt center measurement is the exact distance from the center of one mounting bolt to the center of another mounting bolt.

If you purchase a replacement door knocker with a different bolt center dimension you will need to drill another hole through the door. The further problem is there will be an unused hole in the door that must be covered or filled.

It is usually preferable to find a replacement door knocker using the same bolt center dimension but this is not always possible. There is no standard and the bolt center is usually determined by the design of the door knocker itself.

And now what seems like the hundred thousand dollar question for door knocker installation. Where do I mount it on the door?

The pattern and design of the door itself may dictate where the knocker is mounted. There always seems to be the lingering question of how high?

Once again there is no standard but logic should dictate that the average person should be able to reach the door knocker for it to be used. Even if you intend the knocker to be purely ornamental and not be used, it just does not look right if it is located way to high or low.

A typical height from the bottom of the door would be around 5 feet, or about eye level of an average person, give or take a bit to match the pattern of the door.

As a final thought, a door knocker really should be mounted on the door itself, not next to it. Once again if the knocker is there for purely ornamental reasons it may make little difference but if you are expecting results from it that is another case. The tap of the knocker will not resonate through the door jam or wall effectively enough to be heard well on the other side.

A door knocker is a wonderful inexpensive addition to your home that can add charm and warmth to your entrance. Once installed it should require little attention or maintenance for many years to come.

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Source by Bill Shayler

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One of the most enjoyable comforts brought about by modern technology to the human race is the invention of the water heater. What can be more comforting than a hot water bath or shower on a cold morning to wake up a sleepy mind and body. It also helps clean your skin by removing excess oil and dirt. Because of the benefits that it provides, for generations people have been willing to spend their hard earned money to have a water heater installed in their house.

Here are some tips to have an effective water heater installation and repair in the event that you someday need these services. When installing a new water heater, first you must choose the right one for you. Water heaters can either be electric or gas-fuelled. Sometimes a gas water heater can cost less to operate than electric but it will vary by area so check the ratings on the one you are looking to install. If your house does not have gas service to it then the only reasonable option is electric.

Check the plumbing by measuring the dimensions of the hot and cold water pipes that presently exist in the house and make sure your new heater is the proper fit. Depending on the age of the house you may need to purchase some couplers to make the pipes fit properly.

Before you do anything make sure to turn off all the utilities attached to the unit whether it is gas or electric. Once turned off, you can now drain the hot water tank and disconnect the old hot and cold water pipe connections. To drain the water from the tank you hook up a hose to the outlet at the bottom of the tank and drain the water outside or into a drain.

When the old unit is completely drained of water and successfully disconnected, you may then remove it to make room for the new unit. Next, install any fittings to the new unit like the temperature and pressure relief valve if they are not already installed. Then connect the water lines making sure to use proper procedures so you don’t have leaks when you fill the new tank. Next, you can connect to the power source, either gas line or electric. If the fuel source is a gas line then you need to attach the flue vent to make sure fumes are properly directed out of the house. After making all the connections, you can now fill the water heater with cold water and turn on the new unit.

It is a good idea to insulate your water heater tank with a water heater tank blanket. This step can lower your costs to keep the water hot when you need it.

While it is possible to install a new unit on your own, hiring a plumbing professional is often the best way to go and will save you time and money in the long run unless you are experienced in plumbing and plumbing repairs.

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Source by Keith Piper

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Before you decide on an office furniture installation service, there are a few things you should consider. This will help to ensure that you don’t waste your time and money on an inferior company. Being diligent and purposeful with your choice also helps to make sure your equipment and other belongings will be installed properly. One of the worst things you can do in this situation is be nonchalant and uninterested. Choosing a random business is not a smart idea. You may be thinking that it’s really not that serious, because anyone can install furniture. However, this way of thinking is far from the truth. Certain things, such as cubicles, cannot be installed by just anyone. It takes someone with the right skill level and the right amount of patience to get the job done correctly.

With that being said, and as previously mentioned, one of the first things you should look for when it comes to finding a good office furniture installation service is a company that exudes patience. This is extremely important because of the nature of the job. Workers are sometimes required to carry heavy objects and putt together difficult pieces of equipment. Someone with little patience can either become frustrated and give up or their frustration can prompt them to do the job incorrectly just so they can get “finished.”

Of course, there’s really no way for you to know who exactly will be working on your office. However, a good way to judge the workers is by judging the person who employs them. Many times, the attitude and disposition of an employee is a direct reflection of the supervisor or manager. So, meet up with the people in charge of the company or companies you are interested in. If you aren’t able to meet with them personally, you can opt to have a phone conversation with them. The conversation doesn’t have to be long or complex. Ask them a few general or pressing questions. This will help you to get a feel for their personality and attitude.

Lastly and probably most importantly, you want to find an office furniture installation service that has the proper skill level and expertise to get all of your items situated correctly. No matter how nice the manager may be or how much patience the workers may have, if they lack the proper skills, then they won’t really be helpful to you or your business. A good way to find out if a particular company is up to par is to ask around or search for online reviews

Don’t forget to choose wisely when it comes to finding the office furniture installation service that is right for you. Being relaxed about your choice can end up backfiring.

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Source by Andrew Stratton

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If you are going to purchase an air purifier, you must consider some essential features. Today’s air purifiers contain several filters in addition to many important features, such as Wi-Fi operation, digital panels, and remote control, just to name a few. In this article, we are going to share with you a couple of tips that will help you with the installation of your air purifier. Read on to find out more.

Even if you have got the best air purifier out there, you won’t be able to benefit from it if you don’t take into account the coverage area. You must go for the best unit based on the size of your room. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some tips that will help you install the unit the right way.

Where Should You Install The Air Purifier?

If you want to achieve the best air purification, you must go for the best air purifier and set it up in the middle of your room. The idea is to make the air purifier filter all of the air in your room. On the other hand, if you place it in a corner, it won’t help you achieve the desired filtration. Instead, it will make it harder for the unit to purify your indoor air.

One of the common most common mistakes is that some users place the unit in a corner of the room. And some people hide them behind a furniture article, such as a couch or sofa. Although some units can be placed behind office furniture articles, most of them should be away from other items in your house.

In other words, if you place your air purifying unit against a wall, it won’t be able to work at full speed. As a matter of fact, if the unit does not suck in air from the back, you may not want to place it against the couch or wall. Some of these devices may heat up if placed against the wall. Therefore, you may not want to make this mistake or you may end up reducing the life span of the device.

For best results, you should place the unit in the center of your home on an elevated object. For example, you can set it up on a coffee table. The idea is to make sure that the unit is not placed against and obstacles, such as sofas and walls.

Generally, smokers go to a specific room before lighting a cigarette. So, if you are a smoker, we suggest that you place the unit in the room where you smoke. This will help you make sure that the air in that room is free of all types of harmful elements.

Long story short, we suggest that you follow these steps before installing your air purification device. After all, you don’t want to end up installing the unit and still breathing polluted air. Hopefully, this will help you choose the best spot for your device.

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Source by James Yuan

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1) Make sure they work without automation

Any gate to be automated must work properly as a manual gate. Adding automation equipment will not overcome problems with an incorrectly installed gate.

2) Gates on slopes cause problems

Avoid fitting gates in situations that run uphill. This will complicate the situation, require additional equipment and put a strain on the automation. It can be done but it’s best to avoid it if possible.

3) Are the gate openers up to the job?

Make sure that the equipment chosen is suitable and meets the specifications as laid down by the manufacturer. Failure to do this will invalidate the guarantee.

4) Underground motors and water

When fitting underground motors ensure that suitable drainage is provided. These motors are design to be fitted underground – not underwater.

Definitions

IP67 means that a unit should not be detrimentally effected if it is up to 15cm under water for a maximum of 30 minutes

Ingress of water in a harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion)

Test duration: 30 minutes

Immersion at depth of at least 1 m measured at bottom of device, and at least 15 cm measured at top of device.

5) Professional installation is a must

Gate automation equipment should be sourced from and fitted by a profession installer. It may cost a little more but you will then have someone who will take full responsibility for the installation as well as carrying out a proper risk assessment as required by law.

It can be tempting to buy your equipment yourself from a company selling at close to trade prices direct to end users. The installation of electric gate automation equipment by anyone unqualified to understand the risks and safety requirements may result in serious accidents for which you can be responsible.

6) Environmental conditions

Consideration must be given to environmental conditions, particularly the effect of wind on a gate. Even an ‘open railing’ gate will present a degree of wind resistance, and close boarded wooden gates are just like a sail in strong wind. 24V systems are generally the preferred choice because of the intrinsic safety built into the system but these may struggle to work properly in very windy locations.

7) How are the gates’ opening and closing controlled?

Operation of automatic gates from both inside and outside will be required and understanding how electric gates will be used is vital to ensure the appropriate access control system is employed. Typical alternatives include:- Radio remotes, Keypads/card access, push-buttons, ground loops/probe, vehicle detectors and GSM via mobile phone.

8) What about access for visitors and pedestrians?

If there is no alternative, dedicated pedestrian gate, visitors will need a method of contacting the property to gain access.

For pedestrian access from outside without a radio control, a keypad can be used to open one leaf or partially open both leaves depending on the system.

Alternatively, for visitor access, some form of entry intercom is normally used.

Typical examples are:-

a) Hardwired audio or audio/video system (with or without built-in keypad)

b) Radio audio system (with or without keypad) providing a range up to 400m in CLEAR SPACE

c) GSM audio (with or without keypad) gives unlimited range but is dependent on the local phone reception quality.

9) What about trade access?

Consideration must be given to access for trades people such as dustmen, postmen, gardeners etc. This is often achieved by connecting a button or one of the above means of access to a time clock which would allow the gate to be operated by a less secure means only at certain times of day.

10) Are self-locking motors going to hold gates shut?

You cannot rely on a ‘locking’ operator to provide total security for a gate. The addition of extra locks will make it much more difficult to force a gate open and in extreme circumstances bollards have been fitted in front or behind a gate to improve security.

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Source by Steve Jones A

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Ceramic tiles are one of the most building materials out there today. Affordable yet high in quality, ceramic tiles are very durable and versatile materials. They can withstand severe heat and cold conditions without breaking, they are exceptionally resistant to various chemicals and will never fade nor stain, they have excellent slip-resistant properties and they are relatively easy to clean and maintain. Plus, they can perfectly complement the rest of the house. Doing the installation of ceramic tile on your house floors would probably be the best decision you ever made.

However, there are also proper ways to do tile flooring installation to make full use of these qualities. They are relatively to do even for the non-professional homeowner.

Before doing the ceramic tile flooring installation, first wear the right working clothes and gather the correct materials. Once you’ve got everything ready for the tile flooring installation, then it’s time to begin.

The first thing you need to do for the ceramic tile installation is to make sure the surfaces are flat for the tiles to fit it without any space in between. Also, make sure to clean the floors and apply a little sand.

The next part of the ceramic tile flooring installation process is to take out the baseboards. After that, ensure that your door has enough clearance above the tiles; otherwise you will need to trim it.

Afterwards, the next step of the tile flooring installation process is to decide the room’s focal point. You can accomplish this by using a chalk to mark the center of the room and sides with a perpendicular line, making a cross-like mark in the process.

After that, the next part of the tile installation process is to place the tiles row-by-row by each line and putting a grout marker in-between the line. The grout markers ensure uniformity for the entire layout.  Smear a thin set using a notched trowel on the floor and set the tile in place firmly by lightly tapping using a rubber mallet.

The part of the ceramic tile installation process includes cutting the tiles to make edges of the appliances and walls fit. After that, wipe the thin excess off the tiles and wait at least 24 hours for them to set.

The last step of the ceramic tile installation process is to mix the grout and spread it between the spaces of the tiles until there is no hollow left.  Just like with the thin set, wipe off the excess grout and let it set for at least 10 days before you seal the tiles completely.

Once you’re done, you can now start enjoying the benefits of having ceramic tile flooring.

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Source by Elija James