Installation and Preparation

What Should You Expect During Tile Flooring Installation?

Tile installation is a multi-day project. Expect surface preparation, crack treatment, layout, cutting, mortar, lippage control, grouting, movement joints, and cure times. The room must remain off-limits for 24-72 hours. Hollow tiles, cracked tiles, or excessive lippage require attention.

What Should You Expect During Tile Flooring Installation?

Tile flooring installation is one of the most labor-intensive flooring projects. After decades of installing tile in Oklahoma homes, we explain what homeowners should realistically expect during the process.

Project Timeline

Duration — typically 2-5 days depending on room size and complexity.
Preparation — surface preparation may add time.
Mortar cure — 24-48 hours before grouting.
Grout cure — 24-72 hours before foot traffic.
Full cure — 28 days for full cure.

Normal Conditions

Dust — significant dust from demolition and cutting.
Noise — saws, hammers, and grinders are loud.
Odor — mortar and grout have mild odor.
Room closure — the room must remain off-limits during cure.

Surface Preparation

Substrate — the substrate must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound.
Concrete — concrete must be flat and free of cracks.
Wood subfloor — wood subfloors may require cement board or uncoupling membrane.
Crack isolation — crack isolation membrane may be needed on concrete.
Self-leveling — uneven concrete may require self-leveling compound.

Crack Treatment

Existing cracks — cracks in concrete should be treated before tiling.
Crack isolation membrane — prevents cracks from telegraphing through tile.
Expansion joints — large areas require expansion joints.
Manufacturer requirements — follow the membrane manufacturer's specifications.

Layout

Direction — the installer lays tile in the agreed direction.
Starting point — the installer starts at the most visible wall or center.
Pattern — the installer lays out the pattern (straight, diagonal, herringbone).
Homeowner approval — the homeowner should approve the layout before setting.
Cuts — the installer plans cuts to avoid small slivers at edges.

Cutting

Wet saw — tile is cut with a wet saw to reduce dust.
Silica dust — cutting generates silica dust; wet saws reduce this.
Notches — notches and complex cuts are made with nippers or a grinder.
Holes — holes for pipes and fixtures are drilled with diamond bits.

Mortar

Thinset — thinset mortar is troweled onto the substrate.
Notched trowel — a notched trowel creates ridges for even coverage.
Back-buttering — large tile may be back-buttered for full coverage.
Open time — thinset has open time; tile must be set before it skins over.
Cure — thinset requires 24-48 hours before grouting.

Lippage Control

What it is — lippage is the height difference between adjacent tiles.
Cause — lippage is caused by uneven substrate, thinset coverage, or tile variation.
Prevention — lippage control systems (clips and wedges) minimize lippage.
Large format tile — large format tile is more prone to lippage.
Acceptable limits — industry standards specify acceptable lippage.

Grouting

Timing — grouting occurs 24-48 hours after tile setting.
Mixing — grout is mixed with water to the right consistency.
Application — grout is pressed into joints with a float.
Cleaning — excess grout is wiped off with a damp sponge.
Haze — grout haze is removed after initial set.

Movement Joints

Perimeter — a movement joint (sealed with silicone) is needed at the perimeter.
Doorways — movement joints at doorways and transitions.
Large areas — large areas require movement joints every 24-36 feet.
Sealant — 100% silicone sealant, not grout, at movement joints.

Cure Times

Mortar — 24-48 hours before grouting and foot traffic.
Grout — 24-72 hours before foot traffic.
Sealing — wait 72 hours before sealing grout.
Full cure — 28 days for full mortar and grout cure.
Water exposure — avoid water on the floor for 7 days after grouting.

Cleanup

Grout haze — the installer removes grout haze with a haze remover.
Sweeping — the installer sweeps the floor.
Debris — demolition debris is hauled away (if contracted).
Final inspection — the homeowner and installer inspect the work.

Conditions That Require Attention

Hollow tiles — hollow-sounding tiles indicate poor mortar coverage.
Cracked tiles — cracked tiles may indicate substrate movement.
Excessive lippage — height differences between tiles.
Uneven grout — grout lines should be consistent.
Grout haze — haze should be removed; if not, contact the installer.

Homeowner Communication Checklist

Walk the installation area with the installer.
Approve the layout before setting.
Confirm grout color before grouting.
Confirm cure-time restrictions.
Inspect the finished work after grout cure.

Common Misunderstandings

Tile is not walkable the same day — cure time is required.
Grout lines are not perfectly uniform — slight variation is normal.
Tile can crack if the substrate cracks — crack isolation helps.
Grout needs sealing — cement grout is porous.

Questions to Ask During the Project

How long before I can walk on the floor?
What grout color is being used?
Are movement joints being provided?
When can I seal the grout?
What are the care and maintenance instructions?

Bottom Line

Still have questions? Visit your nearest Premier Carpet & Tile showroom to speak with an experienced flooring professional who can help you understand what to expect.

Key considerations

Tile installation is a multi-day project requiring 2-5 days depending on complexity
Surface preparation, crack treatment, and proper mortar coverage are essential
The room must remain off-limits for 24-72 hours during mortar and grout cure
Movement joints sealed with silicone are required at perimeters, doorways, and large areas
Hollow tiles, cracked tiles, excessive lippage, and uneven grout are warning signs

A common misconception

Many homeowners expect tile installation to be like other flooring — quick and walkable the same day. In reality, tile requires surface preparation, mortar cure time, grout cure time, and movement joints — and the room must remain off-limits for 24-72 hours.

Ask an Expert

What Should You Expect During Tile Flooring Installation?