How Do You Install Ceramic Floor Tile With Adhesive Or Mortar?
Ceramic floor tile can be laid with either a chemical tile adhesive—which resembles an acrylic glue—or thinset mortar, which is more like cement. Which you choose to use is up to you, though, generally, thinset mortar is better for applications in bathrooms and other high-moisture areas. The process for the two types of installation is identical, using a notched trowel to lay the material in thin rows that assist in adhesion by creating suction. In both cases, start with a good solid underlayment like thick plywood or cement board. Use your chalk snap line to divide the floor into four squares, snapping two intersecting lines from the centers of opposing walls. With your notched trowel, spread down a few square feet of thinset mortar or tile adhesive in the corner of one of the squares, where it meets the other squares in the center of the room. Set your first ceramic tile in the corner of the square, so it’s bordered on two sides by the two intersecting lines. Press the tile down
