How to Lay 18 In. Porcelain Tiles
- 1). Lay the loose porcelain tiles over the area to be installed. Eighteen-inch tiles will frequently require cutting to fit evenly into the space; place these cut tiles in the edges of the room to make them less noticeable against the large full-sized tiles. Make the cuts on a tile wet saw by passing the tile through the blade slowly.
- 2). Lay out several rows of tile at a time to find the best pattern and starting point for the installation. Remove the tiles and spread mortar over this area with a 1/2-inch trowel. The large notches in the trowel will produce a thick layer of mortar perfect for the large tiles.
- 3). Press the tiles into the mortar in the same order you laid them dry. Beat the tiles into the mortar with a wooden mallet until each tile is perfectly flat and level with the next. Watch for corners that stick up and beat any down that appear. Let the mortar dry overnight.
- 4). Grout the tiles by spreading the grout only along the edges of the tiles with a grout float. Eighteen-inch tiles do not require as much grout as smaller tiles, so take care to keep the grout contained to the joint area to avoid waste. Wipe the surface of the porcelain clean of grout haze with a damp sponge.
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