How hard is it to lay down wood tile on my own?

by Jen

Answered

I want to lay wood tile but all the quotes are so expensive. $12000 is the average. For a home that’s only 1600sqft. I have to finance this project obviously but it seems cheaper just to buy the materials myself and do it. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Advice? Thank you! :)

3 answers

Deborah on Apr 09, 2019

Wood tile? Do you mean wooden floors?

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- Jen on Apr 09, 2019
  
  No ma’am. It’s porcelain tile that looks just like wood.
  
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- Deborah on Apr 09, 2019
  
  Ok so tile, prep your surface clean level and nail free, depending on the condition of your surface you may need to put down tile backer if it’s porcelain you’ll be using a special thinset specifically for porcelain, and not using tile backer can result in the moisture being sucked up by wood underlayment, so I will seal any wood underlayment first, make Sure there is no give in your floors, or it will result in cracked tiles. You'll need to find the center point of your room to make sure it’s laid square, using a notched trowel lay your first piece put some pressure on the tile to set in in place, if you want visible grout lines use plastic spacers if not butt the joints the most difficult thing to do is making sure the tiles are set at the same level to each other, so use a level and a rubber hammer to gently adjust. I would definitely get some tutorials on line or at a tile store or Home Depot if I were doing this for the first time, good luck!
  
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- Deborah on Apr 09, 2019
  
  If you haven’t already bought your tile, would you consider laying luxury vinyl planks? I’ve traded tile installation for this fantastic new product I did my entire basement that had moisture problems and a room where our rescue cats live, it’s amazing stuff, easy to install and totally waterproof, looks like wood comes in many colors super easy to clean and not as hard and cold as porcelain, I’m doing a bathroom next! I’m also going to replace the carpet and laminate in one of my rentals, hey I’m an old lady and I installed it myself, no joke it’s a free floating system, much much easier expensive than the tile I’ve done, maybe check it out.
  
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Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA on Apr 09, 2019

Take a free class. Home Depot has them. Then decide. If you go ahead, work room by room and learn how to dry fit and transition from one area to the next. Once you do one area, you will understand why installers charge what they do.

https://youtu.be/91ZU2-l1fLA

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-lay-tile-flooring/9ba683603be9fa5395fab909b1ae90d

https://m.wikihow.com/Lay-a-Ceramic-or-Porcelain-Tile-Floor

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- Jen on Apr 09, 2019
  
  Thank you :)
  
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- Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA on Apr 09, 2019
  
  So welcome Jen! Good luck! 🌞
  
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Lor on Mar 17, 2022

I've found that a lot depends if your laying flooring in a brand new home, or an older home that will need new sub flooring (sub flooring I think that's correct). The floor under the floor your ripping up. I forgot the proper term, apologies.

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