You’ve had your eye on that beautiful Moroccan tile for a while now, but you’re unsure where to start. You can stop worrying now. Putting up Moroccan tile is a weekend project much more straightforward than it sounds.
The first step is to settle on a pattern for your Moroccan ceramic tiles. That’s when things get tricky. Then, calculate the required quantity by adding the floor’s length and width of square footage. I suggest purchasing more tiles because you can never predict what will go wrong.
Now, check to see if the floor you’re standing on is level. Paint, grease, and glue are just some things that need to be cleaned up. You can quickly and effectively level off protrusions with a hammer and chisel. In some cases, a sub-floor is required. This is something that can be decided at any nearby hardware store. Also, take down any unnecessary trim like baseboards or crown molding.
Your working area is probably not a perfect square is the greatest challenge while laying tile. It could take effort and tile cutting to perfect the tile design. Here’s a quick and easy way to ensure your tiles are perfectly aligned.
Snap a horizontal and a vertical chalk line through the middle of the room so that they meet in the middle. Lay tiles in a straight line, leaving grout spaces in between. Check that everything seems even by making sure the distances are uniform. You might have to rearrange them to fit as many complete tiles as feasible.
The time has come to install the tiles. Thin-set, which resembles cement and comes in bags, is required to install most ceramic tiles. Don’t worry about overbuying thin set; most places will accept returned opened bags. Combine the thin set and water in a five-gallon bucket until the mixture is thick and pasty.
After the thin set has been prepared, the area to be tiled should be troweled with it. Only trowel what you can reach while kneeling. Run a notched trowel along the ground to create perfectly straight rows.
Press down on a ceramic tile as you set it into the thin set. Once it’s in place, tap it gently with a rubber mallet to ensure it’s completely covered. Any thin set that bubbles around the tile must be carefully scraped off before it dries. Complete all of the complete tiles before moving on to the cut tiles. Relax tonight, knowing that you’ll be grouting in the morning.
Grout powder and water should be combined in a small bucket. After 10 minutes, stir it until it has the consistency of yogurt. If it’s not soupy when you return, add extra water.
When the grout is ready, you can use a grout float to spread a ball of it across the joints. Be sure to integrate it smoothly. Excess grout can be removed by sliding the grout float flat across the lines at a 45-degree angle and then wiping the line down with a damp sponge. Divide the task into manageable chunks.
After you finish grouting, you can clean the lines with a sponge. The key to successfully removing grout is to use a clean sponge rinsed and wrung out often. If you use too much water, the grout you need will be washed away.
Wait until everything is dehydrated before rearranging the room’s furnishings. You can have a brand new room with stunning Moroccan tiles in one weekend. If you want your space to have a consistent Moroccan feel, you may consider purchasing some Moroccan-style furniture or artwork.
Owner and expert on Moroccan tiles and lamps, Adeal Benhayoun, runs the shop Star of Morocco. See us if you’re interested in Moroccan-inspired bedroom decor.
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