How to lay porcelain slabs: complete guide
Whether you are renovating your home, or laying flooring for the first time, the installation of porcelain stoneware is an exciting opportunity to create striking designs. However, it is important that you navigate each phase carefully. The best way to approach how to lay porcelain slabs is to work with professional teams. They know how to handle various materials, such as porcelain tiles flooring and which techniques to follow to get the best results. That being said, it is still important that you understand each step and know what to expect. In this guide, we cover all the main processes for porcelain slabs, both on floors and walls.
What is the correct procedure for laying large porcelain slabs? Step-by-step guide
When it comes to how to lay porcelain slabs, whether you are getting large living room tiles or other types of stoneware, you need the correct procedure to ensure you have long-lasting surfaces that are level, smooth and impeccably finished. As mentioned, expert installers are always needed for laying large format tiles. They are skilled in cutting slabs to perfectly fit a room, taking exceptional care to ensure porcelain slabs are flawlessly placed. Let’s have a look at the process a team will typically follow.
Procedure and tools
Several tools will be needed to ensure that your porcelain slabs are laid evenly and will not eventually easily shift, from large kitchen porcelain slabs to bathroom tiles and more.
These key items that expert teams would use include:
- A spirit level
- Top-quality mortar
- A primer that will help prevent moisture from penetrating through slabs
- Grout
- A trowel for mixing and applying your mortar
- Measuring tape
- Spacers to ensure tiles are laid out evenly
- A bristle brush to clean the slabs
- Gloves, face masks and eye protection
Now, let’s review each step of how to lay porcelain tiles, step-by-step.
Prepare your surface
A perfect base will ensure that your slabs are neatly secured and will provide long-lasting convenience. This includes walls and floors. The substrate you prepare for your finishes will depend on the surfaces you will be decorating, and can range from an adhesive to product-specific mortar. Your installation team will know exactly what to use and how to apply this base preparation.
A sub base will be laid, which usually includes hardcore (soft stones) and sand that are tightly packed. Once the sub base has been prepared, your team will proceed to lay the whole base, with a mortar thickness of about 15-30 mm.
Next, primer will be applied to the porcelain slabs.
Lay the slabs
Laying slabs will depend on where they are installed and what the type of materials are. For instance, marble-effect stoneware must always be placed so that the veins face direct light to highlight their texture. Your professional team will use joint spacers when laying out tiles, with a gap of around 3-5 mm between each tile. They will consistently use their spirit level to ensure tiles are aligned.
Grout the joints
Grouting is essential when it comes to creating stable surfaces. Equally important, is that this jointing compound is expertly applied, and that once all slabs are laid out, a bristle brush is used to gently remove excess materials.
Finishing and washing
Porcelain slabs are truly low maintenance and can look better for longer without needing lengthy care. Daily spot cleaning with a soft cloth or damp (not wet) mop should be more than enough to help you keep your surfaces clean.For outdoor porcelain slab surfaces, you could use power washing but be careful that you do not use excessive force which could damage your tiles.Other than that, all that remains is to enjoy the beauty of your finishes for years to come.
Warnings and advice
Porcelain slabs are truly low maintenance and can look better for longer without needing lengthy care. Daily spot cleaning with a soft cloth or damp (not wet) mop should be more than enough to help you keep your surfaces clean.
For outdoor porcelain slab surfaces, you could use power washing but be careful that you do not use excessive force which could damage your tiles.
Other than that, all that remains is to enjoy the beauty of your finishes for years to come.
Have more questions about how to lay porcelain slabs?
As a leader in porcelain stoneware, Atlas Plan is a fantastic partner to help you bring your vision to life.
