Tiled Flooring

Tiles, either of clay (pottery) or cement concrete or terrazzo, are manufactured in square, hexagonal or other sizes, shapes and thickness these days. These are generally used in residential houses, schools, offices, hospitals and other public buildings, as an instead to terazzo flooring, especially whereas the floor is to be laid fast. The method of laying tiled flooring is same to that for flag stone flooring except that greater care is needed. Over the concrete base, a 25 to 30 mm thick layer of lime mortar 1: 3 (1 lime and 3 sand or surkhi) is spread to serve as bedding. This bedding mortar is permitted to harden for 12 to 24 hours. Before laying the tiles, neat cement slurry is spread over the bedding mortar and the tiles are laid flat over it, gently pressing them within the bedding mortar along with the help of wooden mallet, till levelled surface is acquired. Before laying the tiles, thin paste of cement is applied on their sides, so in which the tiles have a thin coat of cement mortar over the whole perimeter surface. Following on the further day, the joints among adjacent tiles are cleaned of loose mortar etc. to a depth of 5 mm, using wire brush, and then grouted along with cement slurry / of the similar color shade as that of the tiles. The slurry is also applied over the flooring in thin coat. The flooring is then cured for 7 days, and then grinding and polishing is completed in the similar manner as that for terrazzo flooring.