Tile can be laid directly on top of an existing tile floor as long as the old floor has been cleaned thoroughly first. For this room, porcelain tile was used, which tends to be more durable than ceramic tile. To make a small bathroom like this one feel larger, the tiles were laid diagonally.

Start by popping chalk lines on the floor from the center of each wall to find the exact center of the floor.

To keep the chalk lines from smudging, spray them with hairspray.

Start by popping chalk lines on the floor from the center of each wall to find the exact center of the floor.

To keep the chalk lines from smudging, spray them with hairspray.

The first tile was positioned diagonally in the center of the room and pencil lines drawn around it.

The tile was removed and thin-set tile adhesive applied to the floor with a notched trowel.

After the tile was positioned on the floor, it was pressed firmly into place.
When the first tile had been laid, additional thin-set was applied to the floor, and the adjoining tile aligned to it using plastic spacers.

The curved cuts in the tile for the toilet flange are cut using a portable wet saw.
The cuts are then fine-tuned with tile nippers.

Once the tiles around the toilet have been cut, they are laid in place.
A tile cutter is used to make the straight cuts against the walls. After the tiles are scored with the cutter, they are snapped in two along the line.

Once all of the tiles have been laid and the adhesive has set, the joints between the tiles are filled with grout, and the bathroom floor is ready for installation of the vanity and toilet.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

Learn More