Selections

• The tile that you will be laying must be able to stand up against any forces in which it will be exposed to. Don't try and lay a thin tile in a heavy traffic area. Choose your grout carefully. If you are laying tile in an area that is prone to dirt, then stay away from light gray or white grout colors.Tile comes in thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch and can vary in side from 1 by 1 squares to 16 by 16 squares. The larger tiles are easier to lay, while the smaller tiles are more difficult to level.
  
  

Tools

• Pay careful attention when selecting tools necessary for laying tile. You will need a good 4-foot level, rubber mallet, tile cutter, grout float, notched trowel and tape measure. The tile cutter can be a dry cutter in which you slide a blade back and forth across a piece of tile, or it can be a wet cutter with an electric motor and water pump that keeps the tile wet while the blade slices through the tile. The dry cutter is better for smaller jobs, while the wet cutter works best for larger jobs.
  
  

Techniques

• Once the thin set has been spread, don't force the tile into the thin set; instead lay it gently on the bed of mortar and work it into place. You will end up with a grossly un-level job by forcing the tile immediately. The key to setting tile is to have patience when working.