Posted on May 13, 2020 under Uncategorized |
porcelain tile flooring has been a favorite flooring material in kitchens and baths for many years. It is a ceramic tile that can be glazed or unglazed. There is no clear difference between a ceramic tile and a porcelain tile flooring except one is much more impervious to moisture than the other.
It is created by mixing clay and other materials together and firing it at very high heat. This firing process hardens the tile and depending on the length of time and the temperature will result in how hard the tile will become and how impervious it will be to water. Ceramic tiles are generally not as hard as porcelain tile floorings because they are fired for a much shorter time.
What is It Used For?
It can be used as flooring material or can be used on walls. The glazed version is favored for bathroom walls. It has a low water absorption rate so it is ideal for areas that may potentially become wet.
These types of tiles are graded based on their hardness and the ability to resist water absorption. There is a scale that is set that rates the porcelain tile flooring from zero to five with the hardest being five. The harder tiles are used in flooring and wall applications while the lower rated material is used as an electrical insulator is appliances and other electronic devices.
It is extremely chip resistant and is perfectly permissible to be used on counter top surfaces, in many instances porcelain tile flooring is not only more resistant than natural stone but it also can be easier to care for. It does not require any special sealants or treatments and can be less absorbent than natural stone.
Best Types
The best types are generally the type that has reached the highest rating. Of course lower grade tiles are fine for certain applications. Usually the lower rated tiles are used on walls while the higher rated tiles are used on flooring applications.
There are several considerations when choosing:
- Outdoor applications will require frost proof tiles; these are the hardest rated tiles.
- Look for an indication that it is a full bodied tile. This means that the color of the tile goes all the way through the tile and this will be the hardest tile. In flooring applications this is really a necessity. Some are manufactured with only a glaze of color; the glaze can wear over time (albeit a long time).
- porcelain tile flooring will not have the same design options that a ceramic tile has. The processing limit’s the designs that can be imprinted on the tile, so usually it is going to be only of one color.
Whatever the application is there is one that will be the ideal product to use.
Costs
porcelain tile flooring is expensive, not prohibitive in cost by any means but more expensive than ceramic tiles, but well worth the additional costs.
Cost will largely be dictated by the tiles rating and the color or design of the tile. Size will also play a roll in costs. Most home improvement stores will have an array of porcelain tile flooring to choose from.
Posted on May 13, 2020 under Uncategorized |
If you have considered upgrading to tile flooring, you are probably overwhelmed with the options when it comes to porcelain floors. With so many different brands to consider, not to mention the huge variation in the price of different tiles, it can be difficult to determine which tiles are truly of top quality. Price may not necessarily mean top quality so looking deeper into a few aspects of the tile can really help determine which tile is the best. Keep in mind that while top quality is important, it should be used as a way to help pick the right tiling after finding choices that work with the décor you have chosen, as well as fit in your budget.
Determining tile quality by looking at the wear rating
The first thing to consider when looking at the quality of porcelain tile floors is to look at the wear rating. The ratings come from the Porcelain Enamel Institute which tests tiles and assigns a wear rating based on how the tile fairs in their tests. The rankings are one through five, with one being considered not usable for flooring and five being tested to withstand constant abuse of even the heaviest foot traffic in a commercial or industrial application. Most porcelain tiles are rated as a five, but there are a few varieties that do not, so it should be checked and verified that the tile has been tested and does score a four or five on the PEI scale.
Determining tile quality through observation
There are a number of other factors to look at when comparing different tiles from a quality perspective.
While most porcelain tile floors are going to wear well, finding tiles of the utmost quality requires a careful look at the product out of the box. Looking at the tile, the tiles should look like they all match. If there is a pattern, it should be consistent across a number of tiles, as should the colour. If possible, sample tiles from different boxes to insure that they are consistent.
The next thing to look carefully at is the flatness of the tile. The best way to do this is to look down the edge of a tile and see how straight the line is. If the tile bows out, the tile will have more lip to it, which may or may not be something you desire. The lip is what you feel when you run your hand across the tile. Proper grouting can mask some of the lip, but the tile shouldn’t bow too much, as it will look like it wasn’t installed properly, more than being lower quality tile.
Finally, the tiles should be of a consistent size. By laying out three rows of three tiles from a representative sample, you will be able to see if they are the same size more easily than comparing single tiles. The sample should be square. At this time, inspecting the tiles for cracks in the finish or glaze is easy to do as well. The cracks will appear to look like lizard tales and even the best tile will have an occasional tile that is missed. However, if a number of things are wrong with the tile, it is probably best to find a different one for your project.
Posted on Feb 11, 2011 under Uncategorized |
Tiles come in many different forms, both natural and hand-made, each with different qualities and suitable for different locations. There are man-made ceramic porcelain floor tiles with a glossy finish, although some have a rough finish and are made to replicate the finish of natural stone. Stone and slate tilings are also common types of porcelain tile used for flooring and in general there is a perception that a porcelain floor tile floor is easier to keep clean and maintain than a wooden floor or carpet.
At first glance a tiling floor does seem to be wipe-cleanable and these types of flooring will, if professionally installed, often score highly in terms of cost durability. They do have one other characteristic in common which is the porcelain floor tiling grout used to fill the spaces between the porcelain floor tiles It can often be more important to pay attention to the grout than the porcelain floor tilings themselves when considering maintenance and keeping your floor clean.
Grout is a construction material consisting of a mixture of sand, cement and water and is as a result a highly porous material susceptible to staining. If grout does get marked, it can often lead to an uneven and unsatisfactory appearance for the flooring and can be very difficult to clean. It is very important to begin with that the grout is correctly applied, in the case of slate and natural stone, you should consider having a professional do it.
If you take a look at your porcelain floor tilings you may notice that the grout is often recessed lower than the surface level of the porcelain floor tiles so if there is a spillage, it is here that the liquid will flow. As floor tilings are often located in areas such as wash-rooms or kitchens where spillages are likely, it means your maintenance efforts are especially important.
You should start by applying a good sealer. A sealer can be applied to both the floor tilings and the grout, or special sealers just for the grout. A sealer will provide an extra layer of protection making the grout less permeable and therefore less susceptible to staining. A company which deals with porcelain floor tile grout cleaning will be able to recommend an appropriate sealer.
To aid your maintenance efforts, regular sweeping and vacuuming followed by washing, with warm water and maybe a little detergent, will help to keep the floor clean. Spillages should be cleaned up immediately – and if there is a marking on the grout, there are some specialist products available but many people actually try using shaving cream.
Posted on Feb 11, 2011 under Uncategorized |
Marble porcelain floor tiles are becoming very popular for use in homes all over the world.
And even though these types of tiling materials have been around for centuries, it is just now that a wider segment of society is taking a much closer look at the many benefits that they have to offer. It would be safe to say that if you are looking to update your house, then using marble flooring may be the way to go.
The Choice Of Flooring Material Helps In Improving A Home’s Aesthetic Value
The choice of flooring material carries a major role in the overall look and functionality of a home, is just as vital as the other furnishings that you put in the house. Since marble porcelain floor tiles help to create a healthy mix of elegance and functionality, it is considered to be one of the finest materials to be used for flooring.
There are a lot of different varieties and designs of marble floor tiles sold in shops and hardware stores, with each one varying in color, texture and veining, finish and overall look. The different marble porcelain floor tiles available today offer a wide array of uses and applications, which makes some individuals prefer certain types of marble floor tiles over the others.
Most Popular Marble Tile Variants
- Glazed or Polished Tiles. This marble porcelain floor tiling variant offers one of the best aesthetic-improving qualities for marble porcelain floor tiles Glazed or polished marble floor tiles give the floor an intense shine to it, by making its design and color stand out. The shine helps emphasize the flooring porcelain tilings aesthetic value, as well as make it look a whole lot cleaner.
Although this particular variety makes it quite difficult to maintain, since scratches and smudges on the porcelain floor tiles surface can damage its finish, which could be highly visible. However, such porcelain tilings are relatively easier to clean, because marble porcelain tilings possess the unique characteristic of being hypoallergenic, thereby making it difficult for microbes and bacteria to live and thrive on its surface.
- Tumbled Marble Tile. These types are also very popular with people who aim to recreate an antique appearance to their floors. Tumbled marble porcelain floor tilings also are able to have that antique look because of the process that it undergoes, which involves tumbling marble porcelain tilings inside a large drum with sand, resulting to marble floor tiles which have corners that are a bit rounded with slightly chipped edges.
- Honed Marble Tile. This marble porcelain tiling variant offers a more matte-like finish, look and quality to the flooring porcelain floor tile which makes it more ideal in high-traffic areas of the home, as compared to polished or glazed marble porcelain floor tiles These porcelain floor tiles with honed finishes are more resilient to damage that can be caused by being constantly exposed to friction done by shoes or other hard materials.
Marble Tiles Are Suitable For Every Part Of The Home
A major positive aspect of marble porcelain floor tiles is the look that it will give your home. These porcelain floor tiles are most popular in the kitchen, but many people also use them in their bathroom as well. If you really want your marble floor tiles to stand out, you may wish to combine it with a countertop to match. This serves as a great way to give your kitchen or bathroom a completely unique appearance. In addition to the stunning look that these porcelain floor tiles offer, you will also be getting a floor that is very durable. Even though you will have to care for it just like any other floor, marble will not scratch easily. In addition, buffing off a marble floor is relatively an easy thing to do.
Marble stands as a material with built-in associations of artistry, durability and craftsmanship, making it a preferred material for use in homes. With marble floor tiles a unique aesthetic advantage is gained, along with a part of the unique historical legacy with which marble is frequently associated.
The only downside of using marble porcelain floor tiles is that they can be quite expensive. If you are interested in using these at home, ensure that you shop around and find the best deals. As such, you may be able to save yourself a considerable amount of money on your project.
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Posted on Feb 10, 2011 under Uncategorized |
One of the biggest objections many homeowners have about installing a new floor tile floor in their homes is the mess that tearing out the old floors cause. If the thought of ripping up your old floor is giving you nightmares and is what is preventing you from installing a new porcelain floor tile floor, a new Italian porcelain floor tile be the solution you have been seeking. Kerlite is a very thin porcelain floor tile created to install over the top of the old porcelain floor tiling floor.
Numerous Benefits
This revolutionary porcelain floor tile brings several benefits to the table when considering installing a new porcelain tiling floor. Since it omits the need to rip out your old floor, it alleviates your home from turning into a construction zone as far as the dusty mess that ripping up an old floor can bring. Because the floor tiling is installed over your old floor, it also makes installing the new floor faster and easier, which means less down time or off limits areas in your home. It can also save you the cost of having to have your floor tiling installers tear out and remove the old porcelain floor tiling and the debris.
In addition, the thinness of the tiling does not have an adverse effect on the height of your floor. The porcelain floor tile was intentionally created to be thin, yet durable, so that when it is installed over old porcelain tiling there is not a noticeable difference when looking at or walking on the floor. Finally, the cost for installing this porcelain floor tile runs about the same as any other porcelain floor tile so there is no added cost for installing the new floor on top of the old one.
One Drawback
The only aspect of the porcelain floor tile that may cause you to pause is the price. Each porcelain tile is more expensive than traditional tiling but the money you save on tear out, and the hassle and mess you avoid may be worth the added expense. It may also be worth finally being able to walk on the new floor of your dreams.
Posted on Feb 10, 2011 under Uncategorized |
During the useful life of any floor tiling floor, porcelain floor tiles will loosen and have to be repaired. The level of difficulty of this type of repair is about a 3 on a scale of one to ten; one being the easiest and ten being the hardest. This type of repair is costly when contracted out. Certainly within the skill level of most homeowners and given the proper instruction, it can easily be done over a weekend. Let me give you a brief overview of how to fix a loose porcelain tile and save yourself an unnecessary labor charge from a general contractor.
First, you will need a few simple tools, which should include eye protection, gloves, broom, dust pan or shop vacuum, hammer, masonry chisel, small taping knife, bucket, grout that matches the original, grout sponge, and a high quality thin set. The thin set should be of a modified nature, meaning that latex based additives have been mixed into it during manufacture. These additives allow the thin set to cure quicker and have a more resilient bond with the floor. It’s good to have a spare porcelain floor tile or two just in case you accidentally crack the loose porcelain floor tile during the repair process.
The hardest part of the entire process is getting the loose porcelain tile off the floor. Even though the porcelain floor tile is not adhered to the sub floor any longer, it still will want to stay in place. The irregularities between the porcelain floor tiling edges and the grout against them need to be removed. With your safety glasses in place, use the hammer and chisel and gently remove the grout around the loose tiling. It is important to use gentle, downward blows with your hammer. You may not be Michelangelo carving David, but you still need to be delicate. Be deliberate and remove all the grout from all 4 sides of the loose porcelain floor tile. The grout should be completely removed until you expose the edges of the 4 adjoining porcelain floor tiles Once the grout has been removed the tiling should easily come up by hand. If this does not happen, gently pry the floor tiling off the floor using the chisel. Make sure you protect the edges of the good porcelain floor tilings still on the floor.
Now that the porcelain floor tile has been removed from the floor, you will need to remove the thin set from both the porcelain floor tile and the floor. Using the hammer and chisel remove all the old thin set from the back of the porcelain floor tiling. Be careful with hammering on the porcelain floor tile. Lay the porcelain floor tile on a firm surface such as a workbench, and take your time. One heavy handed blow from the hammer and your porcelain floor tile will crack. You do not have to be as careful with removing the thin set from the sub floor. Remove enough so that the face of the porcelain floor tile when placed back in its original location, is below the plane of the floor surface by approximately 3/16 of an inch.
With the porcelain floor tile and floor free of any old thin set, it is now time to place the porcelain floor tile back in place. When mixing the new thin set, carefully follow the manufacturer’s specifications. The substance should have the same consistency of peanut butter when properly mixed. It should easily adhere to your fingertips and stick to them when you touch it. Using the taping knife, apply thin set to the back of the floor tile and the face of the sub floor. When properly done, the thin set should exactly make up the gap between the sub floor and the porcelain tile allowing the face of the porcelain floor tile to lie in the same plane as the floor. Again, following the manufacturer’s specifications, allow the thin set to cure. From my experience, overnight will usually be enough.
The last step is to reapply grout around your newly placed porcelain tile. As always, follow the instructions recommended by the manufacturer. Using the taping knife, fill the space between the porcelain tiles with grout and wipe the excess away with the grout sponge. The sponge should be wet, but not too wet. Novice floor tile setters tend to use a sponge that has too much water in it. Too much water allows the sponge to remove an excessive amount pigment from the grout. The grout will then take on a whitish color that doesn’t match the existing grout color well. Wringing out the sponge as hard as you can you will be fine. An advanced technique is to feather the new grout over the old. This allows the colors to blend and won’t be as noticeable.
In conclusion, be diligent in cleaning the tiling and sub floor of old thin set. Do your best to get the porcelain floor tiling back in the same plane of the floor. Grout with care and feather the new grout over the old grout. If you follow these instructions to the best of you ability, you will have a completed repair equal to, if not better than, any contractor could have done for you.
Posted on Feb 10, 2011 under Uncategorized |
Especially if working with a small nook or alcove in any room, when it comes to dry laying porcelain floor tiles you are sure to need some which are cut to size prior to actual mortar bed laying. This is where the use of the ceramic porcelain floor tile breaker comes in useful when only working with ceramic porcelain floor tiles and with these straight cuts done and out of the way you can begin to prepare the floor tilings which need angles removed.
Before actually marking these though, you should at least check your straight cut porcelain floor tiles to see whether they fit well or not. Some of these floor tiles may need to be cut in two directions when projecting from your foundation porcelain floor tile or chalk line, and still the porcelain floor tile breaker can achieve this job so long as it’s a straight line that you wish to obtain.
The corner of a room for example, you may have to cut a 12″ inch porcelain floor tiling in half to get a 6″ porcelain floor tile that will fit your projection properly. However, when meeting with another wall coming in perpendicular to your dry laying tiling projection, like what is found in the corner of a room, then you may need to cut the end off the final floor tile in order to shorten its length.
To cut this porcelain floor tile the ceramic porcelain floor tile breaker is ideal still, but always remember to include in your measurements the subtraction of 1/8″ inch from the overall size to ensure that you have that necessary sealing gap between the wall and the porcelain floor tiling. What you don’t want is the porcelain tiling directly in contact with the wall. Another factor to consider is your grout spacing between the adjacent porcelain tiles so whatever sized grout lines you intend to apply, subtract accordingly.
Next, you’ll want to check the porcelain floor tile against its position once it is cut. With grout spacers in place for a dry laying trial run, make sure that the gap between the wall and the floor tile is near enough to 1/8″ inch as possible. If the porcelain floor tile is undersized very slightly, this may be nothing to worry about, as depending on the thickness of your baseboards you intend to install, these can actually hide the gap.
If the porcelain floor tile is oversized however, then you have two options. Either cut another fresh porcelain floor tile piece again but slightly smaller than the first to allow for the gap to be present, or trim down the edge of the existing cut floor tiling piece using a wet porcelain tile saw. The porcelain floor tile breaker will never be able to cut anything much less that 1″ wide even for a seasoned professional porcelain floor tiling or 2″ wide if you are a novice at using the breaker.
Another tip when fitting cut tilings is to always keep the finished factory edge to the interior of the floor. For best results in a finished floor, the rougher cut edge of any porcelain floor tiling should always be placed next to the walls, as this again will be hidden by your baseboards.
When also making straight cuts in floor tilings that are similar to one another and are following a straight line, like for example, against the length of a wall or a fixed furnishing such as a bathroom sink unit, there is an easy way to avoid making excessive measurements. Simply by measuring and cutting the first porcelain floor tiles you can then mirror the size onto each subsequent porcelain tile. remember though to keep the rough edge to the vertical face of the wall or obstacle, which may require in some instances by flipping the porcelain tiling 180 degrees in your markings. Given time, you will soon pick up time-saving techniques of your own once your confidence has increased when floor tiling, so basically just work with the method that suits you best.
Posted on Feb 09, 2011 under Uncategorized |
One of the best types of flooring for any room in the home is using ceramic floor tile. Many people are installing it by themselves with some basic DIY knowledge. However there are those that need to call a professional for help as they run into troubles at various stages of the project. Here are some tips that will help you deal with them so you can install your floor tiling the right way on your own.
If you have linoleum flooring, you can easily install ceramic porcelain floor tiles on top to save you a bit of money. However with a wooden sub-floor underneath you might just have to remove completely the linoleum and lay the new flooring on top of the subfloor. In case your floor tiles will be installed over concrete, you can safely to the installation right on top.
First of all you need to remove any trim from around the edge of your floor including the floorboard. You also need to clean the floor properly so you don’t get any bumps or rough edges when installing the top layer. If you find rough spots, try to use a good sealant to block any moisture spots, basically places that moisture can get in within the room.
Also before doing the actual installation, make a mock one by simply laying down all the porcelain floor tiles just to see whether you have bought enough to fill the entire flooring. You don’t want to get into a situation where you need just a few porcelain tilings and this particular type or design is no longer available at the shop.
Also proper ventilation is quite important. Old linoleum might contain traces of asbestos and this is a very dangerous material that can cause you health problems if inhaled. Asbestos is known to cause lung cancer when inhaled over a longer period of time. Good ventilation is also important due to the fact that the glue or adhesive you will be using might be quite flammable and toxic.
Posted on Feb 09, 2011 under Uncategorized |
A carefully planned ceramic porcelain floor tile floor plan — a brilliantly conceived idea, a meticulously designed look and feel, and the perfect ceramic floor tiles — may still be all for nothing if your tiling installation is not properly carried out. Learn how to work your tiling the right way with these quick and easy ceramic porcelain floor tiling installation instructions, and see your dream porcelain floor tiling floor appear like magic.
1. In order to give a somehow accurate estimate of the number of ceramic tilings the amount of thin set, or cement, grout, as well as the tools you will need to purchase (or rent), measure the length and width of the floor area that you plan to porcelain tiling. Start measuring by finding the center point of floor area you will be working on. You can do this by measuring across the room and marking the center. Do this in opposite direction and mark the center, as well. The intersection of the two lines is the center of the floor you will be tiling over. Run chalk lines over the intersection lines. These chalk lines will help you later with your tiling positioning.
2. Gather the right tools you will be needing for the tiling project. You can buy most of the tools and materials you’ll need at you neighborhood hardware store, or home center. For equipment that might over your budget like porcelain tile cutters, try asking your local home center or tool rental yard if they have the tools you need for rental.
3. If you want to do a clean job of tiling the floor, make sure that the floor you will be installing tilings on is clean. If you’re working on a concrete subfloor, check for cracks and debris. Clean your concrete subfloor first, and repair the cracks. If you see that some of the cracks are too large to repair, replace those floor sections with new concrete. Large cracks (or even smaller ones) widen over time and this will affect your tilings as well. If you’re working with a plywood subfloor, make sure it is structurally sound and capable of supporting your ceramic porcelain floor tile installation. Your plywood floor has to be at least 1 1/8″ thick, and supported by an equally strong underlayment beneath it. Ceramic porcelain floor tiles are heavy and would need a subfloor that can support their combined weight. Otherwise, they will become dislodged or even break. If you’re working on an existing ceramic floor tiling floor, all you need to do is use a large flat-bladed chisel and a mallet, and just hammer away. Be sure to keep yourself protected — use heavy-duty leather work gloves, safety glasses, and long-sleeved work clothes.
4. To get a clearer visual of how your porcelain floor tile floor would look like, lay out your ceramic porcelain floor tiles by following the chalk lines you’ve previously made. Start at the center and work you way down to the edges. Start at the center, where your intersecting lines meet and work your way out. You can go creative at this part of the ceramic porcelain floor tile installation instructions and actually see your desired look for real.
5. Once you’ve positioned the porcelain floor tilings on the floor in the manner that you like, you can now begin tiling. Place the center floor tile and bond it to your subfloor using a thin set mortar, or a floor tiling adhesive of your choice. It is recommended that you use a notched trowel to apply the mortar to the subfloor, but you may actually use the more common trowel variety that may be suggested by many ceramic porcelain floor tiling installation instructions. To secure the ceramic porcelain floor tile in its place, press down while twisting it back and forth till the porcelain floor tile no longer is set. If some of the mortar or adhesive oozes out, use your trowel to scrape off the excess.
6. Make sure that you allow the porcelain floor tile adhesives to settle overnight. You may also check your thin set mortar or porcelain floor tile adhesive’s ceramic floor tiling installations instructions for the bonding’s setting or hardening time.
7. Once the tilings have settled, it is time to apply the grout. Tiling grout is a construction material used to connect porcelain floor tiles fill void and seal in the spaces between porcelain floor tilings It comes in a wide variety of color tints that may be matched to your desired look, and porcelain floor tile color. Mix the grout according to its package’s ceramic porcelain floor tiling installations instructions. Then, using a rubber grout float, work it into the joints. Use your grout float at angle so that you can fill in the joint gap with as much grout as possible.
8. After laying in the grout in between the gaps between the porcelain tiles use a damp sponge to wipe off the excess grout. Rinse the sponge frequently to get as much of the excess grout off, and keep each tiling clean. You have the option of applying a sealant to the grout lines when they dry.
Once you follow these steps, you’ll realize how easy it is to make your dream ceramic floor tile floor come true! Now, all you have to do is maintain your new ceramic porcelain tiling floor by keeping it clean and hygienic. And remember: Your new ceramic porcelain tile floor will be approximately 1/2 inch; higher, so you might have to adjust your furniture, electric outlets and other fixtures.
Posted on Feb 08, 2011 under Uncategorized |
With a scoop of mixed floor tiling mortar laid out fresh on your subfloor, the next stage is to spread it out to a sufficient depth for laying floor tilings and then ‘keying-in’ the mix in order for it to bond correctly with the floor. Using the flat edge of your notched trowel gently spread the mortar out to a size large enough to bed your first porcelain floor tile into place.
When doing this, be very careful not to cover your chalk line or any other important alignment guides you have made on your floor prior, which were necessary for dry laying projection and line of sight direction. It’s no big deal if you do not exactly meet up with your chalk line, as it is better to fall short of it. By the time you press down the floor tile over the mortar bed, this will actually squeeze out the mortar to cover a larger area, so best to hang back a little from your lines when spreading.
In this sense of initially keying-in the mortar, you want to not just spread it as though you were buttering a slice of toast, but more like the way a child would butter a slice of toast. To explain this, I would mean not to methodically spread the mortar in one direction only, from say right to left for example, but follow a more irregular pattern by spreading from various alternate angles. This allows the porcelain tile mortar to bond much better with the floor by keeping the spreading angles erratic, but still gentle enough so that you don’t overstep any marks.
Once you’re happy with the keying-in process which should last for around 30 to 60 seconds per porcelain tiling you want to also make sure that the keyed-in mortar bed is at an approximate depth of between 1/2″ to 3/4″ inch deep. The next stage after this is to then set your ‘furrows’ into the mortar bed using the notched edge of your trowel. When done correctly, this should basically turn your mortar bed into something very similar to a freshly ploughed field.
To do this properly, always pull the trowel towards you and not push away. It’s not only easier on your back, but it also allows you more control of your lines, so the first step is to get into a comfortable position. Next, place the notched edge of your trowel to the edge of your spread mortar, tilt it to an angle of about 45 degrees with the flat edge facing towards you, push down hard on the floor, and then pull back in a straight line, always maintaining downward pressure.
You should hear a constant scraping sound when done correctly, and when you come to the end of your scrape, lift the trowel slightly, flip it about 90 degrees, then slide it downwards. This will create a small mound of excess mortar to the end of your ‘ploughed field’, by wiping it from the trowel and making it ready for use for the next tiling to be laid in a fresh bed.
Basically, that’s all there is to keying-in and spreading your mortar, and once you get the hang of it you will soon find that it follows a simple and rhythmic pattern. One final important point though, is to always keep your ‘furrows’ in straight lines. Don’t ever attempt wavy lines and fancy curves, as the mortar will not spread out properly once your porcelain floor tiling is placed on top with pressure, and can result in unwanted trapped air bubbles underneath the porcelain floor tiling when dry. If there is no solid support under a point in a tiling such as a pocket of air, then you could be looking at a potentially cracked floor tiling just waiting to happen given time.