The great thing about the tile I use was that they were rocks and came in all sizes so I didn't have to cut...woohoo no scary wet tile saw.
First things first was a trip with my trusty sidekick to my local home improvement store...my little black pug, Ezmee.
The options were slim at my local store, black or beige for the rock tiles but that was ok with me because I wanted something warm like the tone of the floor. After purchasing the tiles and matching the grout I also bought a sealer (make sure it's the right sealer for you tiles), grout bag (oversized piping bag), mortar and a v-notch trowel.
So there I was, all set with the items I had decided I needed from watching YouTube videos and my Googled instructions. I set right to work.
Step 1: lay out the tiles on you floor. (Hot tip, don't take them off the mesh that they come on.) When you reach the edges of your section use scissors or an exactoknife to cut away unneeded stones. If you find yourself in an area that just doesn't look right you can swap out stones. For example in a corner one stone might be to big but it would also leave too big of a gap if you left it empty, cut out the big stone and on another "tile" or grouping of stones cut out a smaller stone and insert it. Super easy, super simple!
Step 2: Seal your stones. Go to the store and read the different products. Make sure to get one for you specific type of tiles. Follow directions and when dry move on to step 3.
Step 3: Instaling the tiles. Lay your tiles back out on your floor so you know where they are going, then remove a small are of the tiles. In that area you're going to spread a thin layer of mortar with the flat side of your trowel then remove some of it using the v-side. Now press in your tiles. I used my grout float to push the tiles into the mortar at an even height but you could use an old book or anything you have that is flat. Your hand will create hills and valleys as your hand is not flat.
Continue on till your floor is complete. (Hot tip, overlap your float on previous sections and new sections to keep consistency between areas.)
Now all your tiles are installed so we wait....and we wait. Follow your mortar directions to find out how long to let them dry before applying grout.
Step 4: The grout. This part is not the most fun but it is quite rewarding, and very time consuming. Mix your grout to package directions and be prepared, you will need WAY more grout then you would assume you would need. Fill your grout bad with grout and like icing a cake, pip it into all the holes. Work in small sections as to not let the grout dry before removing the excess. I worked in about 2x3 sections. After all holes are filled and filled good (even under the stones) use a damp sponge to remove excess. When my doorway was done I got fresh water and gave it all a very good cleaning, let that dry and did it again.
Now the whole area is completed we have to let that dry and if you live in a very dry climate or it's the middle of summer you need to be careful not to let the grout dry too quickly or it will be more likes to crack. On other blogs and websites I saw recommendations for hourly sprays with a water bottle and tapering off as time went on.
The Fifth and final step other then enjoying your floor is: sealing the grout. You probably need a different sealer then you used on the stones for this but read the labels and follow directions!
Like I previously mentioned it was a very time consuming job but I am very proud to say I did it!
Happy homemaking
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