How to Lay Paving Tiles
- 1). Measure your patio, driveway or pathway with a tape measure to determine the center. You'll start applying the paving tiles from the center of the surface so that the tiles appear even on all sides of the pavement area and you do not have narrow tiles on one side and wide tiles on the other side. Mark the center with chalk.
- 2). Apply tile adhesive to the back of the first tile, using the trowel, and set the tile into place, centered over the chalk mark. Set a level over the first tile and use a rubber mallet to gently tap the first tile into place on the existing pavement surface.
- 3). Work outward in all directions, placing the tiles in a checkerboard, brick or any other chosen pattern. Use tile spacers to keep all tiles evenly spaced and continue to use the level to set each tile into place level on the bottom surface.
- 4). Place tiles until you reach the edges of the pavement. Leave the edges untouched until you have placed all the other tiles on the top of the paved surface. Set a dry towel over the open spots and use a pencil to draw the necessary cutting lines for each piece. Do one tile at a time, because all tiles along one edge may not measure exactly the same. Cut the tile as necessary with a tile cutter.
- 5). Place the cut pieces of tile into place using the same method as before, with the tile adhesive, rubber mallet and level. Once you finish installing all pieces along the top of the pavement surface, start in any corner and begin filling the cracks between tiles with tile grout. Use a joint tool to smooth the grout into the gaps.
- 6). Cover the sides of the paved surface with tile as well. If the pavement area sits up from the ground, or has a surrounding concrete lip, you may also lay the paving tiles on these surfaces. Measure and cut each tile into the sizes necessary and adhere the tiles into place before filling the gaps with grout.