This floor is what we tradesfolk call "cut-up". It means that it's not just one big room, but that it has lots of turns, doorways, etc. This one has ten doors, two different rooms, four hall sections and two closets. AND it's all done in a pattern. The pictures were taken before I gave it the final buff, so you may notice some haze.

Here's the pattern. Both pictures are the same floor, just a different angle so you can see how the pattern works. Daltile calls it the "Hopscotch" pattern.
It is grouted with a special grout that is stain-proof after curing five days. It is harder to install, and requires extra steps during installation. When you install normal grout, you squish it into the joints with a rubber grout float, then use a stiff sponge to spread it around and form the joints. This step also cleans off extra grout, leaving a haze. After it dries, you buff the now dry grout off the tops of the tiles.

Well, TEC XT grout always leaves the same haze, but in my experience, it doesn't buff off. So I come back again the next day, and mix one cup of vinegar to five gallons of water, and sponge it again. The acid in the vinegar breaks down the grout on the tile, making it come off easily. Then I have to sponge it again with clean water to get the vinegar off, because it will continue doing it's job if I leave it on. Extra step, but worth it for Antique White to stay Antique White, and you never have to seal it.





These pictures represent two people, six days worth of labor:

Day 1, demo old floor, which includes three linoleum layers, two plywood layers, and we found out the subfloor is only 7/16" thick. Not strong enough for tile, even with concrete board. Remove doors, toilet and stove.

Day 2, install 1/2" roof span rated 5 ply plywood, glued and nailed down to sure up the floor.

Day 3, install 1/4" concrete board, polymer modifed thinset to floor and nailed.

Day four, install all uncut tiles, leaving the cuts for later. This lets us do a cut up floor in two days because we can walk all over it the next day and install the cuts.

Day 5, install all the cut tiles, these are the ones against the wall, under the doors etc. Anywhere the tile runs into something.

Day 6, grout: Mix, install, sponge, buff, re-install toilet and stove.

Day 7, just me: Vinegar sponge, water sponge, re-install doors. And on the seventh day I rested as well.