Ceramic tiles are attractive, hard-wearing and practical. Although excellent for living and dining areas, they are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Quarry tiles can also form a stylish and striking interior surface - but check your joist or sub-floors can take the weight. Here, you´ll see how to cut, fit and finish ceramic tiles.

For wood or concrete, the sub-floor must be clean, dry and even. If you need to cut ceramic tiles:

Use a special tool called a "tile jig". We suggest you hire one rather than buy. Most hardware hire companies will be able to help you. Nail two pieces of wood in parallel to create a "letter box" of the same thickness as your tiles. Mark where to cut on the tile, set that line on the edge of the letter box and snap tile off. Wear safety goggles. Clamp tile firmly and use a hacksaw

For wood or concrete, the sub-floor must be clean, dry and even. Draw chalk lines to quarter the room. Here´s how: Find the mid-point of two opposite walls and draw chalk line Use pencil and string as compass, place loose end in middle of line and mark where circle intersects line. Keep string same length, place loose end on each intersection and mark the two points where circles would intersect.

Draw a line at 90º from two points of intersection

This ensures boards are accurately aligned to walls

Lay a guide batten (a long piece of wood) around the edges of the room. This will help align tiles. Lay out a few tiles before fitting them completely. This lets you check your markers are accurate. If you are laying quarry tiles, soak them in water for a day to make them more adhesive and less absorbent.

Spread enough adhesive for 16 tiles at a time and begin to lay

Once the main tiles are all laid, cut border tiles

Remove the guide battens, if laying a floor Lay a full-size tile on top of an already laid tile at the edge of the floor

Place another tile on top of this tile, but flush with wall Draw a line on the tile you´re going to use as a border, using this top tile as a guide. Cut the tile to fit, sawing or sanding any rough edges. If you are Laying Quarry Tiles

Mix mortar from 1 part cement to 3 parts builder´s sand. Lay mortar, smooth with your wooden board and dust with dry cement. Fill in the tiles between the battens, ensuring that each section is level with the previous one

Once the main tiles are all laid, cut border tiles Remove the guide battens, if laying a floor

Lay a full-size tile on top of an already laid tile at the edge of the floor Place another tile on top of this tile, but flush with wall

Draw a line on the tile you´re going to use as a border, using this top tile as a guide. Cut the tile to fit, sawing or sanding any rough edges