How to Tile the Front Doorway

Use a measuring tape to locate and mark the center of your front door. Measure ½ the length of one of the tiles. Starting at your center point, mark that same measurement to the right of your center point. Draw a line, with your chalk across the floor of the entryway.

Position one row of your tiles, lining up the right edges of the tiles with the previously drawn line of chalk. Lay the tiles down directly on the floor without adhesive, since you are just testing the tiles to ensure they fit. If your tiles require grout, hold a tile and place it down on its edge between each tile as you lay them down, to act as a spacer.

If a wall is across from your front doorway, lay tiles up to the wall until full tiles no longer fit the remaining space. Measure the remaining space and mark it on the tile needed to fill the spare. You will then need to score a line across the tile and snap it, or cut it with a saw to size it to fit properly.

Lay a row of tiles across the wall where your doorway is located. Ensure the gap between the final row of tiles and both sides of the front door entryway are even.

If you have mosaic tiles or rough-cut stone tiles, lay them across the floor in the desired pattern. Number them with a pencil so that you can easily reassemble them in the same arrangement when you install them.

Start at the center of the room if laying down self-stick tiles, then work your way out to each side of the doorway area. Start at the corner of the room if laying down tiles that require grout. Mix the grout mixture in a bucket with water, according to the manufacturer's directions. Use a trowel to scoop out the mixture and lay it across the floor. Use spacers between the tiles when positioning them in the desired arrangement. Check with a level to ensure the tiles are laid down evenly.