How to Lay Tiles in Container Houses

The laying of tiles in container houses requires a combination of ground treatment, selection of laying methods, and control of construction details. The specific steps are as follows:

I. Ground Foundation Treatment

The bottom beams (I-beams or channel steels) of container houses have a small contact area with the ground, and direct laying can easily lead to uneven settlement. First, remove the loose soil and debris from the ground and compact the original soil layer. For long-term fixed use scenarios, a concrete strip foundation (with a width of 30-50 centimeters and a depth adjusted according to the frost layer) should be poured. The horizontal error of the foundation top surface should not exceed 5 millimeters. For short-term use scenarios, pre-fabricated concrete pads or steel pads can be used, with a spacing of no more than 2 meters. A crushed stone leveling layer should be laid under the pads to ensure that the stress points are level.

II. Selection of Laying Methods

1. Dry Laying Method

   • Applicable Scenarios: Dry areas such as living rooms and kitchens.
   • Key Operating Points:
     • Mix cement mortar in a ratio of 1:3, knead it into a ball, and spread it on the ground with a thickness of 3-4 centimeters.
     • Apply cement mortar evenly on the back of the tiles, lay them, and then tap them firmly with a rubber mallet to reduce the risk of hollowing.
     • Advantages: High flatness, fast construction speed, suitable for large-sized tiles (such as 800mm×800mm).

2. Wet Laying Method

   • Applicable Scenarios: Wet areas such as bathrooms and balconies.
   • Key Operating Points:
     • Apply a paste-like cement mortar on the ground and lay the tiles directly. Strict control of the ground flatness is required.
     • Advantages: Saves ground thickness and is suitable for small-sized tiles (such as 300mm×300mm).

3. Tile Adhesive Method

   • Applicable Scenarios: Areas with high requirements for waterproofing and load-bearing.
   • Key Operating Points:
     • Use a special tile adhesive instead of cement mortar and apply a thin layer on the back of the tiles. It has strong bonding force and is water-resistant.

III. Key Construction Steps

1. Layout Design

   • Measure the indoor dimensions and perform computer or manual layout according to the tile specifications (such as 600mm×1200mm). Reserve a 2mm gap (leave a 5mm gap at the joints with the walls).
   • Try to hide the non-whole tiles under furniture to reduce waste.

2. Trial Laying and Adjustment

   • Lay the tiles in reverse from the balcony or the entrance door. After confirming the starting position, dry-lay the tiles and check if the size of the half-tiles is reasonable.

3. Laying and Fixing

   • After leveling the walls, hang a plumb line to determine the out-of-wall dimensions and set up a horizontal line and support boards.
   • Lay the tiles in order and tap them lightly with a shovel handle or rubber mallet to ensure that the cement mortar fills the gaps.

4. Grouting and Acceptance

   • Perform grouting 24 hours after the laying is completed. Check for hollowing (the hollowing rate of a single tile should be ≤5%) and flatness (the error within 2 meters should be ≤2 millimeters).

IV. Precautions

• Moisture-proof Treatment: Container houses are prone to moisture. It is recommended to apply a waterproof coating on the ground before laying the tiles.
• Expansion Joints: When laying tiles over a large area, reserve expansion joints every 6 meters to prevent cracking due to thermal expansion and contraction.
• Material Selection: Prefer tiles with a low water absorption rate (such as polished tiles with a water absorption rate of ≤0.5%) to prevent water seepage.