- 1). Clean out any cracks or holes in the concrete surface using the edge of your trowel. Scrape out any loose material, so only solid surfaces remain.
- 2). Fill the cracks and holes with cement floor patch. Smooth it out with the trowel.
- 3). Snap two intersecting lines over the center of the floor with your chalk snapline, from the middle of each edge of the floor to the middle of the edge across from it, dividing the room in four equal squares meeting in the middle.
- 4). Spread thin set mortar over a few square feet of the floor, at the middle, in one of the four corners formed by the intersection of the lines.
- 5). Press the first slate tile at the intersection of the lines, in the corner. Add a second tiles next to it, lining up the edges and putting two spacers between them.
- 6). Repeat, laying additional tiles off the first two and building out from the middle of the floor toward the edges. Spread additional thin set as necessary. Cover the whole floor.
- 7). Measure the spaces that remain off the ends of the last full tiles by the walls. Use a wet saw to cut slate tiles to that size, minus ¼ inch, to create a small gap around the perimeter. Set them in mortar with the cut edges facing the walls.
- 8). Let the tiles set 12 hours. Pull out the spacers.
- 9). Use a grout float to press grout into the spaces between the tiles, scraping it off the surface. Use a damp sponge to wipe up the excess grout. Let it set 24 hours.
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