Tile alignment and leveling device and method for using the same

A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising:

• a shaft having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a plurality of surface features;
• a bottom plate combined with the shaft lower portion;
• a top plate having an opening which is adapted to receive the shaft, said top plate having an upper side and a lower side;
• and
• a locking assembly having an opening adapted to receive the shaft, wherein the locking assembly has at least one locking tongue which is adapted to interfere with the surface features on the shaft so that the locking assembly is movable in a first direction along the shaft but not in a second direction along the shaft.

A method for laying and leveling adjacent tiles using a device having a shaft with a bottom plate secured thereto and a top plate having an upper side and a lower side, said top plate being threaded onto and movable along the shaft, said method comprising:

• applying a setting bed to a substrate material;
• placing the bottom plate in the setting bed;
• placing at least two tiles over the bottom plate so that the shaft extends upward between the tiles;
• moving the top plate downward along the shaft until it is in contact with the tiles;
• leveling the tiles using the device;
• allowing the setting bed to dry;
• and
• removing the top plate and the shaft from the bottom plate.