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Fitting bathroom tiles can be a satisfying and rewarding DIY project that will enhance the appearance and functionality of your home. It’s not a hugely difficult skill to master, but having said that it can take a little practice and mistakes can spoil the look of the whole project. Here’s a look at some of the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Cutting the tiles to the correct size can be the most difficult element of the project for beginners, resulting in a lot of frustrating cracked or damaged tiles. Use the correct tool for the type of tile you are working with. For example, ceramic tiles are usually less than 15mm thick and can be cut with a tile scorer, tile saw or tile cutting machine.
Porcelain tiles are usually more than 15mm thick and are more delicate than ceramic tiles, so they are best cut with a diamond blade wet-saw tile cutter that will prevent chipping and can handle tiles up to 25mm thick. If you need to cut curved lines to fit around kitchen or bathroom fixtures, it’s best to use a specially designed hacksaw or tile nipper.
If the surface is not correctly prepared it can make it more difficult for the tiles to adhere fully, or to lay in a flat and even position throughout the wall. Before you start, remove any screws, picture hooks, and so on, and any loose plaster or old wallpaper. Wash the wall down with sugar soap solution or another mild detergent and leave to dry out.
Repair any cracks or imperfections in the surface. If the majority of the wall is uneven, consider sanding it down first. If you are fitting tiles to a dry or wooden surface, apply a primer first to ensure that the adhesive is effectively applied. If you are tiling onto raw brick or concrete it is recommended that the wall is rendered or a cement board is used.
If you want to tile an existing tiled area, you can either chisel off the old tiles and prep the wall as above, or tile over the existing tiles. First of all you will need to roughen up the surface with a grinder, or use a specially formulated primer that will provide a gritty surface to help the tiles bond to the wall.
Starting the work without enough attention to the layout of the tiles can result in mismatched patterns that spoil the look of the whole wall; uneven spacing and avoidable cuts and joins. Before starting to apply the adhesive, lay your tiles out to ensure you fit them in the correct order, and use a straightedge or spirit level to ensure a precise alignment.
Start to fit the tiles from the centre of the wall or floor and work your way outwards to ensure there will be no obvious joins or mismatches at eye level.
It is important to use a good quality adhesive that’s suitable for the purpose of the room. For example, in a bathroom it’s recommended to use waterproof adhesive. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure that you mix the adhesive correctly.
Tile spacers are simple tools that ensure your tiles have an even separation distance between them. They will give a much more pleasingly uniform and accurate result than trying to rely on your eye alone to keep the gaps even and consistent.
Applying grout neatly can be a tedious part of the project, but messy grout that has been rushed will compromise the appearance and durability of your tile installation. Take your time, and put some thought into the type and colour of the grout first of all. Sanded grout is generally best for wider joints, and unsanded grout is best for narrower joins.
There is now a wide range of colours of grout available, so you could choose a colour that matches the tiles, or go for a deliberate contrast that can enhance the overall visual impact of the tiles. However, bear in mind that porous materials such as light-coloured natural stone can absorb the colour of darker grouts.
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