If you're thinking of giving your bathroom a new look by investing in
some new tiles, don't immediately call in the experts to lay them for
you. Instead, follow our simple guide to tiling your own bathroom,
which will save you plenty of money, as well as allowing you to enjoy a
fun and fulfilling DIY project. After all, even if you have little or
no tiling experience, most bathrooms can be easily tiled in the space
of a weekend.
Choosing your Tiles
You should find a wide selection of tiles in any good hardware store,
so you'll be able to choose from a variety of different colours and
patterns. The amount of tiles required ultimately depends on the size
and shape of your bathroom, so use your common sense to find out how
many you require. Just remember, it's always better to buy too many
tiles rather than too few, as you might damage tiles during fitting.
Preparing to Tile
Before you start to tile, you should ensure that the walls of your
bathroom are clean and dry. It's essential that the walls are stable
and as flat as possible, so you'll have to remove any old bits of
wallpaper, as well as coating any peeling paint with a primer. When
preparing to tile and grout your bathroom, it's also essential that you
protect your bath and sink to ensure damage is kept to a minimum.
Positioning your Tiles
When you're sure that your wall is ready for action, you can then begin
to plan where you'll fit your tiles. Using a gauge stick, you should
mark the position of tiles onto the wall using a pencil. When you've
marked the bottom row of tiles, you should nail a temporary wooden
batten there and use it as your starting point. However, if you happen
to be tiling a wall with an object such as a window, it's best to use
that as a starting point and tile around it.
Putting the Tiles Up
You should use a specialist tile adhesive to stick the tiles up onto
your wall. If the tiles that you're using don't have lugs, you should
put a plastic spacer between each tile to make sure that you will have
enough space for grouting.
Grouting the Tiles
After the tile adhesive has been allowed to harden for 24 hours, you'll
be able to grout the gaps using a silica sand grout. Using a rubber
bladed spreader, apply the grout and ensure that any excess or
spillages are wiped off the surface of the tiles. When the grouting has
dried, you can use a dry cloth to polish up your tiles, before standing
back to admire your handiwork.
There are a number of specialist grouts available; you can buy coloured
silica sand grout that will blend in better with your tiles and take
longer to get dirty. Also, if you're grouting around a tile or bath,
it's essential to use a waterproof grout.
Author: Leah Bransko
Leah is an expert on home DIY projects including bathroom and kitchen tiling. Minerals Marketing is a supplier of mineral fillers. Tile grout is made from silica sands and calcined kaolinte is often used in decorative paints.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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