Tiling Tips & Tricks
Here are some tiling tips and tricks which are useful when you are learning to tile. There are a large range of tools that are designed for measuring, cutting and applying materials to surfaces.
- Wet Tile Cutter
- Dry Tile cutter
- Tile Spike
- Cutting and Snapper
- Tile Nibblers
- Circular Tile Cutter
- Tile Saw
- Tile Mitre
As with all construction trades it is important to keep all your tools clean at all times. This involves washing continuously to avoid the adhesives or grout drying up on the tools. Other tools you will need to use include:
- Adhesive Trowel for Walls and Floors
- Adhesive Spreader for Tiles
- Profile Gauge
- Grout rake
- Grout Shaper
- An Indelible Pen
- Grout Spreader
- Sponge
The two trowels used are for two different tasks, one for the floor (10mm edges) approx and the one for the walls (5mm edges) the reason why you would use two separate trowels is to because floor tiles are generally a lot heavier and need more adhesive than wall tiles.
Other accessories that will be required:- Spacers
- Spirit Level
- Measuring Jig
- Tape Measure
- Grout Shaper
Stages in Tiling
- Attaching The Battens
- Placing The First Tile
- Measuring to Fill Gaps and Corners
- Applying Cut Tiles
- Grouting Tiles
Materials
- Adhesive. Powdered and ready-mixed varieties are available, but the latter are more expensive.
- Adhesive and Grout. This useful dual-purpose substance acts as both and adhesive and a grout. Close the lid between stages to prevent drying out. Ideally used for small repairs..
- Grout. Mix powdered grout with water to form a paste. Only mix as much as you can use in an hour, so that it does not go off.
- Epoxy Grout. This is difficult to apply but makes a hygienic seal for joints on tiled kitchen worktops.
- Grout Protector. This liquid sealant stops the grout discolouring and Keeps the finish clean. Leave grout to dry fully before application.
- Grout reviver. Apply this paint-like substance to old grout to restore its finish. It is available in white and a range of neutral colours.
- Silicone Sealant. Use this for a waterproof seal between tiles and a work surface, bath, wall, or floor.
Methods for Tiling
- Method. Work from horizontal batten up to ceiling, or working to cover the floor area. Most surfaces have obstacles that interrupt the run of tiles and make tiling more complicated. Many of the problstrongs that obstacles present can be dealt with by carefully planning your tile layout. Ideally the obstacles would be moved if possible with just the supply pipes in place.
- Attaching the Batten. Nail a horizontal batten to the wall at your chosen starting point. Use the spirit level to keep it straight, and use a cable detector to check for cables before fixing the nails. Place a vertical batten at the edge of your design, marking the start of the first vertical row of complete tiles. Nail the second batten at right angles to the first.
- Applying Adhesive. Apply the adhesive with a spreader, pushing it into the right angle created by your battens if working on the wall. Make sure you use correct adhesive for floors depending on whether your floor is concrete or wood. Cover 1sqm at most at a time. Spread adhesive by pulling the trowel's serrated edge through it several times if necessary to make sure it is even.
- Adding Tiles. Add tiles, building up the levels as you progress across the wall, adding spacers between the tiles. Use a spirit level to check regularly that the rows are straight.
- Lowest Wall Tiles. Allow the completed area of tiles to dry fully - for at least 12 hours but ideally overnight. Then rstrongove the horizontal batten by levering out the nails with a claw hammer.
- Applying Cut Tiles. Mark the measurstrongents on a tile using a water based felt tip pen. If you have planned correctly, you will need approximate half tiles, rather than slivers.
- Grouting Tiles. After tiling let the tiles dry for at least 12 hours then use a spreader to press the grout into the joints between tiles to waterproof the wall and give a neat finish. Rstrongove any protruding spacers. Wearing gloves use a damp sponge to wipe off excess grout while it is still wet. Take care to avoid rubbing the grout out of the joint. Check the spacers are covered. Finally use a grout sharper to neaten the grout line.
- Using Silicone. Apply masking tape 2mm from each side of the joint. This will ensure that the sealant will have straight edges when finished. Cut the nozzle of the sealant tube at an angle, so that the diameter of the opening is slightly wider than the gap that needs sealing.
Look at our tiling courses for more information.
