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DIY Tiling

Tiles come in a variety of materials. The most common being ceramic but the range varies from marble to granite. The expensive tiles usually require special treatment so we shall stick to the standard tiles. While we have your attention please note that wall tiles are usually 3mm and floor tiles are 6mm thick. You can use a floor tile on a wall but not the other way round!

Tile Regrouting:

• When the grouting between tiles becomes grazed or discoloured, it is best to remove it and regrout
• Use a pencil-point tile-cutting tool to scrape out hard grout, and a piece of bent wire if the grout is soft
• Be careful not to chip the tiles
• When all the old grout is out, brush away all the loose dust with an old toothbrush and treat the cracks with a fungicide to prevent mould growth
• Press the grout into the cracks and wipe any excess grout away with a damp cloth
• Leave until dry, and polish with a soft cloth.

Tools Required:

Setting Out:

• Marking pencil
• Chalk line
• Tape measure
• Spirit Level - for both leveling and use as a straight edge

Doing The Work:

• Tile cutter
• Tile nibbler - used for cutting irregular shapes OR
• Tile saw is a blade that fits into a hacksaw for cutting irregular shapes measure Tile file
• Adhesive "spreader"
• Grout spreader Squeegee
• Bucket - for mixing adhesive if not using ready-mix adhesive (be prepared to throw this bucket away afterwards)

Repairs:

Materials Required:

General tips and hints:

• When tiling walls and floors together first do the floor tile and then the walls, this will hide the cuts on the floor tile.
• For tiling on different or alternative backgrounds consult your nearest National Tiles store. When buying tiles, it is a good idea to buy extra tiles for future use as replacements.
• To avoid slight shade differences between boxes, shuffle and mix the tiles together.
• The physical finish of some tiles is directional and if this is not immediately obvious, check to see if there is a laying direction arrow on the underside.