The Homeowner’s Guide to Bathroom Tiling

If you have decided to extend your handyman skills and take on a bathroom renovation, this article will help you no end, as it offers useful information about tiling, an essential part of any bathroom make-over. Tiling is an art and it is understandable if you have reservations, although with so many YouTube videos that cover tiling step by step, you really can’t go wrong.

Types of Tiles

There are various types of tiles used in building today, with ceramic and porcelain both common choices, while natural stone tiles are preferred for flooring, with granite, marble and travertine popular for bathroom floors. Ceramic tiles are perfect for wall decoration and by visiting the Amber Tiles website, you can view a wide range of tiles to suit all environments, and with free delivery on most items, and ordering your tiles and grout from the same supplier makes things easier. Terracotta tiles are created by firing clay at very high temperatures and are quite heavy due to the density of the tiles, and make for an excellent floor covering.

The Right Tools

Like any home improvement project, it is essential that you have the right tools for the job when tiling a bathroom, with items like the following:

· Tile cutter – A device that allows you to cut tiles in a straight line, with a butt to fit the tile into and an arm that slid across the tile with a sharp blade to score a line. The tile cutter is essential as it allows you to fit tiles perfectly by cutting to exact sizes.

· Scrapers – A painter’s scraper can be used to clean off substrates, while also used to mix and apply tile grout.

· Spirit level – A small level should be used to ensure a straight and level line when fixing tiles onto the wall or floor.

· Grout buckets – A couple of old paint pots would suffice, something in which to mix grout, plus they can be filled with water for cleaning tools.

· Adhesive mixer – This tool resembles a plasterer’s trowel, used to spread tile adhesive prior to applying the tiles. A small trowel could be used for applying and mixing grout, which is an essential component to tiling.

· Rubber hammer – This allows you to gently tap the tiles into the right position, and a wooden mallet would also suffice, as gently tapping down floor tiles is necessary to create a seal between the tile and the adhesive.

Tile Spacers

It is vital that you use tile spacers, as they make sure the space between the tiles is always identical, and they are small plastic squares, which can be purchased at any hardware store. Once the tiles have bonded, the spacers can be removed and used on another section.

It is important to keep the workplace clean and tidy, and you should have sponge and some clean, dry cloth, to wipe away excess grout at the end of the job. If you need any help, there are many YouTube videos that take you through tiling in a step by step way.