This is the DIY Tiling Advice Forum for Do-it-Yourself Tile Fixers across the country. Find fast free DIY tiling advisers on Tilers Forums today and get that DIY tile job done and dusted before the next week!
Things to note when seeking advice as a DIY tiler
Tiling is a rewarding home improvement project that many homeowners take on as a DIY task, aiming to save money and gain a sense of accomplishment. While it may seem like an easy job, tiling requires careful planning, preparation, and precision to achieve a polished result. As with any DIY project, it is crucial to understand the complexities involved to ensure a durable, aesthetically pleasing finish. Seeking advice from professional tilers can make a significant difference in the outcome and prevent costly mistakes.
One of the first things to consider when embarking on a tiling project is surface preparation. Properly preparing the area is essential for ensuring the tiles adhere well and last over time. Professionals have the knowledge to assess the condition of the floor or wall, identify any underlying issues such as uneven surfaces, dampness, or structural problems, and recommend the necessary steps for proper preparation. They also know which adhesive and grout will best suit your tiles and environment, ensuring a secure installation. DIYers, on the other hand, might not have the expertise to choose the correct materials or perform the necessary surface treatments, which can lead to tiles not sticking properly or the grout failing prematurely.
Another reason professional tilers are invaluable is their experience with cutting and laying tiles. Tiling requires precision, particularly when it comes to fitting tiles around edges, corners, and other obstacles. A slight miscalculation can result in uneven lines or awkwardly placed tiles, affecting the overall look of the space. Professionals have the right tools and techniques to make these cuts accurately, ensuring the tiles are aligned perfectly. DIYers often lack the specialized tools that ensure clean and precise cuts, leading to uneven grout lines or imperfectly fitted tiles.
Furthermore, tiling is not just about aesthetics; it’s also about ensuring the tiles are installed in a way that supports long-term durability. Professional tilers understand the importance of working with the natural expansion and contraction of materials and the effects of temperature fluctuations. They know how to leave the right amount of space between tiles for grout and how to adjust for any imperfections in the subfloor or wall. If not addressed, these factors can cause tiles to crack, grout to deteriorate, or tiles to shift over time.
Additionally, professionals can provide guidance on design decisions. With years of experience, they can help homeowners select the right tile patterns, colors, and layouts to complement the space and achieve the desired visual effect. They can offer advice on the best placement of feature tiles and help create a balanced and attractive design. A well-laid tile pattern requires expertise to achieve the intended visual appeal, which DIYers may not always be able to replicate without professional input.
In conclusion, while DIY tiling projects can be fulfilling, it is essential to recognise the value of professional advice and expertise. Professional tilers ensure that the work is done right, the tiles are securely installed, and the final result is both functional and beautiful. Seeking their guidance can prevent costly mistakes, save time, and guarantee a more durable, long-lasting tiling installation.
These are the latest 20 DIY tiling advice discussion threads on Tilers Forums
- Hi everyone. After a bit of advice / suggestions before I embark on tiling my bathroom floor. It’s on 1st floor with floorboard subfloor (see pics). It’s relatively flat but runs out of level by about 10mm at the door (presumably because there’s a thermalite wall held by joists that side. My initial plan was […]
- Hi all, I have started on our downstairs loo, found lots of bodged pipework in the wall which I have now sorted. The wall is a stud wall and have replaced the plasterboard on the lower half of the wall, added ply between the studs for securing the sink etc. Happy with that. As the […]
- Hi, new here. Anyone got any advice on best practices for tiles that aren’t square? They’re going on a wall. See photos.
- Hello I've trawled forums and read the Mapei Primer G packaging etc but not sure I've got 100% comfort on this one and hopefully it's basic… Is this product suitable for bare brick/masonry walls? Most documentation seems to refer to plaster/plywood/screeds etc so just want to be clear. Essentially I am looking to prime the […]
- Hi, hoping someone can help with advice. We purchased 600 x 600 tiles for our bathroom floor, and 300 x 600 rectified tiles for our bathroom walls. We are using a satin white on the walls, and a charcoal tile on the back wall of the double shower as a feature wall. The charcoal tiles […]
- Hey everyone, I’m getting ready to install tile on a small patio area and ran into a bit of a hiccup. The existing concrete base has a few low spots not huge dips, but enough that it might mess with the tile leveling. A concrete contractor I worked with before (he helped me with a […]
- Hi everyone, I’m working on a tiling project over an old concrete slab, and I’m running into some concerns about adhesion and long-term durability. The slab itself is structurally sound, but there are a few hairline cracks and some slightly uneven areas that have me wondering about potential problems down the line. Here’s the situation: […]
- Hi, does a decoupling mat need to be sealed? Do I seal nothing, kitchen area only or all of it? Cheers!
- I'm just wondering how to tile round an internal corner in terms of how to butt the tiles up to the wall. As they say, a picture says a thousand words, so should I go for A or B: And whichever option I go for, am I right in thinking that I'd need to caulk […]
- Hi Im looking for some suggestions/advice on how to tile a wall outer corner with the following border tile, images attached below. Can anyone recommend the best finish for these? Thanks.
- I'm planning on tiling my porch, and the tiles and adhesive will take up around 13mm of height. The porch is currently back to the concrete slab, which is around 70mm below finished floor height. This means making up 50-60mm of height. This seems too thick for bonded screed, and too thin for an unbonded […]
- I hope you can help we are trying to source (for a match) some 300mm by 300mm matte white taco tiles with a black insert. We are finding this hard as a lot of the websites we find seem to have 200mm by 200mm or 316mm by 316mm. I have attached some photos for reference […]
- Hi – I ripped up laminate flooring on a concrete subfloor. It was my first DIY project and instead of using mortar to even out any glue that was stuck on or sand off, I used a thin layer of self leveler. I mixed it correctly but for some reason still wasn’t level so I […]
- Beginner DIY Tiler, I'm contemplating drilling (with ceramic tile carbide tipped drill bits) then using a hand saw with tungsten blade to cut the required piece out. Would this work okay? I don't think using a wet saw, which I do have to do this would feel comfortable and using a manual saw you can […]
- Hi, Looking for advice mainly on how much adhesive I should remove from between the tiles in a shower before grouting. I stupidly didn't remove a lot of it before it thoroughly dried, and while there is room to put grout in the gaps between tiles over the adhesive (in other words, the adhesive doesn't […]
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