Common Tiling Mistakes

Article by Olivia Reynold-Smith

Given that there is something of a consensus that tiling is one of the most popular DIY jobs, it may come as no surprise that many homeowners are convinced that they can do it with no real preparation. But there are a number of issues you should consider if you are aiming for a truly quality result. It is generally conceded that it is easy to tell apart make-do tiling solutions from quality tiling solutions. Even if tiling is an activity that requires relatively little education, the best results only come from carefully adhering to a properly considered process. Common mistakes include:

When cleaning the surface on which you will be laying the tiles, do it thoroughly – and smoothen it. Don't forget to remove wallpaper or other foreign coatings.

You could have developed a habit of grouting too unevenly or quickly. Applying grout to hastily may produce an uneven result.

Don't add dots of adhesive to the corners of the tiles! Some people believe that this will create a stronger bond; but the truth is that it increases the chance of the tile cracking – adhesive shrinks as it dries.

Beware of choosing the wrong adhesive – particularly if you are laying tiles in what is normally a humid environment (like a bathroom or a swimming pool). Even fitted tiles are not utterly impermeable; and the water may cause crumbling or breaking if the adhesive is not waterproof.

Using battens helps you to lay tiles in straight lines, avoiding positioning mistakes and therefore preventing a generally bad result.

Not discovering and fixing mistakes quickly enough can be costly. If a misplaced tile is left for more than 24 hours it can be very difficult to fix, when grout will already have hardened.

Buy more tiles than you think you will need (5-10%). That way you will be insured against cracked tiles

Protruding grout is a dead give-away that a tiling solution was done by an amateur; but fortunately, it is relatively easy to fix.

If you are fitting bath tiles, it will likely be a problem if the gap between the bottom row of tiles and the bath top is not sealed properly. Water may leak into it as it runs down the tiles. You should fill the bath before using the sealant.

Insufficient or erroneous planning is the biggest, if most easily avoidable, mistake. Measure properly.