Tips for Tiling a Bathroom

If you’re thinking about tiling your bathroom yourself, it might be scary, but if you use the correct tools and prepare properly, you can make your bathroom look professional. Here’s a simple guide to help you with your first bathroom tiling project.

Be Safe

Wear safety glasses when removing old tiles or cutting new ones, and use gloves when using tools and adhesives. Before starting, find out where water pipes and electrical wires are in your walls, and turn off water and electricity to the bathroom while working.

Tools You’ll Need

Get a tape measure, a pencil for marking tiles and a tile cutter. You’ll also need tile spacers to keep gaps even, a bucket for mixing, a notched trowel for spreading adhesive and a grout float. Don’t forget a sponge for clean-up and a spirit level to keep everything straight.

Choosing Tiles

For bathrooms, glazed ceramic or porcelain tiles work best, as they resist water. Think about what pattern you want: you could choose a simple grid, brick-style or something more creative like herringbone. Make sure all your tiles have the same batch number to avoid colour differences.

Getting the Walls Ready

Clean the walls completely and fix any holes. The surface needs to be flat, clean and dry before you start tiling.

Adhesive and Grout

Adhesive sticks the tiles to the wall, and grout fills the gaps between tiles. For bathrooms, use waterproof adhesive and grout made for wet areas that can resist mould. Bathroom sealant, like the examples at https://www.ct1.com/product_application/sealing-your-shower-tray-with-bt1-bathroom-sealant/, can seal the edges for a waterproof finish.

Lay the Tiles

Mark where the tiles will go using your level and cut the edge tiles to fit as needed. Apply adhesive in small sections and press the tiles firmly into place with spacers between them.

Finish Up

Let the adhesive dry overnight before grouting. Mix the grout and press it into the gaps with your float. Wipe the excess grout from tile surfaces as you go. After the grout has started to dry, polish the tiles with a cloth for a clean finish.