Dos and Don’t to Remember During DIY Tile Installation

If you don’t want to hire a professional tiler, and want to install tiles on your floor by yourself, you will need to take care of a lot of things during the project. It will help you save a big amount, which you can invest in buying superior-quality, more beautiful tiles.

Before we begin with the dos and don’ts pointers, remember: if you have no idea about tiling or haven’t taken lessons from an experienced professional or DIYer, don’t do it yourself alone. Ask someone who has some experience in DIYing before gearing up for the project.

DIY Tile Installation: Dos

• • • Measure the area before buying tiles for your project. Doublecheck the measurements. Calculate the number of tiles required for tiling based on these measurements. It is always a smart decision to order 10% extra tiles.
    • Cut tiles with a professional tile cutting tool. Don’t use pliers or anything else for this purpose; you will end up damaging most of your tiles this way.
    • Mix the tile adhesive/mortar and grout following the instructions given on the label or on the bag.
    • Use self-leveling compound to level the subfloor and make sure that tiles are installed on a perfectly flat and level surface.
    • Work with the right-size trowel according to the size of your tiles.

DIY Tile Installation – Don’ts

• • • Don’t install tiles on just any surface. The health of subfloor is key to a long-lasting tile floor. Make sure it is strong, level, and doesn’t have cracks and depressions.
    • Don’t finalize your tiling pattern or layout at the last moment. Have a clear idea about it even before buying tiles.
    • Don’t use tile adhesive as grout for filling tile joints.
    • Likewise, don’t use grout paste for applying tiles on your floor. Both grout and thin set/adhesive are two different things made for two different purposes.
    • Don’t leave thin set mortar, tile adhesive, and grout on tile surface after installation. Clean it after 15 to 20 minutes after installation with a soft sponge or wet cloth.

This blog has been brought to you by MosaicsAndTile.com, one of the leading tile suppliers in US.