To the inexperienced DIYer, the prospect of tiling the interior of your home can be somewhat daunting. Tiles are often considered to be the ideal surface for kitchens and bathrooms or anywhere that could become damp. Tiles often provide a waterproof surface, whilst looking crisp, clean and being easy to keep clean. Before you tackle any tiling jobs, there are a few things that you must consider.
You should always give some time to choosing the right tiles for you. They should be right in terms of the correct material for your needs as well as suiting the feel of your home. There are plenty of different styles of tile to choose from, so it really is worth shopping around until you find the perfect option. Once you've decided on a style of tile, you need to work out exactly how they will be positioned. Draw up a detailed plan so that you know if you have enough tiles for the job.
You must ensure that the surface that you are going to tile has been 'prepared'. By 'prepared' we mean even and flat. Unless your surfaces are completely even, tiling will be extremely difficult and the end result could look less than appealing. Making sure a wall is even can be relatively tricky if you choose to re-skim the surface. If this sounds like it might be beyond your DIY capabilities, you can always opt to use a plaster board, which will give you an even surface every time.
When it comes securing your tiles to the surface, you will need to use an adhesive to fix your tiles to the surface and then when that is dry, fill in the gaps with a grout. Remember to wash off any excess grout with a damp cloth to give a professional finish to the job.
You will inevitably need to cut some of your tiles down to size. There are several ways in which you can do this. Perhaps the easiest way of cutting your tiles is by using a flat bed cutter. You simply lay the tile on the bed and push the scribe over to score a perfect straight line. Next you place the tile in the cutting jaw and pull the lever to cut the tile.
You should always give some time to choosing the right tiles for you. They should be right in terms of the correct material for your needs as well as suiting the feel of your home. There are plenty of different styles of tile to choose from, so it really is worth shopping around until you find the perfect option. Once you've decided on a style of tile, you need to work out exactly how they will be positioned. Draw up a detailed plan so that you know if you have enough tiles for the job.
You must ensure that the surface that you are going to tile has been 'prepared'. By 'prepared' we mean even and flat. Unless your surfaces are completely even, tiling will be extremely difficult and the end result could look less than appealing. Making sure a wall is even can be relatively tricky if you choose to re-skim the surface. If this sounds like it might be beyond your DIY capabilities, you can always opt to use a plaster board, which will give you an even surface every time.
When it comes securing your tiles to the surface, you will need to use an adhesive to fix your tiles to the surface and then when that is dry, fill in the gaps with a grout. Remember to wash off any excess grout with a damp cloth to give a professional finish to the job.
You will inevitably need to cut some of your tiles down to size. There are several ways in which you can do this. Perhaps the easiest way of cutting your tiles is by using a flat bed cutter. You simply lay the tile on the bed and push the scribe over to score a perfect straight line. Next you place the tile in the cutting jaw and pull the lever to cut the tile.
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