1. Must-knows about tiling and tilers

Tiles have been used in dwellings for centuries. Thanks to technological advances, today tiles are not used just for bathrooms, kitchens, and corridors, but all rooms and outside areas.

1.1. What are the advantages of tiles?

How come tiles are so versatile? Compared to other floor and wall coverings, tiles come with numerous advantages—theyre resistant to the weather, fluctuating temperatures, damp, and chemicals. The choices of shapes, colours, textures, and patterns are endless, and the size can vary from that of a mosaic piece to large formats. Whats more, they excel at conducting heat, so they make a great duo with underfloor heating. Theyre easy to clean and their shelf life is limitless.

1.2. What are the downsides of tiles?

As with all high-quality and sturdy materials, the price is the only issue. The top-notch tiles are a bit pricier than cheap flooring. However, when you consider their life span and the fact theyre almost indestructible if taken good care of, this purchase is definitely worth the money. One of the very few flaws is their impact sensitivity, which makes them fragile. This can be a problem especially with outdoor tiles as cracks allow water ingress and can lead to spalling and breakage.

2. Types of tiles

Tiles vary in physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. They come in different sizes and shapes, theyre water-resistant, they have different thermal conductivity levels, the processing techniques vary, theyre resistant to wear, impact, stretching, bending, dirt, etc. When it comes to the size, there are standard-sized, mosaic, and large-sized tiles. Since different types can be used at different places, we can distinguish between indoor tiles (floor and wall) and outdoor tiles, which differ in characteristics. As far as the material is concerned, tiles can be made of ceramic, which is the most widespread type, but there are also those made of stone, wood, and granite. Ever evolving technology has made tiles versatile and stylish, so youll surely find the right ones no matter if you need them for the bathroom, kitchen, terrace, or another area.

3. How to find a good tiler?

Tiling doesnt seem like a complicated job at first, but the truth is its very demanding in every sense of the word. Youll find many tilers offering their services, but they greatly vary in knowledge, experience, workmanship, and of course, the price. In order for your tiles to last for years or decades, they have to be high in quality and laid by a true professional. When you choose your prospective candidates, send them a list of the works you need and get as many offers as you can and then compare them. Ask those who reply if they can provide you with any references or former customers contact details, so that you can check out their work. When you finally choose one for the job, sign a contract, and get down to work! At daibau.ng you can find contact details of dozens of verified professionals, their references, and customer reviews, all in one place!

4. How to lay tiles

Technically speaking, tiling is not complicated, but it does require patience and precision. If youre doing the shopping on your own, bear in mind that you should add at least extra 10% to the total area size for wastage due to cutting and shaping. Final results mostly depend on how well the substrate has been prepared. Tiles should be laid over an even, hard, dry, and clean surface only. The arrangement depends on the pattern youve chosen, so make sure you find the right starting point. Youll find it by connecting the opposite sides of the room with a rope. The point of intersection is the reference point for laying tiles according to a particular pattern (make a sketch and refer to it during the work or do a trial laying without applying adhesive). If theres no particular pattern on your tiles, just lay the tiles without these preparations. Try to lay them in a way which requires minimum cutting, even in the corners and by the doors. Wall tiles are laid bottom up, in rows. If you dont intend to cover the whole floor or wall, start from the outer edges and move towards the centre. A good tiler can lay most tiles without cutting them.

Before you start laying the tiles, make sure youve got all materials and tools in place, namely: tiles, adhesive, primer, levelling compound, grout, silicone sealant, thinner, a bucket, level, tile cutter, rubber hammer, measuring tape, wire brush, notched or straight trowel, drill, plastic spacers, etc.

Theres also special emulsion which makes the adhesive adhere to the substrate. Let the emulsion dry completely. Tile adhesive should be evenly spread across the prepared substrate. Since it dries very quickly, dont spread it over an area larger than a square metre. Tiles are then laid over the adhesive and secured in place with a rubber hammer, and plastic spacers are placed in between. If needed, tiles are cut using a diamond cutter. Once the process is over, let the glue dry for at least a day. Finally, the spaces between the tiles are filled with grout, which should be left to dry for half a day. For corners, expansions joints, and window/tile joints, use a silicone sealant. If you need to remove hardened leftover material from tiles, use thinner, and then wash the entire bathroom thoroughly. Now your bathroom is ready for use.

5. Whats the correct way od laying outdoor and bathroom tiles?

Special care should be taken when laying tiles outside or in damp rooms. Outdoor tiles are supposed to be resistant to wear and fluctuating temperatures during the day, at night, in the summer and winter. In other words, they have to withstand rain, frost, heat, but also contamination, such as algae and lichen. So, buy the type which is intended for outdoor use. Make sure the overall slope of the tiled area doesnt exceed 2% to allow for proper water drainage. A layer of protective waterproof compound is placed beneath the tiles, but we also recommend this for floor tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. To make tiles resistant to changes in temperature as much as possible, we recommend you use elastic grout rather than silicone sealant, which is also an option, but is not as durable.

6. Tiling

6.1. Bathroom remodelling

Obviously, tiles are mostly used in damp rooms, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. These are also the most commonly renovated rooms because theyre frequently used. Bathroom remodelling is a minor construction work, so it can be done in a few weeks time according to a detailed plan. Remodelling can also include removal of walls, tiles, bathroom fixtures, plumbing, and drains, after which new pipes, lines, and equipment are installed, which can include underfloor, in-wall, ceiling, or radiator heating. This is followed by construction of partition walls and plastering, i.e. preparation of all surfaces to be tiled. The last phase involves plasterboarding, painting, and installation of fixtures and fittings.

6.2. Laying stone tiles

Laying stone tiles is pretty similar to laying ceramic tiles, but there are certain differences. To lay natural or casted stone tiles, you need a hard, dry, and clean surface. There are many different types of stone (marble, granite, etc.) which vary in properties, so there are also special adhesives and grouts accommodating these varieties. So youll need to take extra care when choosing. Also, gluing irregularly shaped stone tiles demands more skill than in case of ceramic tiles, so we recommend you leave this to a professional.

6.3. Laying mosaic tiles

Mosaic tiles require a well prepared substrate and even more precision. Given the tiny size of these tiles, an even and straight surface is a must. These tiles vary in material and shape, so you can choose among ceramic, glass, metal, wooden, natural stone or casted stone tiles. Laying mosaic tiles requires precision, patience, and attention to detail, so its best you dont do this work single-handedly.