A step by step guide for this DIY project
Kitchen and bathroom wall tiles are a durable, long-lasting, aesthetically appealing option for DIY projects. Once you learn how to tile and get to know some basic tiling tips and tricks, laying tile can be a fun, inexpensive DIY project that enhances your home’s appearance. Once you learn how to tile a bathroom or kitchen, there are many kitchen and bathroom wall tile ideas you can try that improve the feel, function and value of your home. Tiles come in so many styles and colours, meaning your design options are endless.
Several factors determine how long it takes to tile a room. The room size, type and style of tiles used, and the complexity of the design you want to create all play a role in determining how long tiling a room takes. Additionally, whether you have experience tiling or not will affect the time it will take to complete a project. It will take most people a couple of days to complete a tiling job due to the preparation and drying time required.
There are several tools you will need when retiling a bathroom or kitchen wall, floor or counter. They include:
To calculate the number of tiles you for the job, measure the length and width of the area you will be tiling. Multiplying those numbers by each other give you the area’s square meterage. Add 15% to cover cuts, waste and broken tiles. Divide the area’s total square metres by the square metres covered by the tiles in a box of the tiles you choose. This will tell you how many tiles you need.
Put a little water and some grout powder in a clean bucket and mix it until it has toothpaste consistency. Use a grout float to the spread the grout on the tiles in a diagonal motion. Make sure all the joints are filled with grout. When the grout starts to set, use a damp sponge to clean the tiles’ excess grout.
When installing tiles over electrical outlets, turn off the outlet’s power. Outline the electrical outlet’s exact size and shape on the tile with a pencil using a tape measure. Use a clamp to fasten the tile on to a piece of plywood. Using a drill with a diamond-coated bit, drill a hole on each of the 4 corners of the lines drawn on the tile. Using a saw, plunge cut from one hole to the next. Remove the cut section of tile. Use tile nippers to clean off and smoothen all rough areas. Add adhesive to the cut tile, put it in place over the electrical outlet and let it dry.
You can put new tiles over old ones to save time, money and hassles when retiling. However, don’t do so if the existing tiles are loose, lifting, damaged, or uneven. Even if you have the best tiles for bathroom walls, the new tiles will have all of the same problems. Plus, they may not adhere properly to the old tiles, and the added height can prevent cupboards and doors from opening and closing correctly.
Tiling a wall or an entire room can take some time and requires a lot of attention to ensure it is straight and neat. It might be worth your time to hire a professional tiler to get the job done to make sure the finished product is of high quality.
When hiring a tiler, make sure to research that they are properly licenced and qualified. It’s also a good idea to ask friends and relatives for some local tilers’ names with whose work they are familiar and impressed.
The Oneflare Cost Guide Centre is your one-stop shop to help you set your budget; from smaller tasks to larger projects.