When buying tiles, order more than required. A few will likely crack or break during transit or while offloading, that way you have extras and proceed with your project uninterrupted.
Do not destroy the broken tile bits as they will come in handy when you need to cut up some tiles to fit into asymmetrical spaces.
Tiling can be easy to the point you get to DIY or complex and requires a professional Perth tiler to help with the installation.
Detailed in the article as important pointers worth having in mind before getting started.
What tools and materials are required for tiling?
- Tools: tape measure, spirit level, drill, serrated adhesive trowel, tile saw, plumb line, dry or wet tile cutter, rubber grouting float, goggles and gloves, hammer and bolster chisel, screwdriver
- Materials: screws, tile spacers, soft dry cloths, battens, sandpaper, tiles and tile adhesive
General process overview—timeline
Demolition
It’s a no-brainer that you cannot build tiles on top of existing tiles. However, there are a few cases where this is not possible such as the ancient homes where tiles were laid on cement. In such cases, if you break them off the walls, the entire house caves in.
In the case of a renovation, ensure there are no tiles, wallpaper, or past residue on the surfaces. Take out those old tiles using a hammer and bolster chisel. Crack the tile till it pops off. Should you need to cut out brickwork replaster the walls before tiling it further. This is best done through professional help.
Use sandpaper to dust down the walls then apply a sealer. This helps the surface to stay moist for you to apply tile adhesive. Shopping for the right adhesive can be challenging given the multiple varieties on the shelves. A tiling expert can offer guidance here or visit the local supplier with a sample of the tile you intend to use.
Dark adhesives go well with terracotta-styled tiles while lighter-colored ones are suitable for white tiles. For cork tiles, use a different adhesive that acts as glue and dries instead of sticking.
Cutting tiles
Use a tile cutter or drill to cut your tiles to size. Wet cutters have diamond wheels and blades that go into the water and are suited for cutting porcelain. Dry tile cutters can also cut through straight edges with intricate shapes and work on tricky angles using powered wet cutters.
Tiling around the sockets
Switch off your electricity supply from the mains. Then unscrew the wall sockets that are hanging. You want to fit the tiles so they remain tucked behind the sockets without leaving any gap around them. Measure 2cm inside the edge of each socket.
Grouting
Grout is the substance applied between tiles as a sealant. As an adhesive, grout tiles are dried fully in between 24 to 36 hours afterward. The best grout is waterproof and resistant to mold. A good number are retailed pre-mixed. The rubber-faced tool, grout float, is applied over large areas. Spread the grout over your tiles so that it goes across the gaps between the tiles at right angles (like making a cross). A damp sponge helps remove excess but the drying grout helps polish surfaces when using dry cotton rags.
Floor tiles
It’s quite difficult to find red terracotta ceramic floors. Times have changed, and now there’s a wide variety of aesthetic tiles in retail that can achieve any indoor or outdoor design. Anything from rubber, ceramic, and natural stone tiles such as slate, limestone, and marble.
To lay the tiles, you need tile adhesives, tile spacers, tile cutters, toothed spreaders, cloth, sponges, and colored or white grout. Since wooden floors can move, opening up joints in the grouting, a rubber base adhesive is required. If the floor is in really bad shape, use plywood to screw it in place before applying the adhesive.
Before you permanently attach the tiles with adhesive, you arrange them on the floor without any glue or mortar. This will help in:
- Planning the layout—get an idea of how the tiles will look at the end, identify areas where cuts are required, and ensure the tiles are aligned symmetrically.
- See if they fit—check if all tiles fit in the spaces, particularly around the corners, edges, and obstacles such as columns or fixtures.
- Make adjustment—where imperfections are found, and identify any issues with the floor or tiling plan early.
- Reducing waste—by searching for cuts and planning to use your tiles efficiently
After the dry run, make corrections before the actual installation.
Project timelines for a tiling project
We shall inspect the estimated timelines for typical tiling projects while looking at different scenarios:
Small projects—laundry rooms, bathrooms, etc
Bathroom renovation timeline
- Demolition: 0.5-1 day
- Preparation: 1-2 days
- Waterproofing: 1 day (including drying)
- Tiling the floor: 1 day
- Wall tiling: 2-3 days
- Grouting: 1 day
- Seal and finish: 1 day
- Total Duration: 7-10 days
Kitchen area
- Floor prep: 1 day
- Tiling the floor: 1-2 days
- Installation: 1 day
- Grouting: 1 day
- Final details: 0.5 days
- Total duration: 4-6 days
Living areas
- Floor prep: 1-2 days
- Large format tiling: 2-3 days
- Pattern work: 1-2 days
- Grouting with finishing: 2 days
- Total duration: about a week or more if the task is more complex
Estimate project timelines—estimated ranges in totals
- Small backsplash: 1-2 days (preparation and grout included)
- Small bathroom floor (5-8 sqm): 2-4 days (preparation, tiling, and grout included)
- Standard bathroom floor and walls: 7+ days (preparation, tiling, and grout included)
- Large kitchen floor and walls: 4-6 days (preparation, waterproofing, tiling, and grout included)
- Large kitchen floor (20+ sqm): 5-10 days (depending on project complexity, preparation, and type of tiling)
- Outdoor patio (30+ sqm): 7-14 days (highly dependent on weather, preparation day varies)
Factor influencing the timelines
- Condition of the site: if the surface is damaged, uneven, or requires waterproofing, the preparation stage will be longer.
- Climate factors: Outdoor projects in Perth can be subjected to interruptive weather (especially in wet winter) which delays the work significantly. E.g extreme heat, heavy rains, etc.
- Project complexity: If the designs or patterns are complex it extends the time taken for complete installation.
- Material in use: materials such as natural stone will require special adhesives or cutting techniques.
- Availability of tiling experts: The best tilers are often pre-booked and will require scheduling, further adding to the lead times.
What are the common causes of delay?
- Workmanship: sometimes tilers are hard to book, especially during peak times, or unexpected occurrences such as illness.
- Site conditions: Sudden flash floods, damaged flooring or frost issues will require more work before proceeding with the tile installation, modifying your initial estimates.
- Material delays: inconveniences from shipping delays, backorders, or select tiles running out-of-stock.
- Client faults: here clients may abruptly change the types, layout, or patterns on the tiles while adding extras after the project starts.
If you are planning a tiling project (small or large) and need a reliable professional to do the installation while working within your budget—get in contact with Perth tiling pros. Our local experts have built a reputation based on timely scheduling, military precision on quality control, and utmost professionalism.