Tiling is one thing every single home DIY “professional” must have a try at, since it really isn’t as tricky as it initially looks. Indeed, there are one or two stumbling blocks to stay away from, though with any luck the following will encourage you to try it, if repairing a small portion of defective tiles or carrying out a whole bathroom revamp.

Choose The Right Tile For The Job

This seems a bit self evident but there are plenty of different quality tiles on the market. For instance, do not try laying large clay floor tiles on the wall surfaces! This too includes using a tile you’re at ease with – sizeable, coarse tiles will more than likely require clipping using an angle grinder. This can be a rather hazardous tool and ought to only be put to use if you’re feeling confident.

Start In The Middle

Don’t believe it’s wise to start out tiling from one side of your wall, or indeed, from your floors upward. Visually, you’ll find it far more appealing to begin tiling from the centre of any walls (or flooring), in order that any ceramic tiles you will need to cut, are going to be totally symmetrical – this is far more pleasing to our eye as opposed to an odd shape on one or more side. The additional advantage to that is the outlines of the wall or floor probably are not even, and therefore at the outset tiling from one of these angles is going to give you uneven lines.

Clipping Tiles For The Edges

It is absolutely likely you will need to cut (or perhaps score and break) tiles to fit around the walls or flooring edges. Dealing with something like cheap bathroom tiles, just score the tiles utilizing a tile scribe, which allows you to then just break it along the preferred line. In case you are using a heavier tile (the clay floor tile as an example), you are going to need a motorized tile cutter. After a little attention, they’re far faster and deliver a more efficient way of getting through a heavier tile. It is important to observe all health and safety guidance that your cutter machine is sold with.

As for calculating the size that you need – you don’t need a tape measure! The key is to fix the tile you wish to trim into the space where it’ll go, overlapping the current tile. Do this with the back of the tile towards you – you’ll be able to simply draw off the overlap with a pen or pencil, to provide the line to slice along. Simple.

If you want to cut the tile in 2 directions, i.e. for the corners, you may either cut it using a motorized saw, or scribe it as already mentioned and try a tile nibbler to take out small bits from the unwanted area.