How to Lay Tile

Tiling is a popular home improvement do-it-yourself tasks, and how to lay tile is very handy. A quality finish means preparation and planning. Many homeowners assume they can do it without little or no preparation. If you want a quality result, it is essential to it right. While tiling may seem so easy to "do it yourself",people make do,and skip important steps.

10 of the most common mistakes made during installation:

1 - Preparation and surface.
It is important to clean and prepare a smooth surface which you will be work on thoroughly. Please don't skip this step,as it can lead to an uneven and unstable tiling. Any foreign coatings or wallpaper,should always be removed prior to tiling.

2 - Grouting don't rush it.
Take your time. Spread the grout evenly and slowly, using a support tool like a squeegee. If you try to be too quick and grout a large area, before starting, the grout on far-off spots may dry out before you actually get to tile it. Spreading grout too hastily is also likely to lead to an uneven tiling result. Remove any excess grout immediately, because it will be much harder to do once it has dried up.

3 - Dotting corners,that is adding adhesive spots.
Please don't do this. It actually increases the chance of cracking, because the adhesive shrinks as it dries. People believe that by adding dots of adhesive to the corners they achieve a stronger bond. Adhesive which is thicker in some areas will tend to shrink and add pressure on the tile which may crack.

4 - The wrong adhesive.
This is important, because in humid areas like bathrooms and swimming pools it plays a vital role. Waterproof adhesive is a must. Even well-fitted tiles can let some water through to the adhesive, which will eventually crumble and break with non-waterproof adhesives.

5 - Not using battens.
Battens are thin rods of wood used to line the work up, both in horizontal and vertical directions to help laying in straight lines. Trying lay the tiles without such a tool will often result in positioning mistakes and a generally bad look of the finished surface.

6 - Not fixing mistakes fast enough.
Normally, you will have a few awkward spots. Get someone to look over you work within 6-12 hours as they may spot any mistakes. Get those faults sorted out quickly, as time is against you. The grout will hardened and you have to start over.

7 - Not removing the excess grout.
One of the most common sign of an amateur tiling, is protruding grout. Easy fix.

8 - Miscalculations with the numbers of tiles required.
The first-time tilers, will just buy the exact the number of to tiles cover the area they want to cover. You should get at least 5%-10% more than the minimum to insure yourself against breakage's, miscalculations and difficulties or cutting to size. This also gives you some spare to replace odd cracked ones in future.

9 - Failing to seal the bath tops correctly.
If the gap between the bottom row and the bath top is not sealed, water may leak in, as it runs down the wall. It is recommended, to fill the bath tub before using the sealant. Bath tubs can move significantly when filled with water, which can strain and crack sealant.

10 - The lack of planning.
This is the most important mistake which people make. Yet it is the easiest to avoid. Please don't cut corners. Measure out the surface you need to tile carefully. Curved tile is significantly more difficult, than tiling a flat wall or floor surface. You should plan for 10-15% waste and spare tiles for future replacements. The cutting process can be frustrating and expensive, so the fewer cuts the better. When you lay tile,try to keep it simple.

Have a great project, hope this has helped.

By Malcolm Ross
An additional page or more info
http://www.squidoo.com/howtolaytile

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