Tiling Tip #1 Get all of your supplies in one trip

There is nothing worse than running out of adhesive, or being faced with the decision to wipe up the grout with your good towels, or let it dry before it’s cleaned off.

The supplies you will ALWAYS need when tiling are:

Tile (this is the one I used for this project!)

Adhesive (we’ll talk about which one in just a minute!)

3/16″ V-Notch Trowel

Spacers (*depending on the type of tile!)

Grout

Grout Float

Microfiber Towels

Tile Saw and/or Tile Cutter 

Permanent Marker or Wax Pencil

Tape Measure

Level (I always have a larger one and a small one handy!)

Flathead Screwdriver

Bucket

Tiling tip#2: Mastering Tile Quantities for a Seamless Project

As a Cambridge Handyman we’ve got quoting for tiling jobs down to a fine art, here’s our process. Avoid the frustration of mid-project shortages by accurately determining the required tile quantity. Measure the square meters needed by multiplying the height and width of the area. Optimise your planning by plugging these measurements into a practical tile calculator. By specifying your tile size, the calculator provides a precise count for complete coverage. To safeguard against potential challenges like cuts or scraps, I recommend incorporating an additional 5-10% to the calculated amount. This strategic approach ensures a smooth tiling process from start to finish.

Tiling tip #3 Materials

I’ve laid miles of tiles as a Essex Handyman; here’s the way i work. First start with the substrate, or in layman’s terms what surface are you tiling, and assess its condition. You may be able to tile directly onto walls providing they are in good condition, and flat. A word of caution you can’t tile directly onto wooden boards, but more on that later.
If can’t tile directly onto the walls, or you’re tiling a shower or wet room, use tiling boards. These attach to the existing boards making a smooth easy to tile sub base.
Floors are different, if you’re tiling into floor boards you’ll need to cover them with ply or a suitable floor tiling sub base. Remember ply also needs to be sealed with a primer. If you have a concrete floor make good any deviations and seal. It’s worth noting that not all concrete floor are straight and level. Consider a self levelling material to give you the best chance of a beautiful finish.

Next tile adhesive. It comes in two basic formats pre-mixed and dry. The surface and type of tile will inform your choice here.

Lastly Tiles. The exciting part. There are too many choices to mention here but high quality and beautiful tiles can be found at Mandarin Stone and Fired Earth.

Top Tiling Tip # 4 Lay Tiles

This is the tough part. If you’re new to tiling take your time, follow instructions on the materials and tools and stand back to check your work regularly. If it’s too daunting then why not let us do the work. Walden Handyman can advise on design, have links with suppliers, offer free quotes for clients based in Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow, Cambridge, Braintree and surrounding villages.