Making improvements to customize your home is one of the greatest joys of home ownership. A quick coat of paint, a new door, new lighting fixtures, can all make a big difference in the look and feel of a space and are all things that you can do yourself with relative ease to customize your space and reflect your personality.
But what about bigger projects like retiling your shower or installing new tile floors? Should you DIY those projects or should you leave it up to professionals?
Because tiling demands high precision, attention to details and knowledge of the appropriate setting systems, A B Tile & Stone always recommends entrusting these projects to a professional tiler, but if the perfectionist in you feels ready to rise to the challenge, here are some common tile installation mistakes and how to avoid them when retiling your Edmonton home.
Inadequate Planning
Many people subscribe to the “no practicing, just doing” motto, which can be a good way to approach less permanent projects, but a little preparation and practice goes a long way when it comes to tile installation. Things like figuring out how to use spacers, how many tiles you can fit in one row, and which tile to place where are all factors that you should figure out before you start your installation. By laying out your tiles in the exact layout and space needed, you can avoid nasty surprises like realizing that you’ve created an awkward pattern or that some tiles will need to be cut to fit perfectly on your wall or floor.
There are many types of setting mortars, shower waterproofing and other materials on the market. Knowing what can be used where, as well as the best types to use are very important in planning out your project.
Leveling
Retiling a floor can be a slippery slope, especially if you’re not consistently using a level. Whether your floor is already sloped or completely straight, not using a level throughout your installation can cause unevenness in your brand new surface. If your floor is sloped to start with, it’s also important to know that you will need to even it out with something like a self-leveling compound before you do anything else.
Large Surface
Tiling takes longer than you think, and a mistake that a lot of homeowners make when retiling on their own is to underestimate how long it really takes and preparing a large surface. While thin-set – the mortar used to affix tiles – has a curing time of 24-48 hours, it is dry to the touch rather quickly. If you prep too big a surface, you run the risk of your thin-set drying before you can lay down your tile, requiring you to scrape it off and start over. Save yourself time and hassle by working in small sections.
Improper Tools and Technique
Having the proper equipment can make all the difference between a successful tile installation and a shoddy one. Not having enough spacers for your entire installation, choosing the wrong product for the use it will have, picking a notched trowel that is too shallow for the size of your tile, not back-buttering large tiles, not using enough thin-set, not using a wet saw to cut tiles are all seemingly small things but that can lead to issues such as unstable, crooked, or cracked tiles.
Should I Just Trust a Pro?
There is no denying it: Retiling a shower, a floor, or a backsplash is not a small project and it can be intimidating. While many people have been successful doing it themselves, enlisting the help of a professional can take the stress out of it and guarantee the best results possible. At A B Tile & Stone, we put our 40+ years of experience to work for Edmonton homeowners, offering quality products, professional advice, and elite installation services. If you decide to do it yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out with any installation questions when you purchase your tile from AB Tile & Stone.
Shop tiles online or contact us to discuss how our team can help you with your tiling project.