There’s nothing better than having one’s floor tiled or stoned. Natural stone can give rooms the most satisfying appearances. Renowned for not being the easiest material to work with… what it lacks in usability, it gains in appearance.
Laying floor tiles used to be researched for skilled tradesmen and women. However, with the introduction of an increasing number of do-it-yourself consumer goods vendors, many people are opting to do their own tiling. It’s not as hard as it looks — the key to a nice tiling job is planning and tools, with a dash of skill.
When starting any tiling project, always start by planning the tiling pattern — this will save you a lot of time and will result in a higher quality finish. What do we mean by ‘planning’? With any tiling project, there will be a pattern, this can be anything you like. For example, some people like tile rows to overlap, in contrast, some prefer their tiles to be parallel.
Another consideration is tile pattern. With today’s technology, there are tons to choose from. Tiles vary in size from less than 300mm by 300mm to bigger than 600mm by 600m. Shapes vary also: square, rectangular, triangular, and even round tiles are available. A word of warning… obscure shapes present a significant and unique challenge. Materials: Tiles are available in ceramic, slate, plastic, glass, metal, and much more! The choice is literally yours… but note, some materials are easier to work with than others. Also, you need to pay careful consideration to where you will be placing the tiles… plastic won’t goes well near a heat source… like an oven. Textures range from matt, to gloss, to shiny, to reflective. Again, be mindful of what you need the tiles for and where you intend to place them.
Another consideration is adhesive. We strongly recommend against using the cheapest you can find. Why? Because it tends to either not apply well and/or not stick tiles well or both! Conversely, premium products can also be avoided as they present poor value. The only exception if you intend to fit under-tile heating… then you’ll need to use flexible adhesive, which is relatively expensive. Note, applying adhesive has a method also. One must use the correct tools to ensure tiles are laid straight and spaced consistently. Having inconsistently spaced and uneven tiles are such an eye sore!
Grout is critically important. It keeps dirt from getting between your newly laid tiles. It also provides a nice finish when done correctly. Finally, the grout actually strengthens the tiles, especially the edges — preventing them from breaking. Grout like tiles, comes in different colors and serves different purposes. Typically grout is black or white… however, you will be able to find any shade in between or mix your own.