In bathrooms renovations there are lots of different parts that have to come together in the right order. There are details when it comes to tiling too. Often people choose their tiles and then feel like the hard work is done, but there are still things to stay on top of. If you’re doing a larger renovation, many of these will be managed by your builder, but if you’re managing your own tiler, these things are important to think about.
Your Tiler’s Qualifications
Make sure your tiler is qualified. It can make a big difference. A tiler that is well-trained, neat, and professional is going to do a much better job than slap-and-dash. And you're less likely to encounter mistakes or problems. The old rule of ‘you get what you pay for’ applies here. If your tiler’s quote for the job sounds too cheap, then it probably is.
Check Before Tiling
Check everything has been done properly before tiling. Is the plumbing in the right place? Is the electrical were it should be? Has the waterproofing been signed off? Is the heated flooring installed properly? Sounds kinda obvious but these things have to be right before the tiles go over the top.
Pattern and Layout
There are loads of different patterns you can lay your tile in to achieve different looks. You need to communicate this to your tiler. You can show them images or do a little drawing, anything to be clear. Also make sure your tiler knows which tile goes where. Again, seems simple but the last thing you need is your feature tile going on the wrong wall!
Setout
This often confuses people, but if you don’t think about it, you can be disappointed . Setout is different to tile pattern and layout. It means working out the areas to be tiled using actual tile sizes, including the grout width. For example, you might want the wall tap to be centred on a tile, so the tiler has to work out how to start at the floor level to achieve this further up the wall. Or you might have long tiles and you don’t want tiny little cuts in one corner, so the tiler has to balance the setout with half-cuts at each end.
Tile Mix in the Box
Sometimes there are shade variations in boxes of tiles. A good tiler will therefore mix up the tiles from different boxes to spread the variation around. It also helps if all your tiles have come from the same batch. Ask this question when you purchase them and check the batch numbers on the box when they arrive.
Tile Faces
This means how many different patterns are printed on the tiles. For example, a tile that’s designed to look like marble needs more faces to look good because it’s mimicking the variation in natural stone. This can vary from one face on really basic tiles, to up to 30 in premium ranges. You should ask about faces before you buy your tiles, but you also need to talk to your tiler when laying them. Encourage them to separate matching faces for a more realistic look. A tile with only five faces can still look good if it is laid well.
Edges and Corners
Think about this long in advance; before you even sign on with your tiler. I always recommend mitred edges. They look so much better than metal edge trims! But mitred edges take more effort from the tiler, and therefore they cost more, so you have to make sure this gets included in your quote from the start.
Grout
It’s often an after-thought but it it’s important because it can really change the look of your room. Use a contrasting grout to emphasise the tile pattern, or match the grout to the tile for a more seamless look. Make sure your tiler is using the right colour grout – check it’s the one you actually specified. Some tiles require more or less grout width. Talk to your tiler about what you want.
How Neat are They?
This is an interesting one because no tradie wants you to watch over their shoulder. But you may have already noticed that good trades clean up after themselves. For a tiler: check they protect your tapware before wiping abrasive grout around it. Cover your bath so they don’t scratch it when they climb in. Another subtle but important thing: ask them not to wash waste down your drains. Grout waste will block your drains and you can imagine what a headache that is, long after the tiler has left site.