Before you start work, if you are removing wall tiles above, around or near sinks, baths, worktops etc, protect these surfaces with several layers of dust sheets, old towels or whatever you have available to avoid the surfaces being scratched. If you are removing wall tiles from above, as an example a bath, extra protection may be needed as a wall tile dropping from height may do a great deal of impact damage on whatever surface it lands on. Start by lining up the edge of the bolster chisel with the tile grout line, angle the bolster chisel as close to the wall as possible and strike the chisel with your hammer (the first tile is usually the hardest to remove), you will soon … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Discoloured Grout
Tile grout, especially in wet and damp areas such as showers and around baths does tend to discolour after a period of time and if left alone will eventually turn black and become very unsightly. I have the same problem in my own bathroom but rather than re-grout the tiles (one of my top three don't want to do it jobs) I tried a grout pen which basically colours the grout white. The discoloured grout should be cleaned as much as possible, I used an old toothbrush and liquid soap with hot water, this takes quite a while but it did remove some of the grout discolouration, then rinsed off the tiles and grout with clean water. Dry the tiles and grout with a … [Read more...]
How to Lay Floor Tiles
Please read tips and advice on the tiling page for tips on tools required, setting out, using a guide rod, cutting tiles and using tile spacers. DIY tip:- To achieve a better finished 'look' to your tiled floor, skirting boards can be removed and replaced after the floor has been tiled to give a cleaner looking edge. To finish the job off, paint your skirting boards to make them look fresh and clean. Just like a wall that is going to be tiled, the floor needs to be clean, solid, flat and free from any loose debris, dust or holes before you start to lay tiles on it. Start tiling from the centre of the room, so measure and mark the centre of each wall and ping a chalk line across the … [Read more...]
How to Tile a Wall
Tiling a wall is straightforward providing the wall has been prepared correctly, I always use a ready mixed waterproof adhesive and plastic tile spacers with a width of around 3 mm, which can be purchased from all tile and DIY stores. The spacers are in the shape of a cross and make tiling a wall a great deal easier, providing the first row of tiles stuck in position are perfectly level (See diagram below). There are two ways to apply the adhesive, a professional tiler will more than likely use a large serrated edge trowel and spread it on the wall surface and then stick the tiles in place, this is a good method but you have to work quickly before the adhesive starts to set and I like … [Read more...]
Setting-Out Before Starting a Tiling Job
Spending a little time on the setting out of your tiling can save you having to make difficult cuts in tiles and improve the overall finished look and layout. Having the first row of tiles perfectly level is the key to a good tiling job, if they are not level you will be making adjustments to tile positions across the whole wall, and it can become frustrating and time consuming. If worktops, floors and bath rims etc, are not level, mark a level pencil line on the wall with a spirit level, this line should allow for the tiles below it to be able to have a cut of at least 1/2" (13mm) to bring them level with the surface below. When you are ready to start tiling, fix a … [Read more...]
How to Drill a Hole in Brick, Concrete or Tile
Whenever you have to drill a hole in brickwork or concrete, whether it's for a fixing or for a pipe/cable to pass through, once you have marked the centre of the hole start drilling using a good quality masonry bit with the hammer or SDS action switched off so the drill bit creates an indentation. You might like: Roundup of 18V Bosch Cordless Drills Then you can continue drilling the hole with the hammer or SDS switched back on without the drill bit sliding all over the wall and removing your centre mark. If the hole you are drilling is larger than 8mm I would start off with smaller drill bits and increase the size, re-drilling the hole each time until you … [Read more...]
