the unique tile leveling system
Wall Tiling Where to Start. Tiling Tips and How to Tile?
Dec 16th
• Check to see if the walls are Plumb and or flat.
• Make sure you measure each wall correctly then double check whether you are a professional tiler or DIY tiling.
• Check out all the repercussions of picking a line to work off of, make sure you are not left with a small cut in a place that the eye is drawn to.
• It usually looks better if a wall is tiled symmetrically.
• Try tile symmetrically around key features or focal points, such as window.
• I usually decide on my horizontal starting point first.
• Once the horizontal starting point has been chosen work out where the best position along the vertical plane to place your tiles for each wall.
• Make sure you take border tiles into account if using them.
• It is important to have a good size cut onto the floor, celling and bathtub or shower tray if possible.
• Try putting a full tile in the middle of the wall or a full tile on either side of your centre line. See which one works out best for you.
• Take your time, this is important don’t rush your lay out plan.
Make sure you have all the tiling tools required to do the job and remember TileGo is the fast and easy way to start any tiling job.
Tiling a Bathroom
Oct 29th
Working with stone and marble can be very gratifying, yes its hard work, heavy and sometimes dirty work. Fabrication takes time and patience and installation takes brains and brawn but when it’s all done polished and shining one can walk away happy in the knowledge that it should be there long after you are gone and hopefully for many generations. The same can be said for tiling a bathroom.
It may only be a small legacy but I believe there is art to everything.
I would easily spend at least half a day just planning the job and I would always recommend taking your time when laying out you tile plan when tiling a bathroom.
One should look out for a focal point in the room this may be a window opposite the entrance. First impressions do matter and you should try set out your tiles to look as symmetrical as you can around that focal point.
Making sure your tile levelling is just right is very important as is having the right tiling tools when tiling a bathroom.
This is where TileGo comes in the only product of its kind in the world that makes the job of levelling your tiles so much easier.
Tiling Tips for Leveling Tiles
Sep 26th
You always needs a level surface to work off of when wall tiling. Up until now that has been achieved by nailing or screwing a wooden batten to the wall for both DIY tiling and professional tiling. Tiles have been around since BC and yet this practice prevails when leveling tiles. So here are my top ten reasons not to hammer or nail anything into a bathroom wall.
1) Bursting pipes. Most professional tilers at some time have probably burst a pipe this way. It can cause a lot of damage.
2) Electrocution. If you put a nail through an electrical conduit you might get a shock. If the water penetrates the wall you just might electrocute the unfortunate person in the bath or shower, resulting in death, not good.
3) Cost. Buying all the tools requires to do this process is expensive a good spirit level alone can cost you up to €50.00 and you may need two. Not to mention all the rest of tiling tools and materials needed.
4) They don’t sell wooden battens in tile stores. So another trip to a builders provides is usually required to get the difficult to transport wooden battens before you start wall tiling.
5) Time. This method is very time consuming.
6) God did not make wooden battens straight. Wood is rarely straight, so great care and attention has to be paid when hammering them to the wall to straighten them out.
7) Juggling levels, wooden battens, and screw guns all at the same time is an art in itself. Why bother?
8) Creating more work. If you are unsuccessful in getting a good fix onto the wall and you have to keep re trying the plaster can start falling off or becomes lose due to successive undermining by nails or screws.
9) Lintels over doors are often used as a support walls over doors. These are reinforced concrete are notoriously hard to get a fixing into and even with a high powered drill can take ages to fix a batten to level tiles.
10) Water vapour barrier. There are various brands of specially manufactured wall boards for use in wet areas. They are generally waterproof and or have a vapour barrier to stop any water damage in bathrooms, if a leak accrues. Using nails or screws undermine their use and can cause damage over time.
Cutting Tiles
Sep 13th
Cutting Tiles
Tiles around the edge of a wall usually need to be cut to fit. Place the tile to be cut against the wall upside down. Mark off on the edges the cut line, remember to allow for the grout size and you can allow another 2mm for work space (this 2mm will be hidden by the tile on the other wall. Alternatively if the other wall is complete then add 1mm as this would be a grout joint in any event).
So to recap. The tile to be cut is placed upside down in the position where it is to be laid and marked off on the edges. Cut the tile.Turn the tile over and rotate it 180 degrees and presto, the cut is in the corner hidden away. Cut tiles individually even if the border looks straight. For odd shapes, carefully nibble away at the tile using the tile nibbler, until it slides into place. A template cut from cardboard saves wasting too many tiles (it is useful to drill a couple of holes in the tile at the “turning” points as this will help to remove any stress in the tile).
Tiling- Setting Out
Nov 26th
Setting Out
This means that there are two options:
1. either the center of the tile in the center of the wall, or
2. the center joint between the two tiles positioned either side of the center line.
As a general rule, tiling should be set out from the center of the wall.
A measuring gauge will help you plan the position of your tiles.
To make the measuring gauge, take a length of timber and mark the width of your tiles including the spacers along it.
Check each option to see which gives the most advantageous cuts to the ends at each side of the wall, the window and the border design. Fixing battens will help you to keep the tiling straight.
Find the lowest point you are tiling to, e.g. a skirting board, position the nearest full tile at this point, mark above the tile, and using a spirit level, draw a level line.
Nail a batten to the wall below the line to work to. Ensure that the batten is level because your first row of tiles will rest on it. Or use Tilego.
Draw your center line as a start point with the help of a spirit level to check the vertical line is straight. Either fix a vertical batten as a guide or use your pencil line to tile up to. Start your tiling where the two vertical and horizontal lines meet, in the center point chosen on your wall.
Looking for wall tile ideas? Wall tile is typically used for kitchen backsplashes, shower and bathtub surrounds, or for entire walls within bathrooms (due to tile’s superior ability to withstand moisture).
Note that wall tile installs and behaves differently than floor tile: the emphasis is on aesthetics and moisture-resistance. It’s not necessary to consider wear ability, because no one will ever walk on wall tile.
Also note that if you have ever installed floor tile, you might think that wall tile is a piece of cake. Gravity is the gremlin of wall tile installation, as tiles that are not securely adhered will begin slipping downward. In particular, heavier ceramic tile and natural stone may prove difficult for DIY tilers to install as wall tile.
Cutting Tiles
Tiles around the edge of a wall usually need to be cut to fit. Place the tile to be cut against the wall upside down. Mark off on the edges the cut line, remember to allow for the grout size and you can allow another 2mm for work space (this 2mm will be hidden by the tile on the other wall. Alternatively if the other wall is complete then add 1mm as this would be a grout joint in any event).
So to recap. The tile to be cut is placed upside down in the position where it is to be laid and marked off on the edges. Cut the tile.Turn the tile over and rotate it 180 degrees and presto, the cut is in the corner hidden away. Cut tiles individually even if the border looks straight. For odd shapes, carefully nibble away at the tile using the tile nibbler, until it slides into place. A template cut from cardboard saves wasting too many tiles (it is useful to drill a couple of holes in the tile at the “turning” points as this will help to remove any stress in the tile).
Looking for wall tile ideas?
Wall tile is typically used for kitchen backsplashes, shower and bathtub surrounds, or for entire walls within bathrooms (due to tile’s superior ability to withstand moisture).
Note that wall tile installs and behaves differently than floor tile: the emphasis is on aesthetics and moisture-resistance. It’s not necessary to consider wear ability, because no one will ever walk on wall tile.
Also note that if you have ever installed floor tile, you might think that wall tile is a piece of cake. Gravity is the gremlin of wall tile installation, as tiles that are not securely adhered will begin slipping downward. In particular, heavier ceramic tile and natural stone may prove difficult for DIY tilers to install as wall tile.