Whether it’s on your floor or your walls, tiling can enhance the appearance of your space and provide a high degree of durability. However, you can only achieve these benefits if you install the tile correctly. Unfortunately, people frequently make several mistakes when laying tile, turning their home improvement projects into sloppy DIY disasters. To ensure your project turns out a success, make sure to avoid these common mistakes people make when installing tiles.
Poorly Applying Grout
Poorly done grout can make even the most stunning tiles look sloppy and cheap. As such, it’s important not to rush the process. To get clean grout lines, make sure to take your time and to spread the grout evenly. Avoid grouting too large of an area before laying your tiles to prevent the grout from drying out and producing an uneven result. You should also make sure to remove any excess grout promptly after you lay each tile. If you wait too long to do so, the grout may dry and prove hard to remove.
Not Preparing the Application Surface Properly
When installing tiles, you can’t just pop them on a surface without preparing it properly. Doing so will likely result in tiles that don’t stick well to the walls or flooring. To ensure that the tiles adhere properly, remove any grease, food spatters, dust, or other debris that would prevent the mastic from adhering to the surface by wiping down the walls or floor with a sponge, water, and a mild soap. Failing to take this step will likely cause you to have to reinstall your tiles in a short period of time.
Laying Tiles Unevenly
Another one of the most common mistakes people make when installing tiles is laying them unevenly—especially when trying a more intricate pattern such as herringbone tile. Disproportionate spaces or slight slants between tiles can make them look sloppy and unprofessional. To keep your tiles looking neat and organized, consider using a few helpful tools. For example, tile spacers can be extremely helpful for keeping the space between tiles even and for preventing the tiles from shifting around during the installation process. Another option for keeping tiles straight is to use battens. These thin rods of wood are ideal for laying tiles straight in horizontal and vertical directions.