By John Lister
1) Choosing the wrong adhesiveYou will need to use a waterproof adhesive for any tiles which are around a bath or shower. Even the best-fitted tiles can let some water through to the adhesive, and non-waterproof adhesive will decay and crumble, eventually causing your tiles to crash and likely break. Don’t forget that water can get to the adhesive in the form of condensation.
2) Not buying enough tiles
You should buy more tiles than you think you need. The best compromise between cost and practicality is to get around 15-20% more than you expect to use. This insures you against breakages, miscalculations, and difficulties in cutting to size. You can keep any spare tiles in reserve in case any tiles become cracked in the future. Alternatively, some retailers may allow you to return unused tiles for a refund.
3) Skipping time on preparation
You must thoroughly clean and smooth the surface on which you are laying the tiles, otherwise you increase the difficulty of laying them evenly. You should remove all wallpaper and use a light sander on the surface. An exception to this is if you are laying new tiles on top of existing tiles. This can be done, but you should clean the old tiles and dry them first, then scour them lightly to give a better grip.
4) Not using battens
A batten is a thin rod of wood temporarily attached to the wall during the tile laying. You should use two battens, one vertical and one horizontal, to make sure the tiles are laid out in straight lines. Battens can also be used for spacing and measuring: you can lay out your tiles on a floor to check how much space you will need, and then mark each tile’s position on the batten. These markings will help you catch any mistakes with positioning as you lay tiles.
5) Spreading the adhesive too smoothly
Before placing the tiles, you should make sure the adhesive has horizontal ridges. This makes sure you can level the tiles more easily (by flattening the ridges). Your trowel should have a ridged surface, but an old fork will do if necessary.
6) Dotting corners
You may think adding dots of adhesive to the corners of tiles makes a stronger bond, but this actually increases the likelihood of tiles cracking. This is because the adhesive shrinks as it dries. If the adhesive is thicker in some areas (the corners), the shrinking will put added pressure on the tile.
7) Spacing unevenly
If you do not space your tiles evenly, you will make some tiles more liable to come loose. After laying each tile, you should measure an even gap using a spacer. This can be a professionally made plastic rod, or a simpler method such as a thick edge of cardboard, or a large matchstick.
8) Grouting too quickly
Once you’ve finished laying the tiles, you should wait until the adhesive is fully set (usually around 24 hours) before grouting.
9) Sloppy grouting
You should spread the grout evenly using a squeegee, working on a small area at a time (otherwise it may dry before you have it firmly in place). You must remove any excess grout before it sets as it will be much more difficult to remove when it is dry. You should also make sure the grout is pushed all the way into each gap, for instance by lightly running a dowel over it.
10) Not sealing bath tops
If you don’t firmly seal the gap between the bottom row of tiles and the bath top, water may leak into it as it runs down the tiles. With most sealants, it’s best to fill the bath before application. Baths move a surprising amount when filled with water and this can strain and crack sealant if you don’t plan for it.
© Doityourself.com 2006
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