10 Suggestions to Help You Arrange Your Bathroom Tiles Correctl

  • The arrangement of the tiles is the most important aspect of any bathroom remodel. Careful planning of the tile layout from the very beginning can help with a variety of framing changes, niche location decisions, fixture location decisions, and lighting distributor location decisions. Without careful planning, you run the risk of achieving results that are almost what you want but not quite as good as they could be. When I am putting together a bathroom, I have a lot of guidelines that I stick to. Some of them are guidelines for the industry, the majority are local codes, and many of them are just my own. The following are my ten most important rules for installing tile in a bathroom.

     

     

    1. Make a comprehensive plan.

    This is where I call "home."I wanted one large niche for shampoo bottles as well as three smaller niches for my three daughters to use in the shower. In order to realize this design, I required some bespoke framing and a header to be installed on the long wall directly above the bathtub. This was something that was planned out from the very beginning, and I made sure that the plumber and the electrician would not have to run power or plumbing lines through these wall cavities in order to complete their work. Tip: Inform all of the other tradespeople that the space is reserved for the tiler by marking the wall studs with spray paint or by marking all sides with a permanent marker. This will serve as a warning. Other details, such as recessed medicine cabinets, down lights, and fans, should also be specified at the beginning of a project and checked before the arrival of other tradespeople to install plumbing lines, water lines, electrical lines, heating lines, cooling lines, ductwork, and low-voltage wiring. This should be done before the other tradespeople come to install the plumbing lines, water lines, electrical lines, heating lines, cooling lines, and ductwork.

    2. Verify the dimensions of the tiles.

    The assumption that a tile measuring 12 inches by 24 inches is actually 12 inches by 24 inches is the single most common mistake I see people make when laying out tiles. The vast majority of tiles are sold in European dimensions, with the standard tile measuring 30 centimeters by 60 centimeters. Because a grout joint might also be included in this measurement, the actual size of your tile might be closer to 11 3/8 inches. When you buy a decent sample of tiles, you give yourself the opportunity to lay them out, inspect them for warping, and put them through a soak test to ensure their quality.

    3. Start laying your tile at the ceiling and work your way down.

    There is no reason for the tiles in your shower niche to be cut, despite the fact that this is the case in many of them. Your tile pattern should be laid out from the very beginning in such a way that the measured pieces begin precisely on a grout joint. My experience has shown that it is much simpler to achieve the desired result if one begins the process of laying out the tile pattern from the finished ceiling heights. When we want to make sure the layout of the tile is correct before we install it, we will frequently draw up the design on the wall board before we begin waterproofing the area. If you are using a linear drain that has a tile insert, the grout joints that you install should run through the drain to give the appearance that the tiles are flowing together. A skilled setter will mix the tiles in their inventory and will alternate the veining or grain pattern on each tile. This shower is an excellent illustration of both types.

    4. Use caution around openings such as doors and windows.

    The layout of the tiles around the doors and windows is very important. Each window and door presents its own unique challenges, and determining the most effective method for waterproofing the assembly can be one of those challenges. Make sure that the windows are taken into consideration when designing the waterproofing system for your shower or bath. You won't have to worry about moisture getting behind the tile and into the window framing if you do it this way. The tiling job will remain in good condition for many years to come provided that the sills are tilted and there is room for expansion.

    5. Make sure the drain is clear.

    To properly install the drain, you need to do a lot more than simply drop it in the middle of the hole somewhere. There is often no room for adjustment in drains, so getting them just right requires careful preparation and organization. Before you and your tile installer decide on the most effective tile layout for the shower, you should have your plumber position the drain pipe so that it is close to, but not exactly in, the position where it will be finished. Because flood testing for a shower is required, this work will be checked at a later time.

    6. Guard against leaks

    A preventative measure against leaks is to grade the areas outside the shower back toward the shower itself. This barrier-free shower features an additional inlay tile detail that is tipped toward the shower in the same manner as a conventional shower curb.

    7. Take special care on cobblestone surfaces.

    Bear in mind that showers with floors made of river rocks drain more slowly than those with other types of floors. In order to achieve quicker dry-out times between showers, increasing the pitch of the roof and using epoxy grouts can be helpful. A pitch of less than 2 percent, or less than 1/4 inch per foot, is unacceptable for a pebble shower floor in my opinion.

    8. Cure between steps

    The enhancement of many tiles can be achieved by sealing the tile and natural stone. Before sealing an entire bathroom or shower, it is a good idea to first prepare a sample tile board and then seal it. This should all be done before installing the floor tile. It is imperative that you do not walk on these floors until after they have completely cured, and you should hold off on sealing the job for as long as possible. You shouldn't give your crew the go-ahead to install the tile in just two days, grout it in three, and then seal it the day after that. Before moving on to the next stage, each step needs time to dry completely.