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Is tiling easy?

18 replies

LuckyThatMyBreastsAreSmallAndHumble · 12/03/2023 17:21

If you are fairly practical?

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 12/03/2023 17:26

Depends what you're tiling. I think it's quite easy to make it look crap. But "we" have done some small tiling jobs that have been okay. Get a really good tile cutter and be prepared to waste tiles practising.

Frenchfancy · 12/03/2023 17:29

Tiling a plain flat wall is pretty easy. The difficulty comes when you have to cut tiles to go round taps or plug points. Perfectly doable for a competent diy-er.

If you do decide to do it chose your tiles wisely. Subway tiles are a pain. Anything too thick or too thin is difficult to cut cleanly.

Sprig1 · 12/03/2023 17:31

Yes, really not hard. Plan out the whole area before you start to make sure the finished job will look balanced (no tiny cut tiles at the end etc).

VeniVidiWeeWee · 12/03/2023 20:57

If you need to cut many tiles buy or hire a water cooled electric cutter.

Cupcakequeen75 · 12/03/2023 22:09

It's all in the setting out.
As a PP said, make sure it is balanced with no silly infilling around the edges.

Ilovefishcakes201 · 13/03/2023 05:53

No, tiling is not easy. Get a tiler in.
Tiling and plastering are one of those trades that need experience.
It’s better to get a professional in!

I’ve seen many a work of competent DIY ‘tiling’ and they’ve all been cr*p. Yes they’ll look okay but why have ‘okay’ on something you’ll look at everyday.

Campervangirl · 13/03/2023 06:51

I tiled my bathroom, massive area over the bath / shower and then around the sink.
Pp are right about getting a good tile cutter, be prepared to break a few, I put a thin length of wood around the bath for the tiles to sit on to get an even line, removed when dry, it gives you that little bit of space to apply the silicone, decent tile spacers are a must.
YouTube videos are your friend.
Once you get going it's pretty easy, the difficult bit is corners, cutting the tiles to fit.

MsRead · 13/03/2023 07:19

I tiled 4 splash backs around some sockets in my kitchen with subway tiles and had never tiled before. Took me a week and a bit of bad language but it looks really good even if I do say so myself.

My tips are

  1. I had a couple of tricky cuts so used an angle grinder with goggles and face mask.
  2. I bought a very cheap work bench with blocks to hold the tiles while I did the cutting and it didn’t matter if I cut the work bench … saved my hands
  3. buy a spare ceramic wheel for the angle grinder
  4. when cutting tiles with a grinder put masking tape along the line you are cutting, this prevents chipping
  5. save ice cream tubs to mix the tile glue and grout in small quantities so it doesn’t start to set, you can throw away the tubs afterward and contain the mess
  6. the tile cutters imo are useless
greenacrylicpaint · 13/03/2023 07:36

doable.
bigger tiles are easier but small tiles more forgiving.
textured tiles are really difficult to cut.
get the right tools (a tile cutter can be hired) and supplies.
get slow drying tile glue so that you can rectify mistakes.

youtube is your friend.

Geneticsbunny · 13/03/2023 08:19

I did a whole bathroom with no previous experience (walls only, not the floor) and it looked as good as other professionally tiled bathrooms that I have seen. Like others have said, take your time, work from the middle out and use wood batons to get a straight line at the bottom, you can take these off and fill in the tiles at the bottom. Make sure you wipe the grout off properly at the end with a sponge. It is a pain to get off once dry if you don't take enough excess off.

SD25 · 13/03/2023 09:05

Relatively doable. Don't forget about the trim for edges.

Ariela · 13/03/2023 09:17

Yes, perfectly do-able. Do plan first, that's the secret

Jeannieofthelamp · 13/03/2023 09:22

I tiled a small area of my bathroom. Based on that I wouldn't attempt a bigger space, it looks acceptable but not as clean as a professional job. I guess it partly depends on your aptitude for practical DIY though!

tinselvestsparklepants · 13/03/2023 09:49

Yes. I've done two bathrooms now and am just about to do my first floor.
As pp have said, have a look at YouTube for help getting started, then just take your time and keep stepping back to check it. You'll be fine!

ColonelSpondleClagnut · 13/03/2023 12:46

If you choose a grout that is the same colour as the tiles it will hide a multitude of sins!

FeltCarrot · 13/03/2023 13:13

The biggest problem is finding a decent tiler/plasterer.

Tootlingalong · 13/03/2023 15:07

Definitely doable, I've tiled 3 bathrooms, a kitchen and a couple of floors in my time. Can't say I enjoy it though and definitely one of those jobs that I'd pay somebody else to do if I could afford to.

fuzzbearpenguin · 13/03/2023 15:25

Yes, as per pp, get a decent electric tile cutter, watch some YouTube tutorials (especially for fiddly bits like pipes and plug sockets), expect to break a few and measure carefully. Saved myself about £1k doing my own kitchen. Took me 2 weeks doing few hours a day but I'm a perfectionist!

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