How easy is it to do your own tiling ?

[NomDePlume]

I'll be using the tumbled stone type ones. I have a few awkward angles (round the back of the loo etc).

I'm generally pretty handy around the house DIY-wise.

ime very easy, we did all our own kitchen and bathroom.

The only thing that can be difficult (depending on the type of tile and area being tiled) is cutting the tiles. Make sure you buy good quality tile cutting equipment - cheapo ones will let you down and will waste tiles so will work out more expensive in the long run.

It's also worth getting a good diy guide and reading their tips re: levelling etc, particularly if you are in a period property. You can start off from what looks like a level surface (eg the edge of a bath) and realise when you get to the ceiling that you are at a sharp and noticeable angle and have an unsightly wedge.

Eeek ! Our walls are bit wonky in places

Good tip re tile cutters.

Thanks

btw my top grouting tip (which I have never read in a diy guide) is using a wet sponge and a pair of rubber gloves. This works particularly well if you have those mosaic tiles which need a lot of grouting.

Just smear a wodge of grout on with your gloves, work into the spaces with your rubber gloved fingers (much easier than those silly applicators), then wipe off with a very slightly damp sponge (not too damp or you will dilute the grout and make it brittle).

Works a treat and you can get a wall of mosaic done in an hour or so.

what about the edges ? I'll be going half way up one wall and I don't think I can just leave the edges raw without it looking poo. I know you can buy those curved edging pieces but they look a bit naff in most cases, imo.

good luck! it's really worth getting a diy guide, they have lots of good tips you wouldn't necessarily think of if you didn't already know (iyswim!)

Like, for example, using flexible grout at the joints between walls, especially partition walls, because there will be some slight movement even if you can't see it, and this will cause solid grout to crack and water to penetrate.

I was given the Reader's Digest Complete DIY Guide when I bought my own flat for the first time and scoffed a bit at the time, and now absolutely love it! (tragic emoticon)

oh, sorry, cross posted about the edges.

I agree those edging strips are naff - we chose just to leave ours bare and put a narrow line of grout down the edge, just smoothed off with a finger tip.

But I think it depends on what the edges of your tiles look like. Ours were ceramic glazed so looked quite ok.

will not be using mosiac tiles. We have those in the downstairs loo at the mo (the room I want to redo). The grout gets grubby v quicklyand is really time consuming to clean properly (with a toothbrush. Just wiping tiles over with a damp cloth cleans the tiles nicely but leave the grout looking a bit grey. Will def never have mosiacs again !

oo how annoying for you! I don't have that problem with mine - but they are in the kitchen so maybe get less splashing. Also still quite new (ish - 2 years) so perhaps the grime will come...

Someone told me painting them with farrow and ball matt oil paint works a treat - but retiling is probably more satisfying!

There aren't enough tiles in there anyway, atm. Just a small patch of them around the small handbasin, because it's a semi-recessed wall-hung one the water drips down onto the wall. Or at least it does when 5yo DD washes her hands