Since we are very familiar with kitchen and bath remodeling projects, we wanted to pass on some tips for your DIY’ers.

As your central ohio contractors, NJW knows some secrets that can make your tiling job a lot easier. The greatest secret is in the preparation before a single tile is laid.

Tip 1: Preparation

The biggest key to making a job go smoothly is good preparation. In the case of large jobs this can mean days of preparation. Check the rooms to see how square the walls are, how even and smooth the edges appear and how level the surface is that you’ll be covering with your tiles.

Once you’ve established this, begin any work that needs to be done to prepare your tile job. If necessary, build up floors a little. Where walls are being tiled, especially if they have concave bows, use thinset to level them out.

This can take longer than the actual tiling but it’s definitely worthwhile. Not only will the tiling process go smoothly, but you’ll have a better outcome. Starting with a level floor spares you having to deal with a problem called lippage, which effectively means the tiles aren’t quite even and could snap under pressure later. You are the beneficiary of all of our custom home remodeling experience!

Tip 2: Layout

You’ll save a lot of time later if you establish lines parallel and square to the longest wall in the room. Next, lay out a run of tiles about 6 feet long, including spacers. This will let you know if you’ll end up with slivers around the room edges. If that’s the case, you can make adjustments so it doesn’t happen.

Lay out tiles from the center of the room, going in all directions to ensure the perimeters will all be the same. When you’ve done that, re-check everything thoroughly to avoid mistakes later.

Tip 3: Installation

To avoid boxing yourself into a corner and having to wait while the mortar dries, move from center of the room and work outwards to the perimeter of the room. Set the tile in the thinset then take the time to level it in all directions. This ensures you’ll have a perfectly level floor. As your residential renovation experts, we know these steps are essential.

If you’re tiling more than the floor, complete the other surfaces such as countertops and walls first. This means that you’ll never be stuck for a surface to work on.

Some tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain and terra cotta, will require grout. However, you should still take the time to make sure they’re flat and even rather than relying on the grout to make things look good. It’s a matter of pride and craftsmanship, and that is something NJW knows a lot about!

Tip 4: Grouting

When you’ve grouted the tiles, use clean water and thick sponges to clean up and do so thoroughly. When you caulk areas with splashbacks or where two different surfaces join, use latex caulk that’s matched in color to the grout. To get a good bead, work the caulk into the join carefully and firmly.

If you take the time and do all the prep work, the actual tiling process goes pretty quickly. If you prefer to have someone handle your entire residential remodel from start to finish NJW is here to help.

We currently build in Powell,Lancaster,Upper Arlington,New Albany, Hilliard,Worthington,Gahanna,Dublin,Whitehall,Westerville, Bexley, Pickerington, Columbus and all of Central Ohio. Contact us today!