Things to Keep in Mind While Doing Tiling Work at Home

Whether it's your first time installing tiles or you've done it before, tiling your home requires precision and care. Mistakes in tile installation are hard to hide, and fixing them often means starting over. Even one misaligned tile can ruin the look of your entire space. If you're working with a tiles work contractor in Noida, or doing it yourself, here are some tips to help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure a successful tiling project.

Do’s and Don’ts for Proper Tile Installation:

Do’s:

• Check Tile Quality: Inspect the tiles when they arrive. Verify the brand, color, pattern, design, and quantity.
  
  
• Soil Compaction: Ensure the soil layer is properly compacted before beginning tile work.
  
  
• Subfloor Preparation: Make sure subfloors of PCC, RCC, or brickbats are leveled correctly, with slopes if needed.
  
  
• Complete Other Works First: Finish the brick and plasterwork in all rooms before starting the tiling.
  
  
• Ventilation and Lighting: Ensure proper ventilation and adequate lighting in dark or confined spaces.
  
  
• Waterproofing: Complete any necessary waterproofing before tile installation.
  
  
• Pre-Marking: Mark the positions of taps, bottle traps, soap holders, etc., in bathrooms before starting dado tiles.
  
  
• Soak Tiles: Soak tiles in water for at least 2 hours before installation.
  
  
• Start Point: Plan the starting point of tile work in a room or open area. For irregularly shaped rooms, place cut tiles where furniture will cover them.
  
  
• Layout Drawing: Obtain a tile layout drawing from your architect or interior designer.
  
  
• Joint Pattern: Follow the joint pattern specified in the drawing, or consult your architect or engineer.
  
  
• Tile Cutting: Use a diamond cutter for precise tile cuts.
  
  
• Angle Setting: Set right angles before starting the tiling work.
  
  
• Tile Corners: Ensure tile corners are not bent to ensure proper adhesion.
  
  
• Tile Thickness: Use thicker tiles for floors compared to walls.
  
  
• Order of Work: Lay wall tiles before starting floor tiles.
  
  
• Cut Tiles Placement: Decide where to place cut tiles if wall sizes do not match tile dimensions.
  
  
• Match Lines: Ensure vertical and horizontal lines of tiles match.
  
  
• Minimize Joints: Keep tile joints minimal and refill with white cement after removing excess.
  
  
• Chamfer Edges: Chamfer tile edges diagonally at joint corners for a cleaner look.
  
  
• Wall Level: Install wall tiles according to the wall’s level.
  
  
• Dado Height: Provide dado height up to 3 to 7 ft (0.9 to 2.1m) on walls or full height.
  
  
• Expansion Joints: In large rooms, provide expansion joints filled with appropriate materials to prevent tiles from popping up.
  
  
• Batch Mixing: Avoid mixing different batches of materials during installation.
  
  
• Skirting Details: Skirting should align with wall plaster and match in shade and pattern.
  
  
• Adhesive Use: Follow manufacturer’s instructions for chemical adhesives and use them within their pot life.
  
  
• Tile Spacers: Use spacers to keep tiles evenly spaced.
  
  
• Pattern Alignment: Align patterned tiles before fixing to achieve the desired design.
  
  
• Post-Installation Cleaning: Clean the area thoroughly after tile installation.
  
  
• Slope Check: Check the slope by dropping water; it should flow towards the drain.

Don’ts:

• Avoid Large Dado Tiles: Do not use overly large tiles for dado work due to their weight.
  
  
• Material Inspection: Do not accept materials without inspection.
  
  
• Surface Preparation: Do not start work without preparing the surface.
  
  
• Level Marking: Do not start work without marking level lines on walls.
  
  
• Avoid Early Walking: Do not walk on newly installed floors for at least one day.
  
  
• Proper Cutting: Avoid hand-cut tiles; insist on machine cutting to reduce wastage.
  
  
• Water Damage: Do not tile over water-damaged areas; fix the issues first.
  
  
• Bonding Time: Do not let the sand-cement bed sit too long, as it may lose bonding strength.
  
  
• Tile Spacing: Do not install tiles too close to each other to prevent popping.
  
  
• Thickness Caution: Avoid using excessively thick tiles as they may pop or fall.
  
  
• Grouting Cleanliness: Do not leave extra grouting material on tiles; wipe off with a wet sponge.

Understanding these do’s and don’ts ensures a smooth tiling process. By following these tips, you can avoid common mistakes and achieve a professional finish. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or working with a tiles work contractor in Noida, these guidelines will help you achieve a lasting and beautiful tile installation. Enjoy your newly tiled space!

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