The Block’s Kyal and Kara have been travelling around Australia with Beaumont Tiles, hosting DIY Tiling and Styling workshops and sharing the tricks of the trade. But if you weren’t able to be there in person, here are their top tips for helping you make the most of your renovation.
Dry surface
Before you start your surface should be dry, clean and smooth. If you’re tiling in a wet area (bathroom or around the kitchen sink), the area must be waterproofed, straight and flush (no protruding nails).
Adhesive
Bottom line, don’t skimp, and choose the right adhesive for the space. There are many brands of adhesive and they’re all designed for specific types of tiles and tile surfaces. Cheap adhesives may decay and cause tiles to crack.
Size matters for the novice DIY
Tiling with big tiles is tough, even for seasoned pros. Large tiles are heavy and are expensive to replace if mistakes are made, so DIY novices should stick to tiles no bigger than 300x300mm.
Layout
Draw up a plan for your floor, wall or splashback and map out where your tiles will go. Spending the time to mark out square lines and doing a dry lay will pay dividends on the entire job.
Laying
Tiles that are placed unevenly may create an uneven joint (or lip) which could be a trip hazard. There’s a new product called the Simple Accurate Levelling System (SALS) which is perfect for precision tiling. It can help DIY’ers achieve a flat finish with minimal lippage.
Grout
Wait at least 24 hours after laying before grouting and protect the tiles from any water or weather by covering them with old clean sheets. Don’t grout where walls meet floors or where two walls meet, instead apply silicone when the surrounding grouted area is dry.
Photography by Yasmin Nebenfuhr
WIN
In the spirit of DIY tiling, Beaumont Tiles are giving away five DIY Bucket Starter Tool Kits! Each bucket contains $200 worth of goodies, including two trowels, a levelling starter kit, knee pads and more! Complete the below form by 5pm AEST on Friday 24 April 2015. Open to Australian residents only.
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