Tiling your new bathroom

Summer DIY projects can be a great way to update your home without spending huge amounts on professional contractors. Why pay someone else to do a job that you can quite easily do yourself?

If your bathroom tiles are looking a little worse for wear, or you're getting that new home ready for move-in day, take a look at this guide to bathroom DIY.

What you'll need

Tiling bathroom floors requires a few tools and materials that you should gather before you start the project. You'll need the following:

Tiles
Mastic (an adhesive)
Grout
Painter's tape
Silicone caulk
Grout sealant
Starter board
Plastic spoon
Caulk gun
Tape measure
Trowel
Wet tile saw
Grout float
Sponge
Safety glasses and mask
Work gloves

Preparation and planning

Different floors require different preparation. A new concrete floor must be fully cured before tiling takes place, and sound wooden floors in good condition can be tiled directly on top. Wet areas should be waterproofed before tiling occurs.

It's vital that you plan the job out thoroughly, putting pencil marks on the wall and floor to show where tiles will go. Lay out a few rows to make sure they work well together and see how everything will fit and flow.

Next, find the centre of the room and lay a row of tiles in each direction to help you figure out what type of layout will give you the most even border and fewest tiles to cut. You'll want to avoid small and narrow gaps wherever possible!

Start tiling

When you're ready to lay down some tiles, run a bead of caulk around the perimeter of the area you are tiling. This will seal it. Use the spoon to smooth this out, then use the wet saw with a diamond blade attachment to form a picture frame corner to border around the shower. A tilt of 45 degrees should help the saw cut this perfectly.

Use the mastic adhesive to spread along the floor with the trowel, working to the walls. Then lay down your tiles in your desired pattern, working to the plan you made earlier. Start from the centre and work your way out, pressing tiles firmly into place. Allow the mastic and tiles to set for at least 24 hours before grouting.