3 Tips to Succesfully Installing Bathroom Tile | How to Install Tile

This is the first tip in tiling a bathroom floor that will help you ascertain your project's beginnings. It is always a good idea to take a look at the bigger picture before you get started with any remodeling or construction project. Trust me, this will save you a lot of headache and hassle down the road. As carpenters say; "Measure twice and cut once".

This goes for any type of project. So what kind of bathroom floor do you have to work with? Concrete floor, plywood subfloor or existing ceramic tile floor? Each requires their own approach.

A concrete floor is the easiest to work with. Make sure that the floor is clean of debris an that any cracks or holes have been fixed. This will affect your tiles if you neglect this part.

A plywood subfloor needs to be sturdy enough to carry the weight and support the tiles. You should have a plywood subfloor at least 1 and 1/8 inches thick, though I prefer it if it is at least 1 and 1/4 inches thick.

An existing tile floor. Here you have 2 options based upon your own skill set and aptitude. You can re-tile over the existing tile, or remove them and then tile over that concrete or mortar bed layer. I prefer to remove them, you'll often get a better feel for what you are dealing with and it'll last longer.

When you're tiling a bathroom it is important as part of project management and project set up that you allow yourself a budget. If you don't know how much it might cost, spend some time at the different home improvement centers to get a fell for the price ranges. You'll be surprised to find that there are tiles priced for practically all budgets.

Of course, as with anything in the construction industry, tiles are often priced according to quality. Bear this in mind. You can get some great and sturdy tiles at reasonable prices, but generally it is a good idea to avoid the cheapest. On the other hand you can pay a premium for some tiles that just aren't worth the increased price based on quality alone. An example of this is Italian tiles. Very nice and very good quality, but you can find equal quality at other price ranges too.

Part of determining your budget is knowing your measurements. This is an often overlooked area with most homeowners or first time DIY folks. Please, please take the time to measure accurately to determine the amount and number of tiles you'll need. A good rule of thumb is to then buy 15% to 20% more tiles than what your measurements require. There will be breakage and misfits. The worst thing that can happen is you're left with a handful of space that needs tiles and you don't have any more and you can't find the exact kind again.

The last tip in learning how to tile a bathroom floor successfully is to know your tile. You might think that all tile is created equal but that is not the case. When buying and looking for tile be sure to understand the underlying factors that affect this particular tile's installation.

You want to know what type of mortar or grout is best used for this particular tile. You might be surprised that this can add dramatically to the cost of your tile installation. Not only that, if you're going to do the job right, then you need to make sure that your tile is durable and long lasting. Part of this whole approach is ensuring that you have cemented and installed the tile with the proper applications.