Building Your Dream Apartment

Before Tackling That DIY Tiling Job, Keep In Mind These Important Details

2 May 2017

Julian Caldwell

Many homeowners can tackle their own do-it-yourself or DIY tiling job, with a few handy tools and a bit of patience. However, setting tile inside or outside is not always as easy as it looks on home improvement shows and videos. Note a few important details to keep in mind before you decide that you can manage your own DIY tiling job, so you can ensure you get the job done right.

Mastic versus mortar

Mastic is very sticky and meant to hold wall tile; if you use mortar on the wall instead, you may find that the tiles eventually slide or shift, and especially if you choose a heavy porcelain tile for the wall. You may also need to hold each tile in place for quite some time before the mortar sets. Mortar is meant for floor tiles, as you can move those tiles around so they're even before the mortar sets, ensuring a more attractive and professional looking floor.

Glazed versus unglazed

Glazed tile refers to a type of liquid glass that is poured over the top of the tile and then baked on. This is typically done to give porcelain tiles a certain colour tone, or to add shine.

However, glazed tiles are not the best for outdoor use, as that glazing can easily wear away under rain, snow, high winds, and other such potential damage; choose unglazed tiles for any exterior surface such as a patio or walkway. Save the glazed tile for interior tiles if you prefer a certain appearance or an added shine.

Going over vinyl flooring

You can often add a layer of tile over the flooring your home has currently, and vinyl flooring especially can provide a solid, secure foundation for new tile. However, if the vinyl tile is spongy or coming loose, this can mean that it's losing adhesion to the subfloor. Adding another layer of tile over this flooring can result in the vinyl coming loose altogether, and your new tiles buckling and shifting. In the case of vinyl tile that is not securely adhered to the subfloor, it's best to remove it altogether and start with a fresh foundation for your new tile.

You can also set down plywood for a level and even floor if the subfloor itself is also uneven. Also, look for cracks in the subfloor; walk it and feel for any shifting or sinking. Fill in the cracks with necessary wood putty or add braces or shims to the joists, and then add the plywood for a solid surface for your new tile.

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