choosing tiles

Read This First Before Installing Tile in Your Bathroom

Now that you have gone through your extensive collection of bathrooms tile inspiration images and have decided on what tiles you want to use in your project, it’s time to get the ball rolling. Or is it? Have you considered all your options and do you really know what you’re doing?

If you’re not 100% there yet, here are some crucial considerations to think about.

Tiling a New Bathroom

Shower areas, sinks, and toilets must be plumbed and fitted by your local plumber in Spanish Fork first, and then tiled after. Doing so will conceal all the edges properly and offer a watertight seal, once the silicone has been applied.

The silicone will likewise allow for some movement, contraction, or expansion of the fixtures’ edges.

Tiling Over Old Tiles

Tiling on top of the existing tiles is becoming increasingly common these days for eco-friendly purposes, plus the fact that removing existing tiles is very laborious. Also, slapping new tiles on existing tiles, especially on walls isn’t as easy as it seems.

For instance, lightweight tiles over a painted wall installed affixed with subpar adhesive may seem fine, but once new tile is added, the new tile’s extra weight may cause the adhesive to fail. Basically, do your research and if possible, leave the job to the pros.

Porcelain Tiles or Ceramic Tiles?

These days, you really can’t tell the difference between porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles. Generally speaking, ceramic tiles are more lightweight and easier to cut and install, while porcelain tiles are tougher and much denser.

Porcelain tiles, however, are more capable of withstanding daily wear and tear than ceramic tiles. Essentially, however, what you choose to go with should depend on your personal preferences, budget, and maintenance requirements.

Tiling The Bathroom Floor

Tiling the Bathroom Floor

The specific kind of flooring you’re going to be tiling over will significantly impact the grout you need to use. For instance, if you’re tiling over stable, concrete flooring, you don’t need to use flexible grout. But if you’re tiling over wooden flooring, you need to utilize flexible grout to factor in the inherent expansion or contraction of the wood.

Using flexible grout is likewise a must when tiling over flooring with underfloor heating.

Why Silicone is Immensely Crucial

Applied after grouting, a silicone coating is extremely vital since it will ensure that the joints are waterproof and properly sealed. From an aesthetic viewpoint, it’s best to match the silicone’s color to the tiles so it won’t stick out like a sore thumb.

The specific kind of silicone you select is also important. Plenty of grout and adhesive manufacturers now create their own silicone range to make color-matching easier. When choosing silicone for sealing porcelain or ceramic tiles, opt for an anti-mold or antibacterial, high modulus acetoxy silicone.

If you’re installing natural stone, a neutral cure silicone is best to make certain that it won’t bleed through the stone and lose its adhesive properties.

So whether you’re planning on remodeling your bathroom or building a new one and installing tiles, the crucial tips above will help make sure that your new tiled bathroom will be stylish, functional and durable.

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