Top 10 Questions About Floor Tiling

Top 10 Questions About Floor Tiling

If you are ready to beautify your home or business with the latest modern floor tiles, then lucky, you have found this article. Whether you are thinking to hire a professional tiler or doing it yourself, you can find the top 10 common questions asked about floor tiling in this article. If you are looking to update your kitchen or bathroom floor areas, then learning to tile your floors on your own can save you some extra money, but it may look easier said than done, which in the long run could end up costing you more time and money. That's why it's always best to get a free quote from your local tiling professionals to find out what will be involved in your complete project.

If you are considering doing the job on your own, once you have selected your tile, you may come across specific problems that need to be addressed before starting any tiling on your own for the first time.

It is necessary to read experts' opinions and recommendations about tile laying. Read them thoroughly before starting. These answers could prove to be helping material and can make your upcoming home improvement project run more smoothly.

Below, you will find the top 10 questions.

What's The Difference Between A Porcelain And Ceramic Floor Tile

Is this a battle between two different types of materials having huge differences, or is it comparatively a war of exchanging words? The terms porcelain and ceramics are always used correspondently as if they were the same materials for primary consumers. This should never be ignored that porcelain and ceramic floor tiles are used for the same purposes and installed simultaneously. These materials have specific merits and demerits, respectively.

At first glance, it is tougher to acknowledge the main difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles. That's why both of the materials and their products are similar, and they feel identical as well. Both of them are made from a similar process. But some massive and critical differences are significant for people to know about these flooring options. If you are looking for the best choice for your flooring for your home, make sure that you have an idea regarding the latest tile trends and how they differ from each other!

The major difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is how they are manufactured. Even though both of these tiles are made from a clay mixture that is burnt in a glace furnace at a high temperature. But porcelain tiles are generally made from more refined clay and more temperature than the temperature of ceramics tiles. This method makes porcelain tiles more durable and denser. As a result, porcelain tiles serve to be more expensive than ceramics in the markets. If you want to install new flooring in your home, Porcelain tiles are considered the best option for you.

Do I Need To Replace The Skirtingboards?

Most homes have 5-10mm gaps between the floor tiles and the finished walls, which can act as an expansion joint for movement in the tiles. The gaps are usually covered with skirting boards made of timber, MDF, or tiles. However, when you retile your floor areas, it's best practice to remove and replace your skirting boards once your floor tiling is complete. If you are willing to remove them, it is not extremely difficult, and you will have to purchase new ones or have the old ones reinstalled.

It all depends on your budget, but if you choose not to remove your skirting boards, your new tiles will finish against your boards which may lead to cracking grout against your boards.

Do I Need To Add Sand To My Grout?

These days there are many choices when choosing grout, so no, you do not need to add sand to your grout. Most grout manufactures make products suitable for all different types of tiles.

Sanded grout is a standard grouting material with sand material added. The added sand materials make the grout more durable than the unsanded type and can help with grout shrinkage. So when you have tile joints larger than 6mm, you should opt for this product.

If your joints are much smaller, for example, when using rectified tiles with 1 to 2-millimetre joints, you should be using an unsanded flexible grout, which will give you flexibility and a smooth joint finish.

How Do I Repair My Floor Tile?

Many people may think that removing and replacing a tile is easy. Still, you can actually do more damage than good without the right tools or knowledge. That's why if you don't have experience in removing tiles, you should seek professional help. But if you still would like to give it a go, here are some great tips.

1. Gather all your Tools and Supplies, making sure you have the replacement tiles (having more than needed is highly recommended)
2. make sure you wear your PPE gear for your safety and connect any power tools to a vacuum to extract dust particles.
3. Remove the grout using a grinder, grout rake or a multi-tool making sure not to chip or damage any surrounding tiles.
4. Remove the Tile gently by starting in the middle with a small chisel and Gympie, ensuring you take your time, especially when removing the tile from the edges.
5. Remove the mortar/adhesive back to the substrate so the tile will fit perfectly and flush.
6. Mix adhesive/mortar and lay your new tile, ensuring it sits flush with the existing tiles, making sure to clean any excess glue from the joints.
7. Once your tile is dry, you can grout your tile with the correct matching grout.
8. Wait at least 24 hours before the tile is subject to any traffic.

What type of tiles adhesive should we use?

All floor tiles should be installed using flexible adhesives to a compatible surface, either cement, timber or fibre sheeting materials. Ensure that the foundation has been constructed according to Australian Standards and should have a solid base for a long-lasting effect. If you are tiling a wet-area floor on a second level, make sure to use a waterproofing product before tiling.

A flexible adhesive is always the best option. Depending on your tiling project and substrates, you can choose from various tile adhesives. Remember that tile adhesive is one of the vital parts of the complete tiling system, so if cheap or incorrect products are used, this could cause problems later, like tile cracking and lifting.

What is the best grout colour for my tiles?

You may be surprised that using an alternate colour grout to your tiles can provide extra highlights to your tiles, but choosing the wrong colour grout can also ruin the entire look of your tiles. One of the best options for grouting is using a colour that matches your tiles. The match will work within any tiled area such as your kitchen splashback, bathroom and living areas. Your matching grout will keep your tiles looking great and in style for a long time, so there is no need to update them in the near future. 

Can I tile over other tiles?

If you live on old and unsightly floor tiles and are on the verge of having a new look in your area, one of the best options for you is to tile over your existing tiles to save time and money. You can do so if you only follow specific recommendations and guides.

First of all, make sure the flooring beneath your pre-existing tiles is solid, doesn't have large cracks, or is damaged. You must also make sure your tiles are not loose or drummy. A concrete base is one of the most robust support under any material. 

Secondly, floor preparation and the correct adhesive are the main parts of tiling over tiles. It is always best to read and follow the adhesive manufacturer's recommendations about tiling over tiles. 

You can easily succeed by following these two points while tiling over tiles.

Can I waterproof my current tiles?

If you need to waterproof your pre-existing tiles, and you want to protect them from more water seepage. You could try a clear Sealer thats is applied over the tiles, but this is only a temporary fix. Unfortunately, you can't apply a waterproofing membrane over the already installed tile. You could also try a regrout, but again this is only a temporary fix. The best way is to contact your local tilers in Perth to find exactly what is needed.

We hear many questions when people are trying to choose their floor tile like -

What type of tiles should we use?

Which tiles are best for the floor?

What to consider when choosing floor tiles?

Many Tiling experts worldwide highly recommend these several types of tiles. They are a widely used material, durable, and provide an aesthetic look to any area within your home or office; they are:

While having popularity worldwide, these tiles can only be found in the best tile stores in your locality. For convenience, these tiles are categorized into three groups, i.e. porcelain, ceramic and stone. The most expensive to purchase and install are stone tiles that offer a long-lasting look and contemporary feeling. They can be maintained on a low budget only once a year, have significant durability, and be cleaned easily.

What is back buttering?

What is back-buttering? The word back-buttering describes applying a thin layer of adhesive to the back of the tiles using the flat side of the trowel. Back buttering is a popular option for tile layers to help make tiles have an extra bond to the surface. 

To back butter your tiles, place a small amount of glue on the rear of your tile, then use your notch or a hand trowel to coat the backside of the tiles before placing them onto your trowed adhesive.

It is a frequently asked question whether or not to back butter your tiles. However, we recommend in many situations to do this, especially if you are using large format tiles. But if you still feel any hesitation in this matter, call an expert for help with your tiling. Always try to go for the option which will give you the best results. 

Is it possible to paint tiles?

The question that many people around the globe often ask is, can we paint over the tiles? If you need to update your tiles fast and at a low cost, you can paint your tiles with specific paint.

Your tiles can look great in any living area of your home. Painting tiles is not recommended in wet areas but can be beneficial in other areas of your home.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, this blog post will help you achieve the right tiling path. You can check out our other articles at Tiler Tiling Perth - Articles. 

Make sure you have checked over everything before starting any project. Keep in mind that tiling can be a difficult task if you don't have any experience, so contact your local tilers to see how they can help you if you have any doubts about tiling yourself.

Need Help With Your Next Tiling Project In Perth?

Do you need help with your next tiling project, if so just give your  local professional tilers - Tiler Tiling Perth a message or call and we can provide you with a free no-obligation quote.

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