Things to Think About Before Starting Your Tiling Project

By Fred Snow

Once upon a time tile surfaces were reserved for only the very wealthy. They were so expensive that only the rich could afford them. But the price of tiling has dropped dramatically in the past few decades and you'll find tiled walls and floors in all types of homes. The reasons are simple, ceramic tiles offer an incredibly durable surface that's easy to clean. It's much more durable than alternatives like vinyl or linoleum. It also adds a luxurious feel to your home. It's become so affordable that many people are going the do it yourself rout and installing their own ceramic tile. If that's you, there are a few things you need to consider before ever getting started.

The first thing you need to decide on is a pattern. Remember that ceramic tile, unlike painting or wallpapering, is very hard to redo. While its more affordable than ever, it's still more expensive than other options. So think carefully before staring work. Be very wary about going with the current design trend. What looks great and modern today may look outdated as soon as fashions change. Remember, you want tile to add value to your home, not make it look old fashion (unless that is the style you're going for in your interior decorating). What you put up today is what you're going to be living with for quite a while.

Think too about your color scheme. If you change your mind after painting a room, you can always repaint. It may seem like a lot of work, but after you finish with your ceramic tile work, painting will seem like a breeze. Remember that just like with paint, white tiles will add depth to your room and make it look larger. Darker tiles will do just the opposite. While we're talking about colors, let's not forget about your grout color. Be careful if you choose a colored grout, if you're not very careful it can stain your tiles. You'll be applying grout as one of your final steps and it would be a shame to ruin your hard work. If you choose a color that contrasts with your tile, you could find that when you're finished, your variations in joint width are painfully obvious. If so, that means reworking your tile or at a minimum regrouting.

Not that you've picked out your color scheme, and before you get down to the actual work, one more tip. I'm sure you've heard the old woodworker's adage "measure twice and cut once." The same rule applies to tiling. Measure everything. Know where every tile is going before you start out. Don't let your desire to start working make you skimp on this stage. Or you might find that you've tiled yourself into a corner and have to make some outrageous cuts in your tiles. So measure, measure, measure, and when you've finished measuring, measure one more time just to be sure.

All of these tips can be summed up in one word: planning. Remember that ceramic tile is almost permanent. If you find that you don't like your tile work when you're finished, you only have two choices. Either live with it or go to the expense in time and money to rework it. But if you've done your planning, you won't have any surprises and your work will be much easier.