Clean, modern and made for Aussie living, tiles are a home staple. Great for splashbacks, flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms, you can expect a sleek and polished look without a lot of maintenance needed.
If you are looking to retile any part of your home, it can be tricky to achieve the look you’ve always wanted while getting the most out of an ever-increasingly tight budget. You really don’t want to mess up when it comes to your tile selection, grout choice and DIY handy work!
That’s why we asked the experts at Beaumont Tiles to share their best tiling tips, biggest pitfalls to avoid and top picks when tackling the world of tiling.
Time to Tile! Top 12 Tiling Tips
There’s a lot to know about tiling, especially if you are doing it yourself. It’s completely and 100% possible to retile any area of your home as a DIY project but we do suggest speaking to a professional first. You will need specific tools and advice depending on what area you’re tiling, the type of tiles you’re using and more.
Here are a few tiling tips to keep in mind, regardless of where you plan to tile.
Before you begin:
1. Do your research! Make sure you check out the types of tiles, the designs, etc. Porcelain tiles are really popular as are ceramic tiles. Smaller subway tiles tend to work well for splashbacks but larger tiles are preferred for flooring. Make sure you also check out slabs – these are really really big tiles that look amazing and definitely bring that WOW factor.
2. Get a visual: If you need help determining what tile to use, BeVisual Live offers a live and real-time design tool that is super easy to use. Simply take a pic of your family or main floor area, upload it, and you’ll be able to see what your tile choices will look like.
3. Do a tile check. When your tiles come in, always check your tiles are the correct size, colour and shade and that you have enough to complete the job (with spares) before you start.
4. Clean your tiles: Tiles must be dry and the back of the tile clean. Any loose powder on the backs of tiles should be brushed off. Dry lay some tiles first to ensure the blend is acceptable before you start glueing tiles down.
5. Prep your area: This may include filling in any holes washing off dust and dirt, making sure the area is even and waterproofing.
6. Gather all materials. There’s nothing more annoying than having to leave your house half-tiled because you don’t have the right tool. Download a tiling checklist before you begin of everything you need which will include tiles, an adhesive, a trowel, a measuring tool, grout, a waterproofing agent, a sealer, a sponge, grout tools and more.
Laying the tiles and grout
7. Choose your pattern. This can be really fun! There are heaps of patterns to play with. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a good place to start is with the most common types which are stack, brick bond, herringbone or staggered.
8. Start in the middle. Whether you’re tiling walls or floors, always lay the first tile in the middle and work outwards. Measure first to make sure there are not going to be small unsightly cuts on either end and then place your first tile accordingly. If you start from the edge, you’re likely to end up with inconsistent grout lines and messy edges.
9. Use the right notched trowel. Do not use the spot-fixing method, and always apply adhesive horizontally with a notched trowel, rather than in a swirling motion.
10. Ensure complete contact. The whole back of each tile must be in good contact with the adhesive. Press tiles firmly into the adhesive bed, slide the tile across the notches of adhesive, and then slide back into position. Now and then, lift a tile from the adhesive to check that complete contact with the adhesive is being made.
11. Grout selection matters! The space between the tiles makes a big difference to your overall look which is why your grout colour counts. You might want to go with a complimentary shade which is ideal when using marble, cement, timber or stone look tiles and on their flooring as it gives a beautifully uniform and seamless result. A contrasting grout colour is perfect when you want the tiles to create a strong design statement or add some ‘pop’ to your space.
12. Be patient! Always allow the grout to dry and for a film to set on the face of the tiles. Once the grout is completely dry after 48 hours, we recommend applying a grout sealer to make cleaning easier.
3 Tiling Pitfalls to Avoid
Tiling isn’t the easiest of activities – it takes time, patience and precision – so it’s understandable that many DIYers hit some speed bumps along the way. Below are the top three pitfalls to keep in mind – and avoid if possible!
1. Not ordering enough: Calculate the area to be tiled in square metres by multiplying the length by the width. Then depending on the size of your tiles, you can calculate how many you need to cover a single metre. In addition, you should always allow for breakages and mishaps during the project, with an extra 10% added to your calculation.
2. Not prepping your tiles or walls: Before you lay any tiles you will need to ensure they are clean and free of any debris. You should also prep your walls or flooring by making sure they are level and, if needed, waterproofed with a waterproofing agent. This is especially important in the bathroom.
3. Rushing the job: Tiling is a long process and it’s not something you can do in a day. You will need to take time to prep the tiles and space, to lay down your tiles in a design you like, cut some to size, wait at least a day between tiling and grouting and of course, seal any natural stone or grout. Yes, it can be time-consuming and tricky to fit in, especially if you have kids wanting attention, but it’s worth it!
Tile Picks from Beaumont Tiles
Now that you know what to do (and what not to do), it’s time to move on to your tile selection! Christie Wood, Beaumont Tiles design specialist shared her top tile picks for all areas of your home. Whether you are giving your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry a bit of a facelift – it’s easy to achieve the look you want for less with the Beaumont Max Range.
Below are some of the amazing tiles featured in this max value, max quality range.
For Spectacular Splashbacks: United Subway Range
The United Subway range offers plenty of options for marvellous designs thanks to its broad range of colours, finishes and ways to lay them. Best of all, these subway tiles are simple, elegant and affordable!
Beaumonts wanted to provide popular styles at an affordable cost, and no tiles are more popular than our subway ranges,” Beaumont Tiles’ design expert, Christie Wood tells Mum Central.
“There are so many different ways to lay [subway tiles], whether in a horizontal, herringbone, crosshatch, vertical stack, step ladder, and you get the idea… They are also a quick win reno if you do up your splashback in your laundry or kitchen.”
If you are tackling a DIY tile project, splashbacks using subway tiles are the ideal starter project. Splashback tiles are suitable for several areas of your home including your kitchen and washroom.
For your laundry and bathroom: Ice Pietra Pearl Range
If you are looking to give your bathroom or laundry a refresh, then Christie recommends the stunning Ice Pietra Pearl range which is stylish and subtle enough to use along walls, in the shower and on the floors.
“If you are going for a fresh contemporary look, try using our United Pumice Satin for your laundry splashback and a lighter-coloured floor tile like the Ice Pietra Pearl range.
“These ranges are guaranteed to bring fresh air to your laundry and will make washing your clothes a little bit better.”
For your living space floors: Ice Pietra Charcoal or Ice Pietra Grey
Tiling your floors is one of the smartest things you can do to add value to your home but also make it more hygienic, liveable and maintenance-free, a must when you have kids who have an uncanny ability to spill everything on the floors. A larger tile is always best for larger living areas with less grout in between.
Christie says:
Adding a large format tile like the Ice Pietra Charcoal Polished brings the elegance of that marble look with a reflection that will shimmer in the sunlight and bring joy to the space.
If you are after a bit of lighter tile for your modern living space, consider using Ice Pietra Grey silk to lighten up the room and add sky blue furniture to contrast the lovely canvas the range creates.”
For your outdoor area: Screed range
Screed is another affordable and large tile option that is especially perfect for your outdoor area. Thanks to its superior durability ratings, it offers a slick outdoor look guaranteed to hold up under any barbecue or summer soirees.
Our Screed range can offer all the style you need to make your outdoors shine; coming in Charcoal, Grey, White or Ivory, you have plenty of options to get the style you’re after.
My pick is the Screed White. I love how it glistens and the refreshing look it brings to a courtyard. It’s superb and would make me want to stay out there forever.”
Find your perfect tile
Regardless of where you’re tiling, whether you’re doing it yourself or passing it over to a professional, the expert team at Beaumont Tiles is always there to help get that reno started. Their Beaumont Max Range is our top pick for affordability and quality but check out the entire selection online or in-store. Happy tiling! 
This is a sponsored post for Beaumont Tiles
