Top 10 Tips for Tiling a Bathroom: Week 4 of the One Room Challenge
Oct 25, 2024
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This post contains affiliate links from Lowe's Home Improvement
Week 4 of the One Room Challenge with Apartment Therapy is underway and I have spent the entire week tiling and do not currently see an end in sight!
But! I have 2 extra days to work on the bathroom during Week 5 and Week 6, so I think I will catch up?!
This is only the second time I have tiled a space, so I am no expert, but there are a few things I have learned along the way, both about tile installation as well as some design rules when selecting your tile and layout.
When in doubt, the answer is subway tile
Subway tile is and has always been one of the most versatile tile choices.
There are so many gorgeous tiles out there, but if you are going for a timeless AND affordable look, traditional 3x6 subway tile is an excellent choice. Even with a basic, boring white porcelain, you have over a dozen options for layout; numerous grout color choices; and plenty of trim pieces you can incorporate to add texture and interest. This look ends up being anything but boring!
This is more of a personal design choice, but my home is traditional and therefore I prefer that my permanent fixtures (tile, flooring, counters, etc.) match the traditional style of my home. In this way, I ensure that it always looks timeless and not TIME-STAMPED by trends. I can then add more personal touches with my favorite mix of modern + deco in my decor, such as my paint colors, wallpaper, furniture, and art.
For this reason, I chose traditional subway tile (3x6) and not the more modern skinny subway tile (2x6, 4x10, etc) and I went with a classic brick bond and dark grout. This is the look you will find in older homes from the 1950s (my house was built in 1957) and in the old timey stations of the New York subway. Other patterns, like vertical and horizontal stack, are an equally gorgeous but more modern look that I wanted to avoid in this particular project. In my first tiling job, I did my laundry area in a basket weave (#13 in the above pic) and a light color grout to give a subtle interest to the laundry backsplash without going too modern.
Consider your trim pieces
Most tile jobs will have a space where the tile stops, and you may need to consider how you want to trim out that area to add some visual interest and ensure you are not showing a raw exposed or cut edge of a tile.
In the bathroom I decided to do a chair rail height (in this space, estimated to be about 55" inches from the floor). This was for 2 reasons -- in the hopes I could make the small space a bit taller, and to protect the lower portion of the wall from kids dirty hands and destruction. To cap off the top, I used a bullnose tile and to trim out the bottom at the floor, a cove base molding.
There are a bunch of other options as well including corner caps, quarter-rounds, pencil trims. Use these to make your space unique!
Schluter trim is another great option. They have many profiles for transitions from tile to drywall, tile floors to other floors, outside edges, free edges, and even shower niches. I am thinking I will use this on the shower niche. Stay tuned for that.
Select your adhesive
There are two ways to secure tile to your wall -- traditional mortar (also sometimes referred to as Thinset) and adhesive (most common brand is Musselbound). In my first tiling job I used Musselbound and I absolutely loved it. 10/10 recommend. It was great because its fast and not messy, and because you can grout right away (no waiting for the mortar to set).
However, it is more expensive and therefore if you are tiling a large space it will add up. You also cannot use it on floors or on shower areas (or any area that will get wet). You would not want to use it on tile that is very heavy, like Zellige, or on surfaces that are uneven like textured plaster or stucco.
For the bathroom I am using mortar, which you can buy either pre-mixed or in powder form. Powder form is much less expensive, so I went with that one. I selected my mortar based on the information sheet at Floor & Decor, where I bought my tile. Lowe's and other home improvement stores likely have the same guide. Mortar formulas will vary based on the size/weight of your tile, and whether you are doing a wall or floor.
Don't skimp on the supplies and tools that will make your job easier
Once you get started, you will realize that this is going to take longer that you thought. Do not skip purchasing these accessories because they will make the job easier and give you that professional finish. We love DIY but we don't want it to LOOK DIY, right??
Trowel - look to your mortar instructions to purchase the correct trowel, which will be notched according to the size of your tile. The trowel will be used to spread the mortar.
I also purchased a pointed trowel to scoop my mortar onto my notched trowel
Spacers - determine what size grout line you want and purchase spacers to keep your tile laid uniformly
Paint/Mortar mixer for your drill - you have to mix mortar for literally 3 minutes, and then let it rest, and then mix it more. You do not want to tire your arm out mixing!!
Level or laser level - important for obvious reasons
Grout float - for applying grout
Large sponges for wiping mortar and grout and cleaning off haze
Learn the techniques to ensure excellent grip
In short, you spread the mortar with the smooth edge of your trowel, then you run your notches through (vertical or horizontal, does not matter). Then when you place your tile, press firmly and jiggle it perpendicular to your notches. This will help it settle into the mortar and reduce air bubbles underneath.
Secret weapon - toothpick
Toothpicks are your secret weapon for scraping excess mortar out of your grout lines before it dries. They can also help make sure your spacer is sitting fully in the correct space. Sometimes these grout lines are too tiny for fingers to get into! If the mortar has already dried, it is still easy to remove with a little blade or chisel.
Consider your cuts
Some jobs will be straightforward, requiring only straight cuts which are easily done with an inexpensive score & snap tool. Small format tile that comes in sheets may only require cuts of the netting with scissors or a blade! But if you are tiling a large area like me, you'll eventually hit an outlet or window trim that will require an irregular cut, and for that you will need a wet saw. Wet saws do not have to be expensive, and you can also rent them. They sort of look like a table saw but are a lot less dangerous because of their grinding blade, and once you start using it you'll be grateful for the flexibility it can provide for those tricky spaces.
Pre-mixed grout
If you are saving money by using traditional mortar, consider the slight splurge on pre-mixed grout to reduce labor and time. You'll use less grout than mortar and the cost differential is not as significant!
Work in batches
Depending on the size of your space, this might take a while. I am opting to lay all of my full pieces first, then doing straight cuts as I go, then saving the complicated cuts for the end, since these will require the wet saw.
Let go of perfect
If I had to have a motto, it would be Fuck the Patriarchy. But then my second motto would be "done is better than perfect." Have you ever actually inspected the tile in a friends house or old building? Probably not! But if you have, you'll see mistakes! Even with professional jobs! Next time you are sitting on the toilet in a public restroom, check out of the grout lines and caulk lines. Not everything is going to be perfectly level, every grout line exactly equal. That is ok! Don't let perfection be your enemy. Once you ZOOM OUT you'll realize that your job still looks amazing and it might not be worth your time to redo that whole line that is only 98% level instead of 100%. Plus, maybe you can put some artwork over it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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