Top Tiling Tips for your Bathroom Renovation

The process of selecting your new tiles and grout for your bathroom renovation is an exciting one with so many different combinations available to help you create that perfect design scheme. Aside from selecting your new bathroom tiles, however, there are many other important things to keep in mind and communicate to your Tiler in order to ensure a final outcome that meets your expectations in terms of quality and style. 

Tile and Grout Selection

The first step of course, is to select your tiles and grouting, both of which you can view in our Richmond Tile Showroom. You can also book in a virtual consultation with one of our team members where we can present you with an assortment of different tiles and coordinating grout options that will suit your budget and style preferences. You will also find an immense collection of guides and tips on specific queries in our blog, from our best advice on selecting large format tiles to creating the ultimate feature wall in your next bathroom renovation. 

Our stunning Greg Natale Bissaza mosaic tiles create the perfect feature element in this classic bathroom design. The bold mosaic tiles are offset by a simple white square wall tile that is perfectly contrasted by a charcoal coloured grout that not only accentuates the shape of the tiles but also acts as a means of tying together the bolder elements of the overall design.

Your tile grout option will also play a crucial role in the final outcome of your tiling project so it is important to allow this step the same care and consideration as your tile selection. Not only are there different types of grout to choose from (including cement based products and epoxy grouts for example) but the colour of the grout itself will dramatically alter the final outcome of your tiling. For more information on selecting the perfect grout for your bathroom renovation, our grout guide will help you narrow down your options. 

Finding a Tiler

From online directories to social media, it has never been easier to find a great Tiler and to seek out reliable reviews on their work. If you are working with a Designer or Builder (which is always recommended when working on a complete bathroom renovation), they will recommend the most suitable trades for your project as well as supervise the work to ensure there are no miscommunications throughout the project. Your Tiler should be able to show you a range of their previous work for your review; it is important to ensure your Tiler is well qualified and experienced, especially if you have selected specialised tiles or grout, to ensure a perfect end result. Selecting your tiles and grout before hiring a Tiler is an all important step as certain types of grout and tiles may require more (or less!) work to complete to a high quality finish and this will have to be allowed for in your Tiler’s quotation. You will find more detailed information in our guide: The Cost of Tiles.

Using patterned tiles in the bathroom can create quite a striking feature element in the space. It is important to note when selecting your new tiles that any patterned selections that require matching of the tile’s design when laying may often fetch a higher price tag when it comes to labour costs involved as more care and attention to detail is required to ensure a quality and uniform result in your bathroom renovation. Our Dolce porcelain tiles can be used as both a floor or wall tile, creating a dramatic and colourful touch in your interior design scheme.

Plumbing Placement

The final placement of your bathroom’s plumbing fixtures will impact your tile layout and placement so it is important to communicate this information to your Tiler in detail before any work has commenced on your tiling project. Aside from the placement of items such as your shower, mixers, bathtub and toilet, it is also important to confirm your choice of drainage in the shower as this too will affect the layout of your bathroom floor tiles. 

A standard drain versus a linear drainage system will require different methods of installation of your new tiles – These details are all included in the documentation that is supplied by your Designer or Builder to ensure that all the different trades that are working on your bathroom renovation project are on the same page and are able to work in unison. 

Confirm your Tile Layout 

Once again, the final layout of your new bathroom tiles will be specified in your project’s documentation that is supplied by your Designer or Builder, allowing for clear communication of your preferences in terms of how exactly your selected wall tiles and floor tiles will be laid in the space, including where and how the tiles will be cut if required. 

If you have employed your Tiler directly however, it is crucial to communicate this information prior to any work commencing on your project to avoid any mishaps along the way! Use examples of tile layouts (images sourced online or in magazines) that clearly show your preferred tile layout in order to properly communicate your preferences to your Tiler. 

Niches, Edges and Mitres 

Where you are including a niche in your bathroom renovation, it is important to specify and properly communicate the finish you are hoping to achieve to ensure a quality end result. Once again, using visual examples of the look you want to achieve in the space is crucial in communicating your style preferences to your tradespeople. Different types of tile edging include steel strips that are used to conceal the exposed edges of your bathroom tiles as well as a mitred tile edge, where the edge of the tiles themselves are cut at a 45° angle and butted up against each other to form a clean and crisp finish where the tiles meet. This information should also be included in your bathroom renovation’s documentation however, if you are employing the Tiler directly, it is crucial to communicate this information early on in your tiling project to ensure your tradespeople understand and deliver your preferences. 

Our sleek and stylish stone-look Oakland tiles are used in this modern shower to create a mitred edge on the niche, achieving a crisp finish that perfectly complements the modern design scheme.

Mixing your Tiles

Most tiles will show slight variations in pattern or colour, even if they are all the same exact type of tile. As tiles are manufactured and placed directly into their boxes, it is recommended that they be mixed upon receipt of your delivery to ensure these variations are well dispersed throughout the project and do not become overly repetitive. This will ensure a quality result in your bathroom renovation with your tiles offering a more unified finish. 

Cleaning

Cleaning up both during and after a tiling project can be quite the messy task! Excess grout for example, should never be washed down your drains as it will solidify and cause permanent damage to the systems which can be rather costly to repair. All fittings and fixtures in the space should be properly protected to ensure no damage comes to these items throughout the process and it would also be a good idea to use drop sheets on your home’s flooring leading up to the bathroom and any nearby exits to avoid any damage to your flooring. Grout and especially epoxy grout will require removal immediately if it happens to fall on your flooring or bathroom fixtures as once again, it may solidify if left on the item and become extremely difficult to remove so it is especially important to pay close attention to cleaning up both during and at the end of your tiling project. 

Following our tiling tips, you can ensure a smooth and straight forward tiling project in your bathroom renovation, ensuring all parties involved are on the same page to help you create your dream bathroom. Our team at Perini Tiles can assist and guide you through the process, offering their best advice to ensure the perfect outcome for your project.