The Right Tools for the Job!

Date: Dec 20 2018 1:17PM

The Right Tools for the Job!

When it comes to tiling, having the right tools is essential to ensure a satisfactory end result. So just what do you need to get your project off to a flying start?

A pencil and tape measure are the first part of the tiling process and once you have planned out just how your are going to position your tiles so that they are centralised and any cuts necessary are even and well placed then you can get down to the nitty gritty of tiling.

A spirit level and plumb line will ensure that your tiles are level and perfectly in line, always make sure that the level you are using is true as any discrepancies at this point could throw the line of your tiles out! Once you start to fit your tiles, spacer crosses and pegs will keep your tiles evenly spaced ensuring a professional finish, with 2-3mm spacers ideally suited for walls and 3-5mm for floors.

Good quality tile cutters are ideal for ceramic tiles but if you are cutting porcelain then you really need to be using a diamond wet cut saw and also diamond drill bits for any holes you may need to drill. There are a variety of tile nippers available and it is advisable to check suitability for intended use as you will need nippers with a tungsten carbide edge for porcelain and glass mosaics.

Bucket trowels are perfect for mixing your adhesives but you will need a notched trowel for spreading and these come in a variety of sizes. A 3x3x3mm notched trowel is perfect for mosaics but you may want to try a 6 x 6x 6mm for small to medium wall tiles and an 8x8x8mm for larger format wall tiles. If its floor tiles that you are laying then a 10x10x10mm trowel is ideal but a large u notched trowel 20x10x10mm is more suited to larger format tiles with a thicker adhesive bed.

Now your tiles are starting to take shape the last part of the process is grouting and once you have allowed at least 12 hours between fixing and grouting you can start the task at hand. For this you will need a trowel for mixing and a grout float for applying your grout, never use hard edged or metal implements for spreading your grout as you could damage your tiles! Once you have finished grouting leave at least 15 minutes before using a sponge to clean any excess and a dry cloth to polish your tiles. Take care that you don’t leave your tiles too long before cleaning as this may result in a grout haze that is difficult to remove!