CRF Services Ltd
Bathroom wall and floor tiling
Tiling is the part of a bathroom everybody looks at first and the part that shows every shortcut. Danny tiles walls and floors as part of full bathroom refits, and also takes on tiling where the rest of the room is staying as it is.
Why the surface underneath matters more than the tile
A good tile laid on a poor surface will crack, sound hollow or let water through within a few years. Before a single tile goes on, the walls and floor are checked for movement, damp, loose plaster and old adhesive. Where the backing is not fit to carry tiles, it is dealt with first, whether that means stripping back, boarding or levelling.
Around the shower and bath the wall needs to cope with water every day. Those areas are given extra attention so that the finished tiling is not the only thing standing between the shower and the wall behind it. This preparation takes time that you will never see once the room is finished, which is exactly why it is worth doing properly.
Setting out before sticking down
Most tiling that looks wrong looks wrong because of the setting out. Thin slivers of tile in a corner, a pattern that drifts off level across a long wall, or a cut that lands right at eye level all come from starting in the wrong place. Danny works out where the cuts will fall before fixing anything, so that the lines sit evenly around windows, niches, the bath and the basin.
If you have a particular layout in mind, such as tiles laid vertically, a feature strip or a half-height wall, say so at the enquiry stage. It changes the amount of cutting and the time involved, and it is far easier to plan it at the start than to change direction halfway up a wall.
What a tiling job usually covers
Every bathroom is different, but a typical tiling visit tends to involve some or all of the following.
- Removing old tiles and cleaning back the surface
- Checking and preparing walls and floors so they are sound and flat
- Protecting wet areas around the shower and bath
- Planning the layout so cuts are balanced
- Fixing wall and floor tiles and cutting around fittings
- Grouting, sealing edges and cleaning the finished surface
Tiling on its own or as part of a refit
Plenty of people come to CRF because the tiles are tired but the suite is fine. Retiling can make a real difference in a room that otherwise works. Bear in mind that taking old tiles off often damages the surface behind them, so a retile is not always as simple as it sounds, and Danny will explain what he finds before carrying on.
If the bath, toilet or basin are also due for replacement, it usually makes sense to do everything at once. Tiling around new fittings gives a cleaner finish than cutting around old ones that may be moved later. The full picture of what a complete refit involves is on the bathroom renovations page.
Choosing tiles that suit the room
You choose the tiles, and Danny is happy to talk through what will work in your space. Large format tiles mean fewer grout lines but need very flat surfaces. Small mosaics suit shower floors and curved areas. Textured or matt finishes on the floor are kinder underfoot when wet. It is worth ordering a little more than the measured area to allow for cuts and breakages, and keeping a few spare tiles after the job in case one ever needs replacing.
Photographs of the room and a note of the tiles you like are the most useful things to send with an enquiry. They let Danny give you a clearer picture of the work before he visits.
This work is part of our Bathroom Renovations service.
Common questions
Bathroom wall and floor tiling questions answered
Have a job in mind?
Tell Danny what needs doing and get a clear, no-obligation quotation.