The Finishing Touch For Your Bathroom - Tiling Your Bathtub

There could be nothing more straightforward than the procedure required to do the tiling around the bathtub. Along with some basics from tiling courses and with a bit of learning and patience, any homeowner can probably pull of this task quite easily.

Since tiles are very easy to clean and maintain, they are probably the best option for the bathroom mostly because of the prevalent damp atmosphere. The tiles that you use around a bath may be made of ceramic or stone or glass. The choice is certainly up to you and when deciding on tiles, consider the type of look that you are trying to create and make sure it fits in with the décor of the rest of the room.

To kick start the tiling procedure, you will need to use the basic skills that you learned at the tiling courses that you attended. Make sure that all the tiles are laid out precisely. This is a key step in the tiling job especially when relevant to the steps of measuring and cutting. When setting off on this job, stay away from thinset and use mastic instead. The stickier nature of mastic makes sure that tiles don't slip down the wall or move out of place.

Following this step, measure the height of each wall that is on top of the tub. Divide this length into half to find the exact halfway point on each of these walls. Once you have done this, measure how many tiles will fit below and above this line. If you end up with tiles which are less than half at the top and/or bottom, make a small adjustment to the center mark to give yourself increased working space. A small sliver will certainly look out of place and you will run the risk of cutting it crookedly.

Once the tile layout has been fully planned out by you, start your tiling job at the center mark and work outwards. From the time it has been laid on, mastic will remain sticky for about twenty minutes; hence there is no need for you to put too much on at a time. Make sure that you make deep ridges with the trowel to ensure proper spreading out of the mastic and full adhere to the tiles. To ensure that the tiles are laid evenly, use tile spacers. Tile spacers will also make sure that there aren't any huge areas of grout. Do not forget to leave space between the tub and the bottom row for the caulk.

Just as your tiling courses may have warned you about bath tub tiling, you may need to cut up some tiles to fit edges or for the areas around the faucets. Always remember that the tiles should be measured twice and cut once. Always keep some extra tiles on hand in case there are some unexpected breakages.

Finish off the job by putting in the grouting into the gaps between tiles. This will also help in holding the tiles. The grout should be pushed gently into the gaps and the excess should be wiped off with a damp sponge. Do the final touch on the next day after you have given your project a good chance to dry.

If you are not too confident about your tiling abilities, take up some tiling courses to gather the skills and confidence that you need.

By Poongothai Ratnavadivel