What to Expect with Your Tiling Project

A tile installation is an exciting project because of how much it allows the homeowner to be creative and add a personal touch to the job at hand. Watching your vision take shape will help level some of the sting of what you'll have to put up with during the installation phases. However, whether your tile project is a new floor, countertop, bathroom or other project, knowing ahead of time what to expect while your tile installation is in progress makes a world of difference in being able to weather the inconveniences that are part of this process.

General Advice
A tiling project is the same as any other major home improvement project in that you'll need to resign yourself to the dirt, dust, and noise that comes along with it. Laying tile entails tearing up the previous flooring; sanding down and shoring up the substrate when necessary; the application of mortar and grout during later phases of installation; and the use of power tools along the way. Remember that while nobody enjoys these inconveniences in their immediate living space, they are necessary steps towards a beautiful and long lasting tiling project.

Flooring
If your project involves laying tile as flooring material there's some specific things you'll want to prepare for. First and foremost is the fact that the space being tiled will be off limits to you for the duration of the project, but especially during the time immediately after the tiles are laid and the grout is applied. Plan to stay off of the floor for at least 48 hours after the tiles are laid to be sure the mortar has dried and set. Walking on a newly tiled floor before it has cured is good way to ensure you'll be contacting a tile repairman for his services not too far down the road. That being the case, it's especially important when tiling a floor (though it's a sound rule for any tiling project) that you make sure the newly tiled area is off limits to children and pets until that critical curing time has passed.

Countertops, Showers and Baths
Since you don't typically walk on these surfaces, there is less of a risk of damaging them after installation. Still, all the same rules apply when it comes to leaving them alone until the mortar dries and the grout is set. Additionally, because of the added risk of damage that comes along with these projects' proximity to water, it's important that you refrain from running any source of water until you are sure everything is dry and has been given a green light. If your mortar gets wet before it cures, it will increase the drying time, delaying the project and increasing the likelihood of cracking or other damage to your tiles later on.

A Final Note on Kitchens and Bathrooms
Because many tiling projects impact these two important areas of your home, and because the nature of tile installation requires you to keep off or away from the project until it's completely set, it's important that you expect, and plan for, not having access to these important areas of your home. If you only have one bath in your house you might consider taking a short vacation or staying in a motel for a few nights until the project is finished. For kitchens, you'll want to anticipate when the area is off limits and plan to eat out or order pizzas for a few days until the tile is ready to be used.