How to Tile Your Bathroom From Top to Bottom

On average, it costs between $886 and $2,868 to lay bathroom tiles, including labor. Pricing depends on contractor fees, the type of tile you’re installing and how much you need. The two most common bathroom tiles are ceramic and porcelain, with the latter being more popular and expensive. If you’re trying to cut costs, you can save an extra $20 an hour by laying the tile yourself. You can also save 60% per square foot if you use ceramic tiles over porcelain.

To avoid loose, uneven tiles, make sure your bathroom floor and walls are completely flat. If the surface is even slightly sloped, install a base board before putting down tile. This ensures you have a solid base for tiling, and helps it stick. You should use a bubble level for this part of the job.

• For floors: We recommend laying bathroom floor tiles on plywood or concrete boards. Not only will this keep your tiles in place, it will also protect your subfloor.
• For walls: Wall tile should be applied on drywall, cement or a backerboard of some sort. In general, it’s important for the surface to be flat and dry. If you’re worried about damaging your walls, having a backing is your best option.

Once you’ve selected a style, choose where to start laying tile in your bathroom and prepare your toolbox. Bear in mind that putting down tile isn’t easy. If you’re a perfectionist, cut yourself some slack. Your tiles won’t all be the same length, and cracking is bound to happen. We recommend buying 15% more tile than your bathroom calls for, to ensure you have enough.

Before getting to work, make sure you have the right tools for the job. While ceramic and porcelain tiles are different, the installation process is identical and requires the same equipment. Here’s a basic list of bathroom tiling tools you’ll need:

• Wet Saw: To cut tile with ease.
• Tile Mortar: The adhesive that keeps your tiles in place. You can spread it across your floor with the notch trowel.
• Notch Trowel: To spread the adhesive evenly, purchase a notch trowel. This sharp, serrated tool ensures your tile will adequately stick to your walls and floors.
• Tile Membrane: A thin, plastic layer laid between your tile and plywood boards. It helps protect your subfloor.
• Tile Spacers: These small, clip-on tools keep your tile pattern consistent. It also ensures you equally space tiles apart.
• Chalk Line: Your tiles won’t be exactly even, but you should try to keep them straight. This tool helps you align your tiles by making a light line between each one.
• Bubble Level: It’s important to choose a flat, even surface for your bathroom tile. A bubble level will help you find a suitable spot.
• Narrow Margin Trowel: When you’re done putting down tile, a narrow margin trowel will help you spread the mortar between your connected tiles. It fits into the smallest gaps and spaces, ensuring your floor or wall is completely covered.
• Rubber Grout Flat: This handheld tool gives your freshly-tiled floor or wall a more cohesive look. A rubber grout flat will fill in any unwanted spaces between your tiles.
• Safety Goggles: To protect your eyes as you cut and lay tile.
• Gloves: Tile installation is messy, and you shouldn’t touch these materials with your bare hands.

Strip your bathroom of its previous décor. Remove your existing flooring, wallpaper and decorations to prepare for tile installation. If you already have tiled walls and floors, make sure to replace the bathroom tile properly. Try not to nick your sink, toilet, bathtub or any other fixture you plan on keeping. We also recommend “dry laying” your tile before committing to a certain style or layout.

Once you’ve prepped your subfloor, determine how much tile you need. To do this, multiply your bathroom floor’s length and width to calculate square footage. Remember to buy more tile than you need to ensure you have enough. Once you have adequate tools and materials, you can start laying bathroom floor tiles. We recommend starting in the corner of your bathroom, so you can square up with the wall.

Use your notch trowel to spread tile mortar across your bathroom floor.

Lay down your tile membrane in sections until the wet tile mortar is completely covered.

Use your chalk line to make a light line across the tile membrane. This helps keep your tiles straight.

Spread another layer of tile mortar over the membrane and lay bathroom floor tiles along the chalk line. Use your tile spacers to keep the pattern even and consistent.

To border your bathroom floor, make a half inch mark on the tile and cut it with your wet saw. Repeat this step for each tile row, and install the resized tiles around the perimeter of your bathroom. This ensures you have enough room for baseboards along the bottom of your wall.

Tile mortar often sticks to your freshly-laid tiles. Use a wet sponge to wipe them off as you work.

Wait 24 hours before grouting your tiles. Then, use your rubber flat to spread the grout between your tiles – make sure to do this in a diagonal pattern.

After 72 hours, you can walk on your tiles and apply silicon sealant around the border of your bathroom. This helps keep your freshly-laid tiles in place.

With a tiled floor, cleaning your bathroom will be easier and much less time-consuming.

If you’re tiling a bathroom wall, choose a stopping point. Unless you’re tiling the entire wall, measure how high your tiles will reach and make a line. In bathroom tile installation, it’s important to know where the pattern will start and where it will end. You should also start laying tile in the center of your wall, to keep the pattern straight and aligned.

Put 10 tiles in a row and measure the length. If you’re using uneven tile, divide this number by 10 to calculate its dimensions.

Use your bubble level to make a top line on the wall you’re tiling – this will be your stopping point.

Measure the length of your wall from top to bottom. If you’re only tiling part of the wall, measure from the floor to your top line.

If your wall won’t end on a complete row of tiles, adjust your top line. In the end, you’ll want to have complete, full rows of tile.

Using your chalk line, make a rectangular grid along your bathroom wall. This helps keep your tiles even.

Halfway between your floor and top line, install a wooden plank – use your bubble level to make sure it’s even. This keeps your first tile row completely straight, and simplifies the rest of your tiling job.

Coat your wall in tile mortar using a notch trowel. It’s important to follow your rectangular grid, and spread the adhesive vertically. If any mortar dirties your tile, use a wet sponge to wipe it off.

Tile your wall, starting on the wooden plank and working your way up.

Continue tiling your wall until it’s completely covered. Work in a diagonal pattern, and remember to take breaks. Once you’ve tiled the first part of your wall, wait 12 hours to remove the wooden plank and install the second half.

When your tiled wall is set and secure, admire your hard work.

Want to add a bit of color to your bathroom? Try installing backsplash tile. Typically laid between your sink and medicine chest, backsplash gives your bathroom a touch of personal style. While the process is similar to tiling an entire wall, your measurements should be taken even more carefully.

Take note of any important outlets on your wall, and be careful not to tile over them.

Install a wooden batten in the middle of your wall. This will be your starting point.

Use your notch trowel to coat the wall in tile mortar. We recommend doing this in sections.

Starting at the wooden batten, lay your tiles in a stair-like pattern. Remember to avoid any important outlets.

After 12 hours, remove the wooden plank and tile the rest of your backsplash wall. Use tile spacers to keep the pattern even and consistent.

About 24 hours after you’ve finished tiling, grout your tiles to keep them shiny and clean. You can do this with your notch trowel.

Once you’ve installed backsplash tile, enjoy it! Unlike your floors and shower walls, backsplash gives your bathroom personal flair.