Bathroom Remodeling Money Saver - Do It Yourself Tile Setting

DIY tile setting saves money when remodeling bathrooms

Good tile setters are in demand today and because of that they can and do charge hefty fees. When you are remodeling your bathroom, even if it's a very small bathroom, the bill for tile setting alone can come to a tidy sum so it's worth considering whether something can be done about it.

Well it turns out that bathroom tiling isn't that difficult and well within the capabilities of most of us if you have enthusiasm, time and love the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. So why not do the tile setting in your bathroom remodeling project yourself? You could save a lot of money and be proud of your achievement.


Now don't get me wrong, you need to be prepared if you are going to take on a job like this, especially if you've never done anything similar before. Tile setting is no different to anything else that's worth doing; it's a skill that needs to be learned. Don't worry though, all you need is a few do it yourself books and videos and you are set to go. Don't forget to take a look at the books and videos first.

There isn't room here to give you a full tutorial on tile setting but I'll briefly outline the main steps involved to give you a feel for what you need to know about tile setting. If you want to know more then visit Setting Ceramic Tile Made Easy for a more detailed article.

Setting Ceramic Tiles in your bathroom

* Calculate how many tiles you will need.
* Make a simple tile gauge to determine where to place the tiles.
* Use a plumb line and draw a vertical line at the midpoint of your wall to be tiled.
* Fix a horizontal batten to the bottom of the wall.
* Apply adhesive and start fixing tiles from the batten and vertical line and work upwards and outwards using spacers between the tiles.
* Cut tiles to fit and fix at the top, bottom, ends of rows and around any obstructions.
* Fill the gaps with grout.
* Seal between tiles and fixtures to prevent water leaks.
* Stand back and admire the job.

Once you have learned a few basic skills and picked up one or two tricks of the trade from the professionals, you should be set to take on your bathroom-tiling job. This is where the books and videos come in handy because you can learn from other people's experiences this way.

If you are anything like me you will find that it isn't difficult to do a good tile setting job and with a little time and patience you can do an excellent job. It's perfect for the perfectionists amongst us. The job of setting tiles one by one and watching the results flood through your bathroom can even be a relaxing and therapeutic one.

Remember that I said that tile setters are in demand? Well once you've done a good job with your own bathroom tiling there's no reason why you shouldn't do the same for others and make some money doing it. It can be quite addictive and very lucrative.