Five tile pattern choices you need to know when redecorating
Our handy tips for retiling your home in 2022
Retiling your home could give your floors a new lease on life
If you have decided to retile your floor, it may seem like a daunting option at first; however, with our handy hints and tips, retiling your home isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Tiling is a great choice for any busy and functional home thanks to its easy maintenance and hard-wearing material.
Bathrooms, kitchens and hallways, in particular, are a great choice for tiles, but with underfloor heating, you could pretty much tile any floor in your home and still be left with that warm and cosy feeling underfoot.
Tiles are waterproof, meaning they are great for busy areas that are likely to see a lot of water – either from your tap or the weather!
This month, The Aylesbury Tile Centre gives you a handy guide on retiling your home. Although we focus on bathrooms and kitchens in our blog, you can take these tips and apply them anywhere in your home!
Choosing the right tiles and preparing your space
To get an attractive and professional finish, we recommend planning your tile rows in advance to avoid a messy and uneven look. Retiling your home should always begin from the centre line of your wall or floor so that any cut-to-size pieces will end up at the side of each room and will be the same size.
Following this step will mean you end up with a symmetrical look – definitely important for your floors and walls. To help with marking out your tile rows, we recommend using a tile gauge to support your layout.
For your bathroom, using a tile with an anti-slip finish will provide a safe and high-quality finish. At The Aylesbury Tile Centre, we have a wide range of tiles that are perfect for your bathroom floor and will give you protection from slipping when getting out of the tub or shower.
Check your tiles before you begin to lay them – there is nothing worse than getting halfway through laying your tiles and finding that the quality has changed or you have several cracks that are irreparable.
At The Aylesbury Tile Centre, we only supply the highest quality tiles and will ensure that your tiles are in perfect condition prior to you collecting them.
Prepare your floor or wall before you begin retiling. It’s important to understand whether your floor is suitable for tiles. If you are not sure, we recommend asking the experts in your local tile store; however, if the floor has previously been tiled, its likely to be fine with some TLC – make sure there are no remnants of the previous tile before you begin your retiling process.
Whilst you are checking your floor, make sure it’s level – if not, you may have to use a levelling compound before you begin. Similarly, if your wall is uneven, you may need to plaster before tiling.
Lastly, to avoid irritating your skin, get yourself a trusty pair of rubber gloves to protect you from the grout and adhesive you will be using throughout the process of retiling your home.
Tips for retiling your kitchen floor and walls
Whilst it’s an obvious one, it’s important to note that you choose the right tiles for the room you are retiling. If you are unsure of which tiles you should be looking at, we recommend speaking to one of our team members, who will be able to advise you further.
Light-coloured tiles will make your room appear bigger, helping the natural light to bounce around the room and giving you a spacious feel.
The kitchen is a busy place and is often the place where you will entertain guests. It can also be tricky to decorate your kitchen, so patterned tiles are a great way to add a bit of flare and personality.
Tiles can be used to create the ideal splashback or throughout your kitchen to add a bold statement. If you like the idea of a patterned tile but are worried it may be too much, a shaped tile could provide a clean, contemporary and subtlely decorated look.
If you are using a natural stone tile effect, you will find that due to the nature of the stone, not all your tiles will appear the same. This is why it’s important to lay your tiles out before you fix them to the floor.
That way, you can match up patterns and tiles that look good together, giving you the best finish for your floor. We recommend using the best-looking tiles in the most visible of places and leaving those with slightly less depth or colour to the areas that are likely to be hidden.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to avoid wastage when you are retiling. That’s why you should always order 10% more than you are going to need to ensure you can complete your project without delay.
If you aren’t sure which style of tile you think would be best for your retiling your home, why not pay a visit to our showroom, pick out your favourite from a wide range and take samples home so you can see how they work in your space and with the natural light you have.
Our staff will be on hand to guide you through the process and to ensure you have everything you need if you are undertaking this retiling project yourself.
This may also interest you:
Creating a positive and impactful space with Aylesbury tiles
Increase the price of your property rental with tile installations
Purchase your tiles and accessories with the Aylesbury Tile Centre
Undertaking your own retiling project can be exciting and leave you with an immense sense of accomplishment – if you have the necessary hints, tips and guidance to rely on.
At The Aylesbury Tile Centre, we have supported thousands of customers not only to find the perfect tile for their home but also to ensure they have everything they need to complete the retiling themselves.
If you are planning on retiling your home over the next couple of months and need some tools, support and advice, visit our tile showroom on Chamberlain Road, Aylesbury, for everything you could ever need!