General tips for tiling:
1. Tiling is about an orderly repeated pattern. To aid in keeping tiles aligned neatly, draw a grid on the wall, based on the tile size plus grout gap. For floor tiling, lay the tiles out with spacers, and leave them there while affixing tiles in batches.
2. For wall tiles, start by affixing a board about two tile lengths up from the floor, for tiles to rest on and to ensure they are level to the floor. Use wedges instead of cross-spacers, which suit the tile depth and grout gap, to assist in levelling the tiles.
3. Only mix about 3sqm of tile adhesive at a time. It should be the consistency of tooth paste. A wooden spatula can be used instead of a rotary mixer for smaller jobs (e.g. 3sqm worth).
4. Tile adhesive should be spread with a toothed trowel across the entire back of the tile. Clean off any drips before pressing into place. Don't slide tiles into place.
5. For floor tiling, butter the floor with adhesive. For wall tiling, especially tiles larger than 200mm square, butter the back of the tile rather than the wall for neatness. This helps reduce surplus adhesive doesn't block up the grout gaps.
6. Keep the working area and your hands clean. Keep a sponge in a bucket of water nearby to wipe hands and drips of adhesive, as you work.
7. Tile spacers (crosses) can be left in place.
8. Wipe off any drips of adhesive, especially in the grout gap. Leave adhesive to cure for 24 hours before grouting.
Grouting:
1. Use a sharp knife to cut out any tile adhesive that squeezed up into the grout gap.
2. Brush off any loose adhesive.
3. Spray the area lightly with water.
4. Mix grout with a sealant additive to reduce bacteria, fungi and mould growth. Mix up to 3sqm. A wooden spatula is fine. Leave it for 5 minutes to stiffen.
5. If grout hardens in the bucket, give it a mix with the spatula and it will become viscose again.
6. Start at the bottom of the wall or the furthest edge of the floor from the door. Use a foam-bottom trowel to push grout into the tile gaps, ensuring grout is not just sitting on the surface of the gap.
7. Run the edge of the foam diagonally across the tiles to remove any excess grout. Work quickly, as grout sets fast.
8. Only do up to 3sqm at a time, then go over the grouted area with a damp (not wet) sponge to moisten and remove grout from the tile surface.
9. After about 15 minutes, use a clean sponge to wipe the tiles again. Do two wipes (front and back of sponge) then rinse the sponge. Take the time to be fastidious.
10. Leave the grout to set for 24 hours. Polish tiles with a cloth, then reseal to help create water and stain resistance.
11. When resealing grout, don't use a roller-applicator, as this wastes the sealant liquid. Instead, use a paint brush. It also gets into the corners more easily.
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