By Dan Martin

How To Tile A Bathroom

  • Monday 16 May 2022
  • 6 minute read

Featuring endless design options and essential water-resistant properties, bathroom tiles offer the perfect blend of durability and style. Whether you’re updating your bathroom or giving it a complete makeover, tiling a bathroom yourself can be a rewarding DIY project. Our comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to tile your bathroom. Read on to find out more. 

What you’ll need to tile a bathroom 

When tiling in a bathroom, you’ll first need to choose what type of tile to use. Each tile has different properties, making them more suited to specific areas of your bathroom, for example:  

  • Ceramic tiles are budget-friendly, easy to install and ideal for walls or low-traffic areas.
  • Porcelain tiles are dense, water-resistant and perfect for bathroom floors and wet zones. 
  • Natural stone tiles like marble or slate offer a luxurious look, but need sealing to prevent moisture damage.
  • Mosaic tiles are small, decorative and great for curved surfaces or adding grip to shower floors. 

Read our guide for bathroom tile ideas and tips.

Tools and PPE

Once you’ve chosen your tiles, gather the following equipment:  

  • Tile adhesive
  • Tile cutter  
  • Tile spacers 
  • Tile nippers  
  • Notched trowel  
  • Grout  
  • Spirit level  
  • Tape measure 
  • Rubber mallet 
  • Length of wood (to make a gauging stick) 
  • Pencil  
  • Bucket, sponge and clean water 
  • Safety goggles  
  • Dust mask  
  • Gloves

How to tile a bathroom wall

After collecting the correct tools and materials, follow the steps below: 

  1. Work out how many tiles you need to cover your wall space and add 10% to allow for breakages and spares.
  2. Prepare your walls for tiling by ensuring they’re sanded, flat and clean. Score glossy surfaces with a notched trowel to help the adhesive grip.  
  3. Seal porous tiles before starting if necessary.  
  4. Find and mark the wall’s centre point with vertical and horizontal lines using a spirit level to ensure you place them symmetrically.  
  5. Make a gauging stick using a length of wood slightly longer than half the wall you’re tiling. Lay it on the floor, placing tiles and spacers lengthways along the stick, and mark their position on the wood with a pencil.  
  6. Plan your tile layout using the gauging stick, ensuring edge tiles are equal sizes on opposite sides.  
  7. Measure and cut your first tile to fit the space, starting at the bottom.
  8. Apply adhesive to each tile using a notched trowel, then press firmly into position.  
  9. Insert spacers between tiles as you work across the wall.
  10. Apply grout with a float, pressing into gaps without air bubbles once all tiles are set and dry.  
  11. Wipe the tiles clean with a damp cloth after 15 minutes.
  12. Spray with grout protector to prevent water damage and limescale buildup. 

Tips for a professional finish

For expert results, follow these tips:

  • Purchase tiles from the same batch to ensure the colour matches. You can find the batch number on the packaging. 
  • Use tile trim or edge profiles for polished edges. Press the trim into the adhesive before placing the edge tiles. 
  • Always use tile spacers for uniform grout lines. Remove them before the adhesive fully sets to avoid permanent fixing.  
  • To avoid lippage, spread adhesive evenly using a notched trowel, press firmly with a slight twist and frequently check alignment with a spirit level. 

How to tile a bathroom floor

Follow these steps when tiling a floor:

  1. Ensure the floor is clean, dry and level. If your floor is concrete, tile directly onto it, but if you have timber floors, cover them with primed plywood before tiling. 
  2. Locate the room’s midpoints and dry lay tiles with spacers. Start from the centre, working outwards to walls or fixtures.  
  3. Mark where the last whole tile ends before the wall or object. On concrete, draw a line at this endpoint. On plywood, secure a batten after checking for pipes and cables. 
  4. Repeat the step above, working perpendicular to the previous direction.  
  5. Apply adhesive and lay tiles in the defined space, ensuring they’re flat and straight. Remove battens once set. 
  6. Create paper templates for fixtures like toilets and sinks, cut tiles using clippers, sand edges and adhere them in place. 
  7. Apply the tiles around the edges, measuring the distance between the last whole tile in each row and the wall, as it might not be uniform. Cut the tile to size and apply adhesive. 
  8. Grout tiles using the same wall-tiling method, after they’re completely dry. 

Tiling around toilets and pedestals

To achieve a professional finish around toilets and fixtures, follow these instructions:

  1. Create a template using thick paper or cardboard by tracing the fixture’s outline, including its curves. Cut out and test-fit against the fixture before transferring to tiles.  
  2. Mark the template onto your tile with a pencil. Use tile clippers for curved cuts, working carefully around curves and in small sections to avoid cracking.
  3. Smooth rough edges with a tile file or sandpaper for a clean finish, and test-fit each piece before applying adhesive. 

Apply adhesive to cut tiles and press into position using spacers for consistent gaps. Allow to dry completely before grouting.

How to remove tiles in a bathroom

To remove bathroom tiles, complete the following:

  1. Start by breaking the first tile with a chisel and hammer placed at its centre. Collect the sharp fragments.  
  2. Once the first tile is out, slide the chisel behind the surrounding tiles against the wall or floor, tap with a hammer and lever them away.
  3. Scrape off the dried adhesive to create a smooth surface for future work like re-tiling, plastering or painting. 
  4. Collect debris, sweep with a dustpan and brush, then vacuum and wipe surfaces to remove all dust. 

Read our guide on how to remove bathroom tiles for more detailed instructions. 

How much would it cost to tile a bathroom?

Tiling a bathroom in the UK typically costs between £600 and £1200, depending on the size of the space, the type of tiles used and whether you hire a professional or take the DIY route.

How long does it take to tile a bathroom?

On average, professionals take 2 to 5 days to tile a bathroom, but if you’re completing a DIY job, it could last 3 to 6 days. The timeframe depends on the size of your bathroom, the complexity of your tiles and how long they take to dry. 

Refreshing your bathroom with style

Tiling is a straightforward and rewarding way to transform your bathroom. With proper preparation and planning, it’s an achievable project for any DIY enthusiast that adds lasting style and value to your home.  

Ready to complete your bathroom transformation? Explore Mira’s range of showers, enclosures and accessories to complement your newly tiled space. 

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