If you’re considering tile work of any kind, you may be left wondering if you should try to tackle the job on your own or if it would be better to hire a professional. Tile work is often one of the most under rated home improvement projects. Whether you want tile flooring throughout your home, in your bathroom, kitchen, mudroom, etc. you may be tempted to try and tackle the job on your own. While it indeed can be done, tile work can be tricky, and if not done properly can lead to a laundry list of issues that could need repair later down the line, often costing more than hiring a professional for the installation in the beginning. So, what exactly could go wrong? While there is a long list of potential “wrongs” or mistakes that can be made, there are a few that seem the most common when doing your own tile work.
What Can go Wrong With Tile Work?
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Cracking/Breaking: Obviously the most common problem you risk is having your tile break or crack which can lead to a whole slew of problems. While tile is quite durable once it is laid, and laid properly, it can be rather fragile when being moved and installed making it prone to breaks.- Underlayment Problems: While it may seem like you can simply sweep up an area and start laying your tiles right away, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a lot, and we mean a LOT of prep work that goes into preparing the proper underlayment. Even the slightest issue with your surface can lead to sags, cracks, and damage.
- Grout: Even if everything looks great once it’s been laid, using the wrong grout can ruin the whole project. From uneven surfaces, to bubbles, dents, dips, and clashing colors, your grout is just as important as the rest of your tile work.
- Caulking: While not needed in all tile jobs, when conducting tile work in bathrooms and areas that see high moisture, you’ll need to make sure to caulk along all the edges as well as the joints as this helps protect the tile from potential damage as well as helps to eliminate the risk of mold growth. Unfortunately, many homeowners accidentally skip this step.
- Materials: There is nothing worse than getting to the tail end of a job only to realize you ran out of tiles. Tile work is precise and guessing on how many tiles you’ll need for the job can nearly always leave you short. While in some cases you can still purchase the additional materials, if you’ve already done the prep work and started the job, chances are, time isn’t on your side.
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If you are hoping to have tile work done within your home and feel hiring a professional would be the best choice for you, have questions regarding your next home improvement project, or would like to speak to one of our design experts, please feel free to contact our office at any time.
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