Wall and Floor Tiling

Tiling is the part of a bathroom everyone sees, so it’s easy to judge it on colour and pattern alone. In my experience, how long tiling lasts is decided earlier: by the surface it’s fixed to, the adhesive holding it and the preparation done before the first tile goes on.

I’m Ivan Bodnar, an independent renovation specialist in Melbourne. Wall and floor tiling is one of the areas I’ve worked in most closely over about 15 years of residential renovations, usually as part of a complete bathroom renovation in Malvern and nearby suburbs.

THE SURFACE UNDERNEATH

Flat, sound and suited to tile

Tile follows whatever it’s fixed to. If a wall is out of plane or a floor has dips, the tiles show it as lippage and uneven joints. Loose or damaged sheeting has to be dealt with before tiling, not hidden behind it.

THE ADHESIVE

The right bed for the tile

Adhesive needs to suit the tile size, the surface and whether it’s a wall or floor. Good coverage behind each tile matters: hollow spots can lead to cracked or loose tiles later.

THE TILE AND GROUT

Set out before it's set in

I plan the layout so cuts land where they make sense, joints stay consistent and the tiles line up with fixtures, corners and openings. Grout then closes the joints and finishes the surface.

Wall tile placed against combed adhesive, with spacers holding the joint.

LAYER 2 — ADHESIVE AND TILING

A tile is only as good as its bed

Combing adhesive with a notched trowel and pressing each tile firmly into it is what creates a solid bond. It’s slower than spotting adhesive on the back of a tile, but it avoids the voids that let tiles crack under load or work loose over time.

For more on what sits behind the finish, read What the Visible Finish Doesn’t Tell You.

WALLS AND FLOORS

Same tile, different demands

Wall tiling

Walls need to be straight and plumb so the tiles sit flat and the joints run true. Around a shower, niche or vanity, careful set-out keeps cuts tidy and edges neat where tile meets fixtures and trims.

Floor tiling

Floors carry weight and movement, and in a bathroom they need to direct water towards the waste. That means checking the level and fall of the base first, and choosing a tile that suits a wet floor.

THE FINISH

What I check before a tile goes on

Whether the existing surface is sound, flat and suitable for tiling
The level and fall of the floor towards the waste
Which adhesive and grout suit the tile and the location
A layout that balances cuts and lines up with fixtures
How edges, corners and junctions will be finished

Because these conditions vary from one bathroom to the next, the work involved can’t be judged from a photo. That’s why I offer an on-site assessment before quoting.

Large-format wall tiles with straight, consistent grout lines.

LAYER 3 — WATERPROOFING

A note on waterproofing

In wet areas, waterproofing sits beneath the tiles and is just as important as the tiling itself. Where required, waterproofing and any plumbing or electrical work are completed by appropriately licensed specialists, and I may coordinate their involvement as part of your renovation. Read more on Plumbing, Electrical and Regulated Work.

Tiling is usually one layer of a complete bathroom renovation.

See how it fits into Bathroom Renovations in Malvern, or request a quote and I’ll arrange to look at your bathroom.