“It’s impossible to escape all the disruption that comes with a tiling renovation, but what you can do is lay the foundation for a smoother, less stressful one,” says Tiisetso Mokotjo, product manager at Saint-Gobain Weber.
While tiling upgrades are inconvenient, time-consuming and messy, there are several steps that can be taken by homeowners to manage and reduce potential stress and mess in the home.
Tile over existing tiles
Let technology work for you and cut out the dust, noise and disruption that comes with chipping out tiles - the bane of any renovation project. When choosing your adhesive, find one that allows tiles to be laid directly onto existing tiles or substrates- preferably one that doesn’t require primer as this cuts out surface preparation work. Not only will this simplify the process, but it also ensures a cleaner, faster and cheaper renovation thanks to a reduction in labour and surface preparation material costs.
Opt for a quick setting adhesive
Contractors, workmen and the possibility of limited access to power and water adds to the disruption of an upgrade. So the trick is to minimise downtime and renovate quickly. There are several quick-setting adhesives on the market, some of which set in as little as six hours. Traditionally, tile adhesives can take up to 48 hours to dry but modern developments are changing this. If your household is a busy one, with pets and young children, lay your tiles last thing in the day and leave them to dry overnight. If tiles are laid during the day, think about taking the family on an outing while the adhesive dries. There are quality products available that not only set in six hours, but are primer-free too, saving you even more time and hassle.
Plan your colours, materials and shopping-list upfront
One thing that can fall by the wayside is the colour of grouting and adhesive. From the outset, match your materials and be sure you have sufficient quantities on site. Plan the process and discuss clearly and concisely what you want upfront to avoid making last minute choices or hardware trips. The rule of thumb for adhesive is to match your tile colour. Weber’s new Renovate offers a white adhesive, which is not always easily available, for lighter tiles, as it avoids staining light coloured tiles. When choosing grout, it’s all about your personal preference – match the tone of the tile for a unified look or go for contrast if you want the tiles to pop. Also make practical considerations like waterproofing early on and consider using an adhesive that doubles as a moisture barrier– it’s especially nifty for kitchens and bathrooms upgrades where moisture levels are high.
“Any renovation is about project management so ensure that you’re organised and plan in advance which will go a long way to making the project simpler, faster and more cost effective, and which can alleviate the pressure on you and your family.” Mokotjo concludes.
