Avoid buying new tiles by revamping the old ones- you can completely change the look of wall tiles with special tile paints. Spend time doing it properly; take care over the grouting and follow the instructions on the products, and your old tiles will have a new lease of life.

Borrow professional tools- somebody you know is bound to have tile cutting tools, leftover spacers and a spirit level. Just ask around.

Buy from trade outlets- significant savings can be made by asking a friend with a trade account to buy tiles for you, or to let you use their account at a trade outlet. Go to the beautiful, expensive showrooms for inspiration only.

Don’t scrimp on quality- this can be a false economy. If you buy the very cheapest tiles, you may need more of them when they crack and break during installation. Also avoid cutting corners in wet areas such as showers – do the job properly or you will have serious damp problems.

Removal of the Old Tile

Scrape out the grout from around the tile(s) you want to remove. Then, to prevent the drill from slipping, stick some tape on the middle of the broken tile and drill three or four small holes into it. This should help prevent damage to the surrounding tiles.

With a small chisel, chip the broken tile away – beginning from the holes in the centre. Be careful when nearing the edges, to avoid damaging the tiles surrounding the damaged one.

Remove the underlying tile adhesive from the wall using a chisel, doing so carefully to prevent damage of the wall below. Brush or vacuum away any remaining dust or dirt from the wall.

Using a Tile Scriber

Lay the tile, glazed side up, on a solid flat surface, such as a table or wooden board and mark off the dimensions required.  Take a steel rule or similar straightedge and align it with the marks on the tile.  Using the tile scriber, score a deep line across the face of the tile, keeping as close to the straightedge as possible.

Place the tile, face up, on a flat, thin straight piece of wood or similar material, with the score mark running along its edge.  Press firmly down on either side of the groove and the tile will snap along the length of the scored line.

Using a Tile Cutter

This is a more efficient option, especially if you are cutting a number of tiles.

Lay the tile on the cutter board and align the cutter with the score marks previously made by using a scriber.  Position the cutter blade on the edge of the tile and draw it towards you.  This creates a groove in the tile.  Finally, bring the handle down to split the tile.

Using a tile cutter takes a little getting used to, so it is advisable practice on old or broken tiles, before moving on to new ones.

A bed of mortar needs to be laid first, as base for the tiles. Adhesive as used on regular ceramic tiles will not be sufficient to secure them in place.  Quarry tiles are also tougher to cut, and score lines used in conjunction with a hammer is the usual method of getting them to split evenly and neatly.  Apart from these considerations, the general modus operandi is the same as for glazed tiles.

Mark off the area to be tiled with wooden battens and fill it with a shallow layer of pre-mixed mortar, which can be bought in any DIY outlet.  Use a trowel to make the bed completely level, and use a spirit level for this rather than relying on the eye.  Use a block of wood to gently tap the quarry tiles into place as you lay them down.

Work slowly and methodically, concentrating on no more than 1 sq metre at a time and keep the tiles slightly separated rather than pressed against each other.  A piece of card can be used for this.

When the floor is covered, use cut strips of tile to fill in the edges and remove all the battens, then allow the mortar to set for about 24 hours. 

Bathroom tiles are quite easy to fit; they are inexpensive and give a clean look and feel.  Tiling is also ideal for bathrooms, because it is practical, waterproof and when properly installed does not mildew or mould.  Wood expands in humid environments and can warp and become mildewed within quite a short period of time, so is probably best avoided wherever possible.  Other wall-finishes, such as wallpaper can easily become loose and begin to peel off when exposed to too much steam and can also take on a mouldy odour.  Bath and shower surrounds are a practical choice.  They are simple to install and a breeze to maintain. 

When choosing a basin for your bathroom, be sure to consider space-saving options, such as wall-mount or pedestal versions, especially if your bathroom is small.  Some bathrooms are so tiny that a small cabinet under the bath is required to hold important items. 

If your toilet still looks and operates satisfactorily it may not be necessary to replace it during a bathroom renovation.  If it is leaky, it should be relatively easy and inexpensive to replace the defective components.  You can change the look of your toilet with new handle and seat; the only other consideration is the colour and style.

Whilst much of the area to be tiled will use whole tiles, the edges at floor or ceiling, or those around existing features, windows, and doors will have to be cut so that they can fit correctly.  When marking those tiles ready for cutting, remember that a grout line will also need to be included in any measurements.

It is easier to cut tiles in straight cuts, so to make any job simpler try and avoid making design plans where difficult ceramic shapes will be needed.  Using a tile cutter, carefully score along the measurement that has been drawn onto the tile lightly with a pencil.  Once the score has been made, use a wooden batten to add pressure to the tile before snapping quickly and breaking the tile in half.  This can be difficult to do as strips of tiles get smaller which is one reason to try and avoid very narrow tile lines.

If there is a lot of cutting to do, you could consider hiring a tile cutter and saw to do the job for you.  This is a very accurate and easy way of cutting tiles.  Whichever way you choose to cut your tiles, ensure you remember to allow for grout lines, have excess tiles for accidents, and take safety precautions that allow projects to be completed without injury.

The Correct Grout

There are different types of grout and to select the correct one, look at the packaging and match it with the project you are working on.  The three main types of grout are epoxy resin, furan resin and Portland cement based, each of which has different properties and strengths.  Grout should not be added until the adhesive for the tiles is completely dried, so it is important to know how long the particular adhesive you have used should be left for. 

Applying Grout

Grout is applied using a squeegee and should first be spread across a small area, making sure that joints between the tiles receive a good coating.  The grout should be worked in all directions to be sure that all the joints are completely filled.  If the surface of grout is not smooth across the joints, a dowel can be dragged along the joints to produce an even result. 

Removing Excess Grout

Any excess grout on the tile should be wiped off while it is still wet.  Once dry, the tile can be scrubbed with a rag, which should remove any thin layer of grout that remains.  This needs to be done after the grout in the joints is dry, so that its surface is not disturbed. 

Laying the first tile is crucial, as its size, position, and correct horizontal and vertical position in large part determines the remainder of the tiling. Using a spirit level continuously throughout the work is highly recommended, as any mistakes can be corrected while the adhesive is still malleable.

Wall tiling can be done in stages, as once a set of tiles is laid it does not matter greatly if there is a short or long gap in time before the next set is laid. It may be useful to consider using larger tiles. If the look is right for the space, larger tiles can be faster to lay, when compared with laying a larger quantity of smaller tiles.

Tiling in certain areas, such as corners, or around wall plugs or appliances, may require the tiles to be cut. Special stone-cutting tools can be purchased for this purpose from DIY outlets or online. Draw the area to be cut from the tiles carefully using a pencil, and cut on a flat surface for safety.

Measure the height of your wall and calculate where the last full tile will be fixed on the bottom. Here you fix a wooden batten and make sure it is level. Repeat the process for the vertical until you find the position of the last full tile and attach a batten going upwards.

When planning the layout take into account the position of windows, work surfaces and taps or pipes.

Laying Tiles

Once you have established your base line spread an area of about one metre square with adhesive and score it with a notched trowel. This will allow you to level off the tiles once they are placed.

Place the first tile in the corner of the two battens and push down firmly, then place the second tile along the base allowing space for the grouting. Some tiles come with their own spacers built in; otherwise you can use a matchstick or easily available plastic spacers. Continue fixing the tiles making sure they are flat and level with the previous ones and proceed with the next level once you have completed the first row.

Leave the batten in place until the adhesive is set. When fixing tiles above windows or sinks, attach a temporary batten to support the last row of full tiles as this will make cutting the others easier.

After you have fixed all the tiles you should leave the adhesive to set before applying the grout. The grout is applied with a squeegee and should be worked in small areas to avoid drying before you have finished. Work the paste into the joints and smooth off, cleaning all tiles before the grout sets.

Designer radiators and old hospital style cast iron radiators can be used in a larger bathroom without fear of taking up too much floor space; they make a lovely feature in the home.  Salvage yards are an ideal place to buy such items that look great in an older style house.

If it is a modern look that you are trying to achieve, then ceramic bathroom tiles from floor to ceiling help to give a clean finish to the room. The larger the bathroom tiles the smaller the room will look, so taking tile samples of various colour and size home to test is a good idea.

Having a larger bathroom also means that the owner of the home can be much more creative with decorative pieces. Large vases with flower sprays or lush green plants help to give a bathroom a roomier feel as it brings the outside feel into the room.

Additionally, light fittings can be more ostentatious especially if the room has high ceilings. For older homes, chandelier style light fittings work well, but for a more modern look spotlights are a good solution to most lighting needs.