Tile Transformation: Easy Updates For Bathroom Floors & Walls

A modern bathroom can have everything it needs for proper hygiene, but its choice of tiles is often the dealbreaker. Everyone spends at least a few minutes of their days touching up or taking a nice bath. The least they can do is do so in a pleasant bathroom environment where practicing good hygiene isn’t a drag.

Updating a bathroom’s floor and walls to modern aesthetics is no easy feat, let alone inexpensive. Fortunately, this guide will guide you through every step, from deciding whether or not they’re overdue for an update to the installation process. As with other parts of the house, remodeling a bathroom should be done right the first time.

When An Update Is Necessary

When installed and maintained by the book, beautiful bathroom tiles can last a lifetime. However, design tastes change through the years—and all the while, the tiles and grout undergo a slow degradation. The last thing you need is water seeping into the walls.

Any of the following should be a good reason to give your bathroom a makeover:

Built During The Asbestos Era

According to the Alberta Real Estate Association, nearly every house built before or during the 1990s (and hasn’t been renovated ever) contains asbestos in some form. Being as waterproof as it was fireproof, the material was used in creating bathroom tiles or as a key ingredient in adhesives and grout mixtures.

Before stripping the floor and walls bare, have the bathroom undergo professional asbestos testing. Disturbing the material risks kicking up asbestos-laced dust, exposing you and your family to its health hazards. Only lab tests can confirm the material’s presence.

Mold or Mildew Growth

Cracks in the grout or tile don’t have to be visible to the naked eye to pose a threat. Unwanted growths like mold and mildew signify that the grout can’t hold back the moisture, which has leaked deep into the bathroom wall or floor. This provides the spores with an ideal environment to thrive.  

However, depending on the extent of the growth, custom bathroom remodeling may involve more than just replacing the tiles. The floor or wall might need to be stripped bare to remove the damp materials promoting the growth. In this case, professional mold removal needs to be done before renovation.

Looks Too Old-Fashioned

This part is subjective because it boils down to your preferences. Some may think their existing bathroom tiles don’t look too old, while others don’t mind the classic look. But as mentioned earlier, tastes change over time. Take a good look at your bathroom right now and get a feel for the current design.

Strip Out Or Place Over

There are two ways to install new bathroom tiles: strip out the old tiles or place new ones over them. Choosing the ideal option depends on the state of your current bathroom tiles. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of either method.

Choose Your Bathroom Tile

The trickiest part of updating bathroom tiles is picking the right one. The list of factors to consider is long enough to warrant its own article, but here are a few to take into account:

• Shape: Not all tiles in the market consist of square and rectangular tiles. Other different-shaped tiles feature hexagonal or even a combination of two shapes. You can also opt for a single, continuous slab for the bathroom floor, saving on the grout.
• Color: If remodeling a half bath to appear more spacious, consider going for lighter colors, especially white. On the other hand, darker ones exude a cozy feel and hide stains better. Experts advise limiting your color palette to no more than four.
• Price: Certain tile options carry a heftier price tag, but cheaping out on tiles will cost you dearly later. Always consider your project budget when window shopping for high-quality bathroom tiles.

As for the material, close to a dozen are available to choose from. However, take note that just because they’re available doesn’t necessarily make them suitable for the bathroom.

Step-By-Step Installation

Whether you choose the strip-out or tile-over-tile option, installing high-quality tiles needs skills, tools, and—most importantly—time. Rushing the work leads to mistakes and costly repairs later on, with DIYers at a greater risk. Slow and steady wins the race (not that tiling a bathroom is a race to begin with).

If you don’t feel confident about DIY, getting a professional remodeling service won’t hurt. The upfront cost may be high, but the result will be a bathroom that’s as fashionable as it’s functional for years to come. The chances of committing rookie mistakes are low if a pro is involved from start to finish.

Otherwise, the steps for installing new tiles depend on your choice between a strip-out and tile-over-tile. Once you’ve gathered the necessary tools, the steps are as follows:

1. Cut the grout near the tile corners and pry the tiles using a tool like a chisel.
2. With utmost care, scrape off the old adhesive and grout.
3. Inspect the bare floor or wall for problems and fix them before proceeding.
4. Cut backer boards according to spec and install them as the underlayment.
5. Lay the tiles on the floor or wall without adhesive or grout to ensure they fit.
6. Mix some mortar according to instructions and spread it over the underlayment.
7. Slowly place the tiles while leaving large-enough grout lines and let it set overnight.
8. Apply the grout using a trowel and rinse off any excess using a wet sponge.
9. Let the grout set for 24 hours for the wall or 72 hours for the floor.
10. Apply the caulk to key areas according to instructions and let it set.

For tile-over-tile, the process is a lot shorter. It does away with the removal steps, instead treating the tiled surface for the adhesive to stick better. An underlayment isn’t necessary because the old surface will serve as an extra barrier against moisture.

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid to spruce up your bathroom when it starts looking mundane or being a host for unwanted growth. Perform every step of updating your bathroom tiles according to your needs and budget to avoid expensive do-overs.