Many would-be renovators will prefer to begin upgrading their bathroom by first tiling the wall before adding a bathroom vanity unit to complete the look.
If you're planning to tile around the entire room, it makes sense to tile before installing the vanity unit. That way, the room and walls are set for any changes you might want to make in the future, whether that's with the vanity unit or any other component within the bathroom.
Tiling under your new vanity or custom cabinets can prevent shower or sink water from finding its way into your house. Extending tile all the way under freestanding or floating vanities can make a room look and feel larger, too.
We believe that it is easier to pick your vanity after you have chosen your bathroom style, but before you have chosen your floors and walls tile. This is because there is more variation in bathroom tiles and therefore it will be easier to match your tiles to the vanity.
A backsplash is a type of wall covering — usually tile, but sometimes metal or another impermeable surface — that covers the wall above or behind your vanity. A typical backsplash extends about three to four inches from the top of the vanity's counter, but there is no hard rule for this.
Always install the tile to the wall, under appliances, and cabinets. Good flooring could be in place for 20 years or more. In that time there could be water leaks, appliance failures cabinet damage that requires replacement, electrical problems that require cabinets to be moved, etc...
In terms of how high your kitchen backsplash should be, that's up to you. Many homeowners stop their backsplash level with the bottom of their upper cabinets. However, some choose to take the tile all the way up the ceiling. This can make the kitchen feel taller, drawing the eye up the wall.
Your countertops bear the brunt of the activity in the kitchen, and your remodel often starts with a spectacular selection. Marble, quartz, quartzite, and granite countertops are all popular choices that offer excellent benefits and lifespan, and they should be installed permanently before the backsplash.
If you mishandle the seams, your project could become an eyesore. If you install the backsplashes first, the spacing between these two can become wonky, making sealing the seam more difficult. Installing the counters first allows you greater control and flexibility over the seams.
Why You Should Tile the Floor First. The tile installation principle is that the tiled wall 'hangs' over the tiled floor. The best way to achieve this outcome is by first tiling the floor so that the wall tile will then seem to be 'sitting' on the bathroom floor.
Installing the tile before the cabinetry means additional square footage for the installer, but less detail and trim work. Installing after the cabinets means less square footage, but more time in detail and trim work.
Cement board is a mineral-based board, usually 30 inches by 60 inches, that is used as a lower, dimensionally stable surface for installing ceramic tile, porcelain tile, or stonework. Cement board comes both in 1/4-inch-thick and 1/2-inch-thick versions.
Yes, Vanities Should Be Attached to the Wall
Most of the time, plumbing comes through the wall underneath the sink, and the vanity's cabinet keeps it hidden. A vanity that isn't attached to the wall could shift, either with time or because you've accidentally bumped into it.
Unless you are in a situation where it is impossible to redo the floor tile due to the flange already being put in, never put the tiles below the existing toilet and the flange. Having the tiles go under the toilet, makes it much easier to do repairs or removals.
We opted to skip grouting that 1/8″ space and instead, caulk that line between the countertop and the tile. Keeping this space is a must because as your house settles things may move around and you don't want your tile to crack.
Kitchen backsplash tile installations need a solid support beneath the bottom row. This is no problem when installing a backsplash over a countertop, but when you tile behind appliances, such as your range, there's no counter for support.
The one spot where caulk, not grout, should be used is the seam between the countertop and the backsplash. The right material for that is a top-quality silicone caulk.
Grout is most commonly used between tiles for example in a kitchen backsplash and caulk is used to fill space like the wall joint between the countertop and backsplash. Grout comes as a dry powder and when mixed with water becomes adhesive.
Begin laying tile in the center of the room and work your way out. The first step in laying out tile is to mark a guideline, or layout line, in the room to make sure your tile pattern is evenly centered. Measure the four walls in the room with a tape measure to find the midpoint.
Underlayment is something you put on top of your substrate to prepare it for tiling. The substrate (or subfloor) is the ground, whether it's made of plywood or cement. Cement board or backer board are the most standard underlayments.
It's traditionally installed horizontally, but “breaking the rules” by going vertical can produce amazing, unique results.
First, during tile installation, leave a small space between the tiles and the wood surface or countertop… no more than 1/8 of an inch.
Subway tile is the most enduring choice for a backsplash. Avoid bold, trendy colors, and instead look for white or neutrals. Keep it simple, and bring in color elsewhere in the kitchen, with more easily replaced items, such as dish towels, art, bowls of fruit and rugs.