4 Signs of a Bad Tiling Job

A bad tiling job is a waste of time and money, and most importantly of all, can have a big impact on your overall interior style. Not only that, it can also become a safety hazard, with uneven surfaces having the potential to cause trips and falls.

As lovers of tiles, the thought of a bad tiling job can keep us up at night!

That’s why we’re here to offer a helping hand. Installing tiles can be a relevantly easy job when done correctly, but if you’ve tried your hand at some DIY without the correct know-how, it’s possible you’ve made some costly mistakes.

Below are 4 examples of how to spot a bad tiling job, as well as some useful tips on how to rectify the issue.

Crooked Tiles

Unless the design is specifically meant to look rugged, uneven, or is a mosaic pattern, then crooked tiles are the first sign of a bad tiling job.

Crooked tiles occur for several reasons – for example, grouting may be uneven or the installer may have neglected the use of tile spacers when allowing the grout to set.

Tiles that are sagging may be due to a lack of support for the tiles. Installing a support board can help improve this, however it’s worth noting that this will require any tiling to be re-done.

Not all crooked tiles are due to how they are installed, however. A water leak, insect infestation, or a damaged wall behind the tiles can cause the grout to be weakened and tiles to move. Of course, it’s key to check for these external causes before you even consider tiling the area again.

Unfortunately, if external factors are the cause of your crooked tiles, there is no way of rectifying this apart from removing the tiles. Of course, this will likely result in some breakages, and will definitely require you to tile the surface again.

Uneven tiles

Whilst in most cases uneven tiles are due to inaccurate measurement and incorrect installation, some tiles naturally are uneven – take handmade tiles or those with distinctive textures, for example. It is also possible that the floor or wall itself is uneven causing the tiles to be uneven.

Lippage is the most common uneven tile issue – this is when the edge of a tile is slightly higher or lower than the one next to it. This is often caused by the installer choosing the incorrect pattern or offset.

If your floor or wall has a slight bump, installing tiles over the top can place added emphasis that makes the bump more noticeable. However, a knowledgeable handyman will be able to grind this down to create a flat surface, enabling the tiles to be laid evenly.

Another way a bad tiling job can cause a bumpy surface is when the mortar is spread unevenly. This typically happens when the job is rushed, meaning the mortar hasn’t been sufficiently applied.

Uneven tiles can create issues ranging from a higher likelihood of wear and tear to the cracking of tiles and the chipping of the edges. With this in mind, make sure to always use a spirit level when undertaking any tile project at home to ensure you’re always getting an even surface.

Poorly laid tiles

In most cases, the room you’re tiling won’t have the exact specifications to fit the tiles.

Bad tiling jobs may decide not to cut tiles in these instances, instead grouting the areas thicker in order to fill the gaps. This can cause tiles to move, contributing to uneven surfaces and potentially cracked tiles.

Instead, ensure grout between tiles is even throughout, and that tiles are cut to fill large gaps. This is why we always recommend ordering 10% more when purchasing tiles, ensuring you account for any cuts and breakages.

Excessive grout

Whilst grout is highly important for aesthetic and structural reasons, having too much grout can hinder the longevity of the tiles being used.

If too much grout has been used between the tiles, this can cause knocks which could crack over time. If you’re lucky enough to notice this error before the grout is set, you can simply use a wooden stick to remove excess grout – just be careful not to scratch the tiles!

The appearance of too much grout may also indicate that the installer has used an incorrect adhesive for the tiles, meaning they have slipped and caused the grout to move. If this is the case, this is only going to cause greater issues further down the line, and therefore needs to be rectified as soon as possible.

Using a grout finisher, you can apply grout evenly throughout and reduce the likelihood of excess.

There you have it, 4 tell-tale signs of bad tiling to always be on the lookout for! Want to ensure your tiling job is done the right way? Be sure to head over to our tiling accessories range to ensure you have all the tools and equipment you need to avoid these tiling sins. Keep one eye on the Tiles Direct blog, too – we’re always updating it with more useful tips, tricks and inspiration.