Tiles have remained the most commonly used material in home improvement projects. This applies to both professional and DIY projects. One thing you will realize if you intend to carry out DIY tiling is that removing existing tiles is a very costly process. This is due to the likelihood of pulling off plasterboard or even the wall plaster as the tiles are removed. This will easily turn your DIY project into a full project requiring assistance from trades-people. Remember some projects such as bathroom refurbishment should be carried out in the shortest time possible to minimize the inconveniences. With every trades person you add to your project, the higher the likelihood that your project will stretch a day, more which will ultimately lead to weeks of inconvenience.
The best and the cheapest way to complete the DIY project within a short time span is to install the new tile on top of the existing tile.Many people do not prefer this way of doing this but if prper care is given while do ing this project, it will be a great excellence.The following steps will ensure that your project is a success.
1. The very first step to be done is to check whether the existing tile is fixed correctly on to the wall. This is done because on top of the existing tile new tile should be fixed. If the existing tile is not fixed correctly , then the newly fixed tile will also come out from the surface. The losly fixed tile can be determined by taping on the title. If it produces a hollow sound , then it shows the tile is not fixed properly but is hanging by the thread.
2. The second step is to make sure that the existing tile should be free from all the dirt . Inorder to remove the dirt, cleaning must be done because if the surface is not cleaned where the new tile is to be fixed, it will affect the insulation procedures. Therfore cleaning must be done using a good cleaning agent to remove all the dirt and contaminants.
3. Estimate the combined weight of the new tiles you are fixing with that of the existing tiles. This is because plasterboard can only hold weight up to a certain limit therefore this consideration is important. You should also consider the size of the tiles already fixed on the wall. Trying to fix larger tiles than those already on the wall will cause problems.
4. Check the adhesive you intend to use. It ought to be effective when utilized on the surface area from the existing tiles. Otherwise, your effort is going to be fruitless. The greatest way would be to check the guidelines about the packaging provided through the manufacturer. This will ensure that you have the right materials.
5. The final step is to check all the pros and cons before fixing the new tile over the existing tile. This involves checking whether there are any loosly packed old title or if there is any uneveness among the old tiltes. If such problems exist it is better to get the opinions about moving forward with the DIY project before starting.