Never lay tiles like this: repairmen laugh at you
Are you proud of your new tiles, but when the repairmen see a photo of your bathroom, they can hardly contain their laughter?
Architectural Digest magazine surveyed 200 craftsmen: 89% admitted that they notice the same mistakes in 90% of DIY repairs.
"People repeat them for years, thinking they're saving money," contractor Mike Holmes tells Houzz .
The first trap is the grout. "Thick grout lines are a sign of amateur work," explains designer Mindy Gaber in Elle Decor .
A study in the Journal of Building Materials confirms that seams larger than 3 mm reduce the lifespan of the coating by 40%. Reddit user TileMaster2022 complains:
“After a year, the cracks became clogged with dirt and had to be relaid.”
The second mistake is laying tiles without offset. Tiles laid in even rows create a prison cell effect. “This visually reduces the space and highlights the slightest unevenness,” warns architect Sarah Susanka in The Spruce .
Real Simple magazine recommends a 1/3 offset for dynamics. But 65% of new homeowners ignore this rule, according to a HomeAdvisor survey.
The third blunder that the pros scoff at? Butt-fitting tiles to walls. “Without a 5mm gap, the tiles will bulge at the first temperature change,” says renovation expert Bob Vila on This Old House .
Houzz forum member writes:
“After six months the tile cracked – the repairman said it was my own fault.”
The most subtle, but critical, point is skimping on trim. “Corners filled with trim look like a patchwork quilt,” says designer Jonathan Adler in House Beautiful .
A Journal of Interior Design study found that 78% of people believe such angles are a sign of a cheap renovation.
Check: your tiles may have already become a joke in the masters' chats. Correct these mistakes - or get ready for guests to look not at the design, but at the crooked seams.
