Even professional tilers expect 5-10% wastage from cutting. For diagonal layouts or complex rooms, use 15-20%.

Find the centre point and snap chalk lines. This ensures symmetrical cuts on both sides and a professional look.

Place tiles without adhesive to check layout, pattern, and cuts before committing. Adjust the starting point if needed.

Plastic tile spacers (1-5mm) ensure perfectly even joints. Remove them before the adhesive fully cures.

Tiles from different production batches can have slight colour variations. Always buy all tiles at once from one lot.

Standard tile adhesive covers approximately 4-6 m2 per 20 kg bag for wall tiles and 3-4 m2 for floor tiles. Notched trowel size matters.

Grout needed (kg) = (Tile L + Tile W) / (Tile L x Tile W) x Grout joint width x Tile depth x Area x 1.6 density.

The subfloor must be level to within 3mm over a 3m span. Use self-leveling compound for uneven surfaces before tiling.

Include an expansion/movement joint every 4-5 meters in large tiled areas and at all changes of substrate or direction.

Marble, travertine, and limestone must be sealed before and after grouting to prevent staining from grout pigments.