Ceramic Tiling (Floor):

• Preparation is everything: ensure your floor is suitable and ready for the application of your tiles. It should be clean, dry and deviate no more than 3mm over 1m². If it is outside of this tolerance, you may need to rectify it by having a self-leveling floor compound applied – follow manufacturer’s guidelines and pay attention to drying times!
   
• New concrete and screeded floors may need an extended length of time to fully dry before the application of your new tiles – up to 6 weeks in some cases!
   
• Wooden floors may need over-boarding with suitable plywood – this reduces floor flex and helps ensure an even, true surface for the application of your new tiles.
   
• Tile & colour choice can affect the overall look of your room. If in doubt, visit several tile stockists to get some ideas. Remember though: oversized tiles (over approximately 300mm x 300mm) in a small room may well look out of scale, and conversely, markedly undersized tiles (for example - mosaic type of 80mm x 80mm) in a larger room may look lost!
   
• Notify your tiler if you intend to have your floor tiling extend into adjoining rooms, as this may affect 'setting out'!
   
• Often, in new (or renovated) rooms, it is preferential to tile the entire floor before any fixtures or fittings are installed. This means that if you choose to alter your room layout in future, you aren’t left with areas on your floor that are devoid of tiles!
   
• Lighter colours in smaller rooms help to brighten things up!
   
• Consider how you want the finished floor to look – regular ‘grid’ pattern, ‘offset’ pattern or 45˚ to walls.
   
• In wetroom installations, don’t forget that there may be crossfalls (descending lines along your floor terminating at your drain) to consider and could limit your choice of tile!
   
• Tile adhesive & grout drying times should always be adhered to. This may mean that new installations will have to remain un-wetted for up to 7 days after completion!
   

Ceramic Tiling (Walls):

• Preparation is equally important when tiling walls. The more even, smooth and true they are, there will be less chance that abutting tiles will ‘lip’ over one another, and the better the final effect will be.
   
• Newly plastered walls will ideally require an extended amount of time to fully dry before the application of your new tiles – sometimes in excess of 2 weeks!
   
• Just as with regards to floor tiles, visit several stockists to narrow down your final choice of wall tile. Take into consideration tile size, tile colour, grout colour and layout of tiles (grid, offset or 45˚).
   
• Ideally, external corners (where exposed tile edges meet) should be finished with suitable tile edging. This is available in several colours, so choosing one to co-ordinate with your tile choice should be no problem.
   
• Tile adhesive & grout drying times should always be adhered to. This may mean that new installations will have to remain un-wetted for up to 7 days after completion.
   

Under-tile Heating:

• Remember that the addition of under-tile heating will result in a higher finished floor level. Although this effect is minimized by using a thin gauge electrical system, don’t forget that you may also require insulating board and/or the fitment of up to 18mm thick plywood as well.
   
• Electrical under-tile heating should be connected by a qualified electrician to a dedicated RCD (Residual Current Device).
   

Kitchens & Bathrooms:

• Have your new kitchen or bathroom professionally planned: Take your room measurements into your chosen supplier who will be able to produce a clear set of drawings ensuring that installation goes as smoothly as possible!
   
• Many colours and finishes are available, but do remember that certain ‘looks’ may be the trend now, but how will you feel about it in 5 years? White and natural wood finishes are fairly timeless and can still look great in 10 years.
   
• Remember that your new kitchen is a ‘new kitchen’. So just because you currently have certain appliances in certain positions, it may well be possible to move them to entirely different, more suitable locations within your new build – and the same applies to bathrooms!
   
• Depending on the type, it may be preferential to lay your flooring before the installation of any units, sanitary ware or appliances.
   
• With regards to kitchens, certain regulations may limit where such things as hobs are situated. This should be discussed and dealt with at the planning stage.
   
• A specialist company should be employed to install granite or stone counter tops.
   
• All electrical work should be carried out by a qualified, experienced electrician.
   
• All gas connection works should be completed by a qualified CORGI-approved engineer.
   

Timber/Engineered Internal & External Doors:

• Choose doors that are made for and suitable for the job. For example, an internal door used as an external or security door won’t last long!
   
• Building regulations may require your internal doors & frames to conform to fire door specifications (i.e. FD30, FD60 etc.) This usually applies to new-build projects.
   
• Remember that white finished doors will help to brighten dark areas, though you may prefer a natural wood finish to co-ordinate with furniture, architrave, skirting etc.
   
• Five-lever mortice locks are a good idea in external doors, and they may be required as a condition of your home insurance!
   
• Even in retro-fit installations, three hinges (minimum) should be fitted to your new doors. This is especially important in cases where the door may be isolating a potentially humid area - such as a hallway door between a bathroom and a drier room. This helps to minimize the chances of warping.
   
• All doors should be placed within the environment in which they are to be fitted for at least 24 hours prior to hanging, as this allows the wood to properly acclimatize.
   
• Ensure that new doors are suitably finished as soon as possible after installation. This will ensure you enjoy many years of trouble-free service out of them!