New tiles in your bathroom can make a huge impact, but laying them can be a big and expensive job. If you’re determined to go down the DIY bathroom tiles road, here are some DIY tiling tips and tricks from an expert to help you along the way!

So, you’ve decided to tear out those tired bathroom tiles for a fresh new look. Laying them yourself will save some money, but successful DIY bathroom tiling takes a lot of care, so here are some tips for a perfect job.

When removing old tiles from a concrete base, tiler Klaud Erzetic recommends hiring a specialist jackhammer for the job. "It will take minutes, while a hammer and chisel can take all day," he says. If the concrete is chipped or uneven, use a self-levelling cement to fill in the dips. If your concrete sheets are old, check that they do not contain traces of asbestos.

Timber floors should already have cement sheeting under the tiles, which can be removed. But whether the old tiles were laid directly onto the timber or a cement-sheet base, you’ll need to lay new cement sheeting before you start.

Tiny tiles can look stunning, but due to the effort involved in laying them and keeping them clean, current trends favour larger tiles – from 200 millimetres all the way up to 600 millimetres. For your DIY bathroom tiling project, this means less grouting but more work cutting tiles to size.

To make a DIY tiling job easier, Klaud recommends tailoring the size of the tiles to the dimensions of the room. "It’s all personal taste, really," he admits. "It also depends on the size of fittings and co-ordination with the rest of the house."

Find the centre point of the room or work from a corner, using two walls as a guide. Keep a level and a spacer on hand and lay adhesive in small batches so it doesn’t dry out before you can press the tiles into it.

For walls, Klaud recommends laying tiles from bathtub height up. "When people walk in, they’ll see nice full tiles rather than a two-inch cut or half a tile," he says.

Cutting tiles for corners and edges is always tricky. Rather than using a regular grinder, Klaud suggests purchasing special blades suited for porcelain or ceramic tiles from a tiling supply store. It will be easier, neater and you won’t ruin as many tiles.

After applying grout and leaving it to dry, wash the area twice with hot water and a third time with regular household cleaner. But watch out for more caustic cleaners, which can undo all your good work. "Domestos can eat into silicon, especially in showers," Klaud warns.

It’s also worth applying a liquid sealer, particularly if you’re using slate, or porcelain tiles that stain easily. New products in spray cans make sealing shower walls and splashbacks much easier.