Best ceramic tile pros near Terry, MT

It’s not a good idea to lay tile and grout on the same day. The adhesive or thin-set that sticks the tiles to the surface needs plenty of time to dry before you can grout. Wait for 24 to 48 hours, depending on moisture levels in the space. The tiles can become misaligned and more prone to damage if you don’t wait.

It’s best to install a shower door after the bathroom tile is in place to ensure you have accurate measurements. If you try installing a shower door first, the tile might be too thick to install afterward, or the tile will be too thin and create a gap between the shower doors that allows water to leak. With the tile in place first, you’ll know the exact shower door size that you need.

Generally speaking, it is better to cut tile wet when using a fast-moving wet saw to reduce dust and chipping. However, tile can be cut dry when using just about any cutting tool. Dry cutting will result in a bigger mess and may increase the risk of chipping or cracking, but if you’re just making small cuts, dry cutting is a safe and viable option. Cutting dry also means you can apply tile grout sooner, so it’s better for rushed projects.

You can technically install tile over tile, but we don’t suggest it. Installing tile over any surface that isn’t a completely flat and prepared subfloor will result in a shoddy overall job, uneven flooring, tiles that don’t adhere, extra weight, gaps, cracks, and room for moisture and dirt to enter. For the best results, only install new tile on a flat, sanded surface like subflooring or concrete that is prepared for tile.

If you have asbestos tile and would rather tile over it than remove it, or if your existing tile is completely flat and bonded tightly to the floor, you may be able to tile over existing tile. But experts recommend thinking twice before you do.