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No, tiling over painted walls or wallpapered surfaces is generally not recommended. Textured surfaces and paints will affect the adhesive, possibly causing tiles to lift or fall off. Painted walls with a semi-gloss or high-gloss finish are particularly difficult for adding tiles. It’s wise to strip the paint first if you install the tiles to drywall, although it’s still best to opt for a cement backer board.

The number of boxes of tile you need depends entirely on the amount of tile in each box or case. Different manufacturers package their tiles differently, and boxes contain different amounts of tile depending on the size, shape, and material. Often, the amount of area that a case will cover is listed in the product description. To calculate the number of boxes you need, take the total square feet of the space and divide it by the number of square feet the box will cover.

The rule tells you how to cut tile to install it in a corner. The 3/4/5 rule recommends that you should have 3 feet across on one straight line, four feet on the other perpendicular line, and 5 feet of length from the end of one of the lines to the other. You’re making a right triangle with the tile, and the hypotenuse (the line across from where the 3-foot lie and 4-foot line meet) should be 5 feet long.

For best results, you should remove the toilet in a bathroom before removing tile or installing new tile. If you don’t remove the toilet, it will be harder to fully waterproof the tile around the toilet, which could increase the risk of mold growth or plumbing leaks. If you have trouble removing the toilet, hire a plumber to help.