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When working on your bathroom floor tiling, you should always tile the floor first and then refit the toilet afterward. This has both practical and visual advantages—the tile will have a better seal, and the installation will look cleaner.

On the other hand, when you try to cut the tiles to fit around the toilet, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. It’s a lot more work, it’s hard to be precise, and mistakes or miscalculations can lead to future moisture damage to the tiling, grout, and subfloor.

The best trowel for penny tile is a 3/16-inch-by-5/32-inch V-notch trowel. Because of the small size of the penny tile, you want a trowel with small notches that can lay a thin layer of mortar on the surface you’re tiling. If the notches are too wide, you risk applying too thick of a layer of mortar, and it can squeeze out between the penny tiles.

You should always use caulk instead of grout where the tile meets the wall. This will help your tile installation look great and last a long time. When you accidentally use grout for the corner seams, you end up making the tiles too rigid. So as the wall shifts over time, your tiles have no wiggle room. This can lead to tile damage, which will eventually require you to do at least a partial reinstallation.

The lifespan of tile flooring can vary significantly based on the material and maintenance. Generally, tile flooring can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years, but high-quality, well-maintained ceramic tile can last 75 to 100 years. To achieve a longer lifespan, you should clean the tiles and grout regularly, reseal the grout annually, keep the floor dry, and avoid placing extremely heavy items on it to prevent cracking. Choosing a high-quality tile (Grade 1) will also contribute to its longevity.