Tile the Walls or the Floor First ????

[tjamesbo]

Just about to Tile my Bathroom just debating whether to start walls or Floor first????? if i start with the walls then the floor can be layed after the mess dropping onto floor and will stay clean, but the floor will go past the bottom of the wall tiles rather than the wall tile sitting on top, Does it make any difference??? I also beleive the joint between Wall & Floor should be silicon to allow movement between the two different Planes

[Turkish]

You`ll find it`s personal preference mate but i`d probably do the floor first, especially if you have to match up grout lines with the wall.

Turkish

[bigandy]

i agree with turkish. if you do floor last it can be difficult to keep the floor grout off the nice clean wal grout!!!! and is easier to cover the floor!!!

[DARRELL]

I agree with turkish and bigandy, floor first and be carefull. You will get the best results.

[IvegotsTILE]

I always do the walls first except for the bottom course,then do the floor and do the last course of wall tiles last.This way you avoid the chance of dropping any tools or tiles onto your newly laid floor.

[Fekin]

I always do the walls first except for the bottom course,then do the floor and do the last course of wall tiles last.This way you avoid the chance of dropping any tools or tiles onto your newly laid floor.

Ditto

[andy-p]

ditto again...

[Dave]

ditto again...

[ad tiling]

I always do the walls first except for the bottom course,then do the floor and do the last course of wall tiles last.This way you avoid the chance of dropping any tools or tiles onto your newly laid floor.

plus you can hear and feel how bad the floor is
before you tile it.

[bobbin]

I am afraid I do it a little different, I lay the floor, don't grout it. Do the wall and grout, then grout the floor.
Like you said though, different people have different ways.
Whatever works for you.

[enduro]

Walls first.

[whitebeam]

Same as enduro

[Varley]

Yip, walls first for me too

[andy-p]

I am afraid I do it a little different, I lay the floor, don't grout it. Do the wall and grout, then grout the floor.
Like you said though, different people have different ways.
Whatever works for you.

as you say bobbin whatever works , but what about all the crap going into the joints plus the risk of chipping the edges or cracking the tile? seems a bit of a risk to me , lay the floor last and you only clean it once...

[bobbin]

as you say bobbin whatever works , but what about all the crap going into the joints plus the risk of chipping the edges or cracking the tile? seems a bit of a risk to me , lay the floor last and you only clean it once...

I can see what your saying mate, just I have always done it that way. Do you lay the wall tiles and grout apart from the lower course? Then lay the floor and grout, then do the final wall course and grout that?

Does the grout on the wall look a little different when you grout it twice, the joins I mean?

Cheers

[twinlog]

Had to laugh at all the dittos but thats also me! Thought i was the only one!
Another reason which makes sense to me is i've actually had a plumber come back because of problem under the floor. They push it close sometimes!

[phillf]

I always do the walls first except for the bottom course,then do the floor and do the last course of wall tiles last.This way you avoid the chance of dropping any tools or tiles onto your newly laid floor.

Also this way your wall tile covers your floor tile cut.... looks mint and definitely the best way.
Phil.

[grumpygrouter]

Also this way your wall tile covers your floor tile cut.... looks mint and definitely the best way.
Phil.

...as long as you have good cuts on the bottom course of wall tiles......same could be said the other way.

[bobbin]

Also this way your wall tile covers your floor tile cut.... looks mint and definitely the best way.
Phil.

Like Grumpy said, if I lay the floor first I can't help but cover the tile with the wall tile

[David - Tradetiler]

Walls for me

you don’t have to be to accurate with your bottom cuts that way. Plus you have a bit of adjustment flexibility which will be covered by the floor later.

[brian c]

i always do the walls first aswell.Its a matter of choice i suppose.

[bobbin]

I guess either way works. As long as there is a gap to allow for movement then everyone is a winner
seems that you guys that do the wall first do it one of two ways, some of you tile to the floor and then the floor to the wall tile, and some of you leave the lower course off then do the floor and then finish the wall.
What is technically 'best practice' for this?
Cheers

[bobbin]

Walls for me

you don’t have to be to accurate with your bottom cuts that way. Plus you have a bit of adjustment flexibility which will be covered by the floor later.

Those tiles seem very close to each other, no grout for those bad boys then

[robbo]

Walls first for me too...