FAQS

Measure the area you want to cover and determine the total surface area for your project. You will want to purchase about 10 -15% more than the area to cover so you have enough pieces for any cuts and accidental breakages. You can use a tile calculator to determine exactly how much tiles you will need for your project.   –> https://www.calculator.net/tile-calculator.html

We recommend purchasing about 10 -15% more than the area to cover so you have enough pieces for any cuts and accidental breakages. Be sure to calculate for any trim tile at borders, accents, and edges to ensure you get all the types of tile you need. The more complex your pattern design is, the greater chance you will need more tiles.

Each project is unqiue, but for most common types of DIY tiles projects, we recommend you a list of tools — Tape measure, Trowel, Bucket for water, Tile cutter. Depending on your project, you might need other tools.

Both materials are easy to clean, long lasting and available in a vast array of patterns, sizes and colors. The main difference is the appearance. Glass tiles are more vivid as a result of light bouncing off the glass, which offers a fresher and more contemporary look. Porcelain is more dense and less shiny, which offers a more tasteful and classic look. Depend on your desired design, glass and porcelain tiles are guaranteed to incorporate a stylish and durable surface to any space.

The main difference is that porcelain is more resistant to moisture, staining and water due to a blend of fine-grain clays and other minerals fired at a much higher degree temperature than ceramic tile.

We recommend bullnose, which is commonly used to trim the corners of glass and ceramic tiles. Bullnose eliminates sharper angles and unfinished tile sides from being visible on your floor or wall. There are other popular accessory pieces such as pencil liner, chair rails and baseboards that you might find helpful to give you the most finished look for your project.

You might use thin set as your adhesive if you plan to tile a shower floor or use heavier materials. For kitchen backsplash, we recommend modified thin set which comes with some bonus benefits you won’t find with standard mortar. You can learn more about thin set in our blog. –>https://resources.giorbello.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mortar-and-grout/

The main difference between unsanded and sanded grout is the presence or absence of sand. Sanded grout should be used for flooring and wall tile joints wider than 1/8 inch because it resists shrinkage and cracking. Unsanded grout should be used in joints that are less than 1/8-inch-wide. Unsanded grout should not be used in floor tile, because the grout can crack and break under the pressure of floor traffic. You can learn about grout in our blog –>https://resources.giorbello.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mortar-and-grout/

Tile can be heavy to lift, so be careful when picking up a lot of tiles at once to avoid injuries. When cutting tile, we recommend safety goggles, gloves and other safety equipment as necessary. We highly recommend you read our blog post “How to Prepare Tile Installation”. –>https://resources.giorbello.com/how-to-prepare-for-tile-installation/

Depend on the size of the project and your budget, there are different methods and tools for cutting tiles. Find the perfect way to cut tiles on our blog –>https://resources.giorbello.com/how-to-cut-tiles/

Not all tile and grout require sealing. Glazed tiles are coated with a liquid glass, which is baked into the surface of the tile by the manufacturer. You should only seal cement-based grout, which is extremely porous and can harbor dirt, mold, mildew and bacteria. However, epoxy, urethane and other types of synthetic grouts do not need to be sealed.

The primary reason for sealing non-glazed tile and grout is to keep it looking fresh and clean. Non-sealed tile and grout will get grimy and stained over time, requiring a lot of scrubbing and sometimes even replacement to look good again.

We recommend using a non-acidic, anti-bacterial cleaner for man-made materials like ceramic and porcelain as well as natural stone materials.