What people keep running into with tiling
Complaints tagged tiling, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
18 recurring problems · 311 people · 13 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 111How to handle a bad contractor who won't fix poor workPaying before inspecting leaves homeowners with little leverage when contractors deliver subpar or unauthorized work. Without a clear path to recourse or refunds for shoddy repairs, people are left feeling cheated and stuck with expensive, unsightly results.
- 39How to tile over an uneven subfloor without tearing it upAn uneven subfloor makes tiles crack and shift if they are laid without a flat surface. Fixing low spots with a feather finish patch or self-leveling compound avoids tearing out the old plywood or linoleum entirely.
- 31How to remove old dried adhesive before laying LVP flooringOld dried adhesive must be scraped away completely before laying a vapor barrier and LVP. Scraping old residue by hand is extremely tedious and can take hours per strip, which stops installers from easily prepping the subfloor.
- 30How to fix a botched drywall patch with uneven edges and gapsCutting uneven edges, leaving gaps between sections, and tearing the paper creates an irregular surface that makes standard mudding and sanding fail. These mistakes prevent the patch from blending smoothly with the surrounding wall, leaving novices stuck with a poorly aligned repair.
- 20Should I put caulk over missing grout in shower corners?Shower corners and changes of plane require flexible silicone caulk rather than rigid grout, which inevitably cracks and crumbles when walls shift. Applying caulk over crumbling debris without proper clearance prevents a watertight seal, causing water to pool in unplaned corners and behind damaged joints.
- 18Why are my floor tiles cracking and tenting?Cracked and tenting tiles are usually caused by installation flaws or concrete slab movement that places stress on the flooring. This forces homeowners into a frustrating cycle of constantly patching tiles or being forced to completely rip up and replace the entire floor.
- 12Toilet flange too low after raising tile floorAdding thick layers of tile and mortar can leave the toilet flange sitting too low below the new floor level. This makes it difficult to secure the toilet properly and creates a risk of leaks, prompting the need for flange extenders or other height adjustments.
- 8Do I need a waterproof membrane under tile on a concrete floor?Different contractors give contradictory advice about whether a liquid waterproofing or crack isolation layer is actually necessary under thinset. This leaves homeowners guessing whether to apply a membrane or lay tile directly over the concrete, risking moisture damage or cracked grout if they choose wrong.
- 7How to remove loose grout wedged between tilesWhen loose grout pieces are wedged tightly into gaps instead of sticking to the joint, power tools like multitools just push the material around instead of grinding it out. This makes it nearly impossible to clear out the channels properly for new installation without resorting to manual scraping or stabilizing the loose bits first.
- 6Affordable wall hung toilets that aren't TotoHigh-end brands like Toto can feel overwhelming and expensive for a whole-house renovation requiring multiple fixtures. This makes it difficult to find approachable, budget-friendly alternatives that still offer good overall quality.
- 6Why does a white crust keep coming back on my bathroom sink?A persistent white crust or efflorescence reforms on dry ceramic surfaces and rims every 48 hours despite regular cleaning. This continuous crystallization process leaves people wondering if water is seeping out from below the tiles and causing underlying damage.
- 5How to make circle cuts and hard cuts in tile yourselfRented tile cutters and low-end tools make it nearly impossible to get clean circle cuts around fixtures without chipping edges. This forces DIYers to constantly finagle imperfect pieces into place, leaving them stuck on complex cuts.
- 4What to do about uneven or mismatched tile patternsInconsistent tile or flooring patterns caused by poor installation or mismatched joining rooms can ruin the look of a space, especially if the original tile is discontinued and hard to replace. This leaves homeowners stuck between living with obvious layout mistakes or tearing up the whole floor to start over.
- 4Do I need underlayment for luxury vinyl plank flooring?When manufacturers recommend underlayment as optional but installers say it is unnecessary, homeowners are left guessing whether skipping it will ruin their new floors or cause noise issues below. This conflict makes it impossible to know if paying extra for materials is actually required to protect the flooring.
- 4How to drill or enlarge holes through tile without cracking itDrilling or enlarging plumbing holes through tile risks cracking the entire piece if done incorrectly. Using tools like a small diamond core drill to make a series of overlapping holes or an angle grinder with a tile blade provides the necessary relief without destroying the tile.
- 3How to fix falling shower tiles on old drywall backingGlues and mortars won't hold onto crumbling drywall or old mortar, and trying to cut out sections to retrofit cement board makes it nearly impossible to get new tiles to fit right. This leaves DIYers stuck between spending hours chipping away old material with a multi-tool or risking a wall that won't hold bonding surface.
- 2Finding construction debris and mystery layers under old flooringHomeowners frequently discover hidden hazards like stray staples, razor blades, and mystery crusts left behind beneath their carpet padding or concrete subfloors during remodeling. Dealing with these unexpected materials stops people from finishing basic floor prep and forces them into tedious manual scraping.
- 2Do I need a waterproof membrane under tile or a toilet flange?Waterproof membranes prevent trapped moisture and water accumulation beneath cement board, tile, and toilet flanges. Without proper waterproofing, underlying layers can become wet, loose, or crack and shift over time.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.