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September 19, 2025 11 mins

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Ever stepped into a freshly tiled bathroom only to notice uneven edges, cracked grout, or that hollow sound when you walk across the floor? These telltale signs of DIY gone wrong aren't just aesthetic problems—they're warnings of bigger issues lurking beneath the surface.

The difference between stunning, long-lasting tile work and a costly redo often comes down to knowing what professionals never skip. Surface preparation stands as the foundation of every successful tile project, yet it's the step most homeowners rush through. We break down exactly how to create that perfect clean slate, from addressing uneven subfloors to selecting the right underlayment for wet areas. Those mysterious hollow sounds and cracks that appear months later? Almost always traced back to these crucial first steps.

Material selection creates another minefield for DIYers. We demystify the confusion between mastic and thinset, explain why your trowel size actually matters, and reveal the proper techniques for large-format tiles that professionals use but rarely share. The layout planning secrets we discuss transform amateur installations into showpieces—working from focal points rather than corners, using proper spacing, and avoiding those telltale skinny tile strips that scream "DIY job." And don't miss our breakdown of grout selection, proper curing times, and those all-important expansion joints that prevent the dreaded tile "tenting" phenomenon.

Ready to tackle your next tile project with professional-grade knowledge? Download our tile prep checklist from the website and subscribe to catch next week's deep dive into how grout color choices can completely transform your space. Share your before-and-after photos with us—we'd love to see how these pro tips elevate your next tile installation!

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
BELKY (00:01):
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belt TilePodcast.

(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.

Mike (00:43):
Hey Tile fans, Welcome back to the Belk Tile Podcast.
I'm Mike Belk and, as always,I'm here with Abby.

Abby (00:49):
Good morning everyone.
Mike, I am missing the coolerweather.

Mike (00:51):
For sure, Abby.
It was great fall weathercoming in, and now we are back
into the high 80s.

Abby (00:56):
I agree, Fall is my favorite and I thought we were
getting close.

Mike (00:59):
I do not think so.
I think we are having a littleIndian summer right now.
I think we are having a littleIndian summer right now.
Well, today we're tackling oneof the biggest risks for any
DIYer common tile mistakes andthe pro tricks that keep your
project looking flawless insteadof well costing you big time.

Abby (01:12):
Yeah, I mean, we've seen a lot.
Tile can absolutely make orbreak a space and it's wild how
one little mistake like skippinga step or grabbing the wrong
product can turn your dream roominto a DIY disaster.
So we're going to break downthe most common tiling mistakes
folks make and, yeah, exactlyhow the pros avoid them.
If you're getting ready to tile, you want to listen to this one

(01:34):
.

Mike (01:34):
And we're going to hit on it.
All prepping surfaces,adhesives, picking your layout,
grout nightmares, even thoseexpansion joints no one talks
about until stuff starts popping.
Oh and my favorite, knowingwhen to put down the trowel and
call in a pro.
We're not just throwing shadeat DIY, but helping everyone who
wants to do it right.

Abby (01:52):
Totally.
Let's get into these mistakes,so maybe your next project ends
with proud photos on Instagram,not a call to fix a cracked
floor six months later.

Mike (02:01):
All right, first up, skipping surface prep.
I mean, this is the classic one, right?
I've lost count of how manytimes I've walked in on a job
where someone tiled right over adirty or uneven surface.
Or worse, someone went for itover bare plywood in the shower.
I kid you not, Abby, that setupdidn't make it a year before
the tiles started falling offthe wall.

Abby (02:19):
Yeah, and that's not rare.
If your subfloor or wall isn'tclean, level and dry Game over
before you even start, peopleunderestimate just how much
unevenness, a little dirt orleftover adhesive can sabotage
you.
I always tell clients startwith a clean slate.
Literally Get in there, use along level, fix those dips with

(02:39):
patching compound orself-leveler, remove grease, get
the surface pristine.
It's boring work but honestlyit's the difference between tile
that lasts years and tile thatfails before your new towels are
out of the package.

Mike (02:52):
And don't skip that underlayment, especially in wet
areas Cement board, uncouplingmembrane, something that
protects and stabilizes the tile.
In a bathroom, you need awaterproof backer board, and I
mean waterproof, not sort ofwaterproof like regular drywall.
That detail matters.
Skimp on it and yeah,hollow-sounding tiles, cracks,
water damage, sometimes allthree at once.

Abby (03:13):
Which is so avoidable.
Plus, prepping right meansyou'll have fewer headaches with
lippage, like where one edgesits higher than the next.
That's a toe stubber andvisually you'll notice those
every time you walk in.
Anyone thinking about a tileproject, don't rush surface prep
, please.
The payoff is so worth it.
Okay, so let's stay on prep,but move into adhesives and

(03:34):
materials, because using thewrong stickum for the job or
grabbing a bargain brand thinsetugh, that's another way to
sabotage a great tile.
Mike, you must have storiesabout mastic in all the wrong
places.

Mike (03:46):
Too many Abby For folks listening.
Mastic's okay for some walls,dry areas you get the idea.
But use it in a shower Uh-uh,it's not made for the moisture
and you'll get loose tiles andmildew faster than you think.
Always check if you needthinset or mortar, especially
for porcelain, glass or stone,and don't rely on whatever the
hardware store has on sale.
Actually, make sure it's theright spec for the tile and

(04:08):
surface you're working with.

Abby (04:10):
And the trowel.
Using the wrong size trowel toosmall for those bigger tiles
means you won't get propercoverage.
Ever notice that hollow soundunder a tile?
That's from incomplete bonding.
You want good contact.
I always tell DIYers match yourtrowel to your tile size and
read the bag or honestly, justask for help if you're not sure.
That 5-minute question savesyou hours of repairs.

Mike (04:34):
One more thing Back butter those large tiles, especially
if they're, say, bigger than 12by 24 inches.
Dab some mortar on the back,then set it and mixing, stick to
the instructions.
Don't eyeball it with water.
It's all these small steps thatbuild up to a pro finish.

Abby (04:48):
All right, can we talk about the layout disaster zone
now?
Let's just start in the corner.
I hear that so much and it'slike no, please don't Not dry.
Laying first is probably one ofthe top regrets I hear later.
I mean, you always want to knowhow your tiles will land so you
don't end up with, I don't know, a two inch strip running down
the wall on the other sidebecause you didn't center the
design.

Mike (05:08):
That's true.
Laying out your tiles beforeyou start sticking them to the
floor is such a pro move.
You see potential issues, youavoid skinny cuts at the end and
you can adjust before thingsget messy.
Always start from the focalpoint, not just the doorway, but
wherever your eye is firstdrawn.
That could be a tub or thefireplace, or right in the
center of the entryway.

Abby (05:28):
And spacers.
Why does everyone want to skipusing spacers?
They keep your joints even and,trust me, you can't eyeball it
and get a good look.
Use them Also.
Measure, measure, then measureagain.
I'm always channeling my oldshop teacher here Measure twice,
cut once.
That one tiny little moment ofpatience saves your whole layout
from looking off.

Mike (05:47):
And if you want a pattern, herringbone, chevron, whatever
plan it out.
A dry fit or even some bluetape mock-up can save you.
We talked about layout a lotback when we did the fireplace
episode, right Abby.
Same stuff applies, just biggerscale, more cuts, same need to
actually think ahead andvisualize.

Abby (06:04):
Right.
The wow factor is always inthose details, the symmetry, the
balance.
Planning ahead is literallyyour free secret weapon for
professional-looking tile.

Mike (06:12):
Let's get into grouting, because this is where a lot of
projects go off the rails.
Pick the wrong grout or go toofast and boom, cracked lines,
stains and water sneaking underyour tiles.
Seen it more than I care toadmit.
And if you don't sealcement-based grout after curing,
especially in a bathroom, it'slike leaving your door open
during a rainstorm Stuff's gonnaget in.

Abby (06:31):
Yes, and it's so tempting to rush.
People are impatient, they wantto finish.
But if your adhesive hasn'tcured and you start grouting too
early or you wipe the lines toosoon, it'll mess up both the
appearance and the function.
Speaking of disasters, one ofmy clients picked a bright white
grout in her kitchen and calledme a week later like why did it
turn gray already?

(06:52):
It was because she used thewrong type and wiped it down too
soon.
The tile dust got into thegrout lines and stained
everything Total bummer.

Mike (07:00):
And the joint size matters too.
Sanded, unsanded or epoxy Alldifferent uses.
Large joints you need sanded,smaller, go unsanded.
Wet areas, go epoxy if you can,or seal your cement grout.
Don't try to cheap out on thisstage.
Sealant isn't optional.
It's essential for longevityand stain resistance.

Abby (07:16):
Yes, and clean up as you go.
Excess grout, if left on thetile, needs a chisel or some
heavy scrubbing later.
The best time to clean is whileit's still workable.
So take your time, followinstructions and don't jump
ahead.
That's where DIYers fall down.

Mike (07:39):
Okay, quick but super important topic expansion and
movement joints.
This is one that gets skipped alot because it just sounds
technical or maybe not a bigdeal, right, yeah, but here's
what actually happens.
Tiles expand and contract withchanges in temperature and
humidity.
If you tile right up to thewalls or leave zero gap in
larger spaces, the tile hasnowhere to move.
Then it cracks or you get tilestenting lifting clean off the
floor in the middle.
Sounds weird, but I've seen itmore often than you'd think.

Abby (07:57):
What should folks do?
Simple Always leave a small gap, think 2-3mm at the perimeter,
and any place where tile meets adifferent surface.
Fill those with flexible caulk,not grout, and in larger rooms
or long runs, add a flexibleexpansion joint every 15 feet or
so.
Even pros mess this up if theyget lazy.

Mike (08:17):
It makes a giant difference in durability.
You don't even see these jointswhen they're done right, but
you sure notice when they'remissing.
Seriously, if your tile startsmaking weird hollow sounds when
you tap it or you see cracks forno apparent reason, odds are
this is the culprit.

Abby (08:31):
And that brings us to our last point knowing when to call
in the cavalry.
I love a good DIY story,honestly, but I've also seen too
many people take on thesemassive projects like curbless,
showers, heated floors orcomplicated patterns and then
get overwhelmed and, you know, abit embarrassed to ask for help
.

Mike (08:48):
Absolutely.
There's nothing wrong withwanting to save money or learn
new skills.
The issue is when youunderestimate what's involved.
Pros aren't just getting paidto sweat.
There's a lot of technicalknow-how, planning and, frankly,
thousands of hours of mistakesbehind what looks easy.
Sometimes hiring a professionalisn't actually more expensive
if you factor in time, materialslost to practice and the cost

(09:10):
to redo work that goes wrong.
I tell people know your limitsand if you're even a little
unsure, have a pro.
At least check your plan beforeyou start.

Abby (09:19):
Yeah and reach out for advice.
We even said in our last fewepisodes, right, especially when
it comes to tricky materials orhigh traffic spots like shower
floors or entryways.
If the stakes are the integrityof your wall or not flooding
your main bathroom, play it safeand invest in expertise.

Mike (09:36):
Believe it or not, it doesn't hurt anyone's pride to
ask for help.
A little guidance early onsaves a pile of tiles and cash
later.

Abby (09:42):
So let's run back through the big points.
The most common DIY tilingmistakes bad or rushed, prep
wrong adhesive or trowel, notlaying out first, skipping
spacers, grout errors, ignoringthe need for expansion and
thinking you can always justfigure it out on the fly.
Core lesson prep patience andthe right materials are
non-negotiable.

Mike (09:58):
Give yourself the space to do each step well.
Don't guess on anything crucial.
Core lesson prep, patience andthe right materials are
non-negotiable.
Give yourself the space to doeach step well.
Don't guess on anything crucial.
Ask for advice or checkreputable sources.
Spend a little more time andattention now and you'll enjoy
that floor or wall for yearsinstead of months.

Abby (10:14):
And hey, we've got a downloadable tile prep checklist
up on the site.
If anyone wants to save someheartbreak, go get it if you're
thinking of tiling soon.

Mike (10:27):
All right, that's a wrap for today.
If you're planning any tileproject, hopefully now you've
got a better path to gorgeous,long-lasting results.
Subscribe here for morereal-world tile wisdom every
week.

Abby (10:33):
Thanks for listening.
Y'all Share this episode with afriend gearing up for their
first tile project.
They'll thank you and send usyour before and after photos.
And don't miss next week.
We're deep diving grout colorsand how that one little decision
can give your room a whole newvibe.

Mike (10:48):
Looking forward to it, Abby, Thanks for all your tips
and stories today.
Take care, everyone and happytiling.

Abby (10:53):
Bye Mike, bye everyone.
See you next time.

BELKY (10:56):
You've been listening to the Belt Tile Podcast.
When it comes to creating abeautiful home using tile, this
is the podcast for products,design ideas and tips.
We hope you got some useful,practical information from this
show and we'll be back soon, butin the meantime, reach out.
The website is wwwbelktilecom.

(11:19):
Our store phone number is614-543-8334.
Find us on Facebook and Twitterat Belk Tile, and on Instagram
at Belk Tiles.
Make sure to leave a rating andreview and if you have
questions or comments, reach outand we'll talk about it on the
next show.
Till next time.
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