9 Essential DIY Tiling Tools

bathroom tiles

As one of the largest suppliers of tiles and natural stone in New South Wales, the team at My Tile Market are experts in sourcing the right tiles and equipment for an extensive range of tiling projects. If you are considering undertaking your own DIY tiling project, then you need to invest in the correct equipment for the job. Using the right tools will ensure a professional and long-lasting result, adding durability and value to your home or business.

In our latest blog post, we share 9 essential DIY tiling tools for any tiling project:

Glue & Adhesive

The first piece of essential DIY tiling equipment is tile adhesive, used to adhere your tiles to the underlying surface. A good adhesive should be both strong and flexible, easy to apply and allowing for repositioning of tiles to ensure the best possible result. My Tile Market stocks a variety of quality adhesives including Davco SMP Evo, a flexible, cement based adhesive designed for use on premium stone, marble and porcelain.

Browse our selection of adhesives here.

Notched Trowel

The second piece of essential DIY tiling equipment that we recommend purchasing is a notched trowel. The straight edge of a trowel is used to evenly spread tile adhesive onto the surface that you are tiling, allowing you to ensure even coverage and thickness. The notched edge is used to trowel ridges into the adhesive to support the back of the tile. Keep in mind that wall and floor trowels tend to have notches of different widths, making certain trowels more suitable than others depending on your tiling project.

Grout

Grout is what gives your tiles a professional and attractive finish. Not only does grout fill any gaps between tiles, but helps keep them clean and preserves your hard work. Grout comes in a wide range of colours to complement the colour of your tiles, and different grouts are suitable for different joints and types of tiles. For example, Davco Easy Grout is a premium, pre-mixed grout for wall and floor tiles stocked by My Tile Market, which can be used both indoors and undercover, and is both stain and mould resistant.

Already chosen your tiles? Find the perfect grout for your tiling project here.

Sponge

It may seem simple, but in reality a good quality sponge is one of the most important tools for a DIY tiling project. For tiling, you need a sponge which is able to hold a large amount of moisture, with rounded edges for cleaning grouting and made with multiple textures for excess grout and haze removal. The rounded edges of the sponge ensures that you do not damage your new grout while cleaning, while the high moisture content will result in a perfect finish for your new tiles. The best part is that these sponges are versatile, and can be used on other surfaces when your project is finished.

Angle & Trim

Another essential piece of equipment for a DIY tiling project are tile angles and trims. A tile angle is most commonly used on floor tiles, used to finish off the edge of a tile where it meets another type of flooring, such as wooden floorboards. Tile trims are used to create a professional finish to your tiling job, covering exposed tile edges which could otherwise be easily damaged. Tile trims are most commonly made of aluminium, plastic or stainless steel, and come in a variety of designs to complement your tiles.

Looking for a particular angle or tile trim? Browse our selection here.

Spacer

Tile spacers can be a lifesaver for DIY tilers, working to keep equal spacing between all your tiles. Spacers keep tiles in place and maintain straight grout lines while your tile adhesive dries, and come in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit any tiling job. Make sure that you figure out how many spacers you will need for your project before you begin, to ensure that you don’t run out halfway through. Also keep in mind that certain spacer sizes work best with particular types of tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain, granite and marble.

Unsure what size or type of spacer would suit your tiling project? Speak to one of our friendly in-store tile experts!

Silicone

Silicone is another essential DIY tiling tool used at the end of the tiling process after you have installed and grouted your tiles. Silicone fills gaps between your tiles and other surfaces, such as benchtops, splashbacks, bathtubs and other objects. Silicone is also used in wall and floor joints as a flexible sealant, able to absorb movement and allow the tiles to expand and contract. Because silicone can adhere to a range of materials including ceramic and porcelain tiles, as well as granite, glass and natural stone, it is suitable for both interior and exterior tiling projects.

Tile Cutter

The next essential tool needed for any DIY tiling project is a quality tile cutter. Tile cutters are used to cut porcelain and ceramic tiles to a required size and shape. At My Tile Market, we stock an extensive range of Sigma tile cutters, the choice of professional tilers but also able to be mastered by DIYers with minimal training. The measurement arm can swivel up to 45 degrees in both directions allowing for an accurate cut at any chosen angle, while the cutting arm ensures a clean and fast cut every time.

With a selection of tile cutters from 33cm to 151cm available, you are sure to find a Sigma to suit your tiling project in our product inventory here.

Cleaner

The final piece of essential DIY tiling equipment that we recommend investing in is grout cleaner. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are easy to maintain with regular household cleaners and detergents, while stubborn stains can be removed using diluted phosphoric acid. However, for grout a dedicated grout cleaner will get the best result, such as the Aqua Mix Cement Grout Haze Remover. This product effectively removes cementitious grout haze, rust stains, efflorescence, hard water stains, lime deposits and soap scum from natural stone and acid-resistant tiles.

For more advice on undertaking a DIY tiling project, see our blog post 5 Things to Consider Before Tiling Your Home.

Here at My Tile Market, we are dedicated to providing our customers with a selection of the most premium quality tiles, natural stone and tiling equipment in Sydney. Visit us today, or Contact Us on our website.

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