How to tile around difficult places

Here's a guide on how to tile those awkward spaces and finish off your main tiling job.

Level of difficulty

Level 3: Advanced

What you need

  • Tiles cut to shape
  • Plastic spacers
  • Pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Spirit level
  • Grout mixture
  • Trowel
  • Dowel
  • Damp sponge

The steps to follow

  1. Clean the area you plan to tile.
  2. Start by tiling simpler areas; for example straight edges where you don't need to cut or trim any tiles.
  3. Hold a plastic spreader at right angles to create ridges with its teeth on the tile adhesive. The ridges will make it easier for the tiles to adhere to the existing tiles.
  4. Bed and press the first tile at the corner.
  5. Insert a tile spacer to space it from the next tile.
  6. Fit the next tile and insert another tile spacer.
  7. With a spirit level, check that the row is straight.
  8. Continue laying the tiles in the same way until you've covered the whole area.
  9. Let the adhesive harden for 24 hours.
  10. Measure the gaps individually at the sides and bottom edges of the tiled area. With this measurement, you'll be able to cut each customised tile (Refer to "How to cut tiles?") to fit into the gaps.
  11. Place a piece of paper on the area that is harder to tile. Fold the edges of the paper where the obstacle is located and tear it out. Cut the paper to make a template.
  12. Once you have a rough template of the tiles, use it to trace the shape onto a tile and cut it to shape.
  13. Apply tile adhesive to the gap area.
  14. Press the tiles and insert tile spacers into these gaps.
  15. Wait for another 24 hours for the adhesive to harden.
  16. When the adhesive has hardened, remove the tile spacers.
  17. Spread and push the grout mixture with a trowel into the gaps between the tiles. Make sure that all gaps are filled.
  18. Run a piece of dowel along the grout line to give a concave finish.
  19. Wait for about 30 minutes before you wipe the excess grout mixture from the tiles.
  20. Again, clean the whole surface with a damp sponge to finish the job.

Related articles

Don't want to DIY? Get recommended tilers for your home improvement job.

Please note that all our DIY guides and 'Expert answers' advice have been written strictly for reference only. Rated People do not accept any liability for any damage caused to an individual, property or anything else as a result of following our DIY guides and using our 'Expert answers' advice.