DIY Bathroom Tile: What You Can Do Yourself and What You Should Not Touch

Tiling is one of the more learnable DIY skills — but only in the right areas. A contractor's honest guide to where to save and where to spend.

Tile work is one of the most DIY-friendly renovation skills out there — but only if you pick the right project and prepare correctly. Done wrong, it fails expensively. Done right, your tile will outlast the house.

I'm going to tell you exactly what you can realistically tackle as a first-timer, what requires experience to do well, and what you should never attempt without a licensed contractor regardless of your skill level.

Contractor Tips

• A $30 laser level pays for itself immediately. Tile installed off-level or out of plumb looks terrible and can't be fixed without demo.
• Large format tile (18x18 and up) is harder to set correctly than small tile — it requires a flatter substrate and more experienced back-buttering technique. Start with 12x12 for your first project.
• Rent a wet saw rather than buying a cheap one. A quality wet saw cuts clean and safe; a cheap one produces ragged cuts and chips.