Charles Gueli shares 11 Ceramic Tile Tips that are sure to improve the floor in your home.

1. When determining the amount of tile to buy, multiply the width by the length of the surface to be covered, then add 5%, and then round up to the next full box of tile.
2. When selecting tile, evaluate the surface that will receive the tile. Consider the amount of wear and tear the surface will get. Will the tiles get wet? Are we covering floor, counter top, or walls? Different tiles are made to withstand different levels of use. Wall tiles may look similar to floor tiles, but they are not as thick or durable (generally speaking).
3. One of the worst things that can happen to a bathroom is for water to get behind the wall tile. All bath wall tile should be installed over concrete mud work or concrete “wonder board”. The additional cost of mud work installation instead of tile over water resistant drywall will be paid back many times over in the future. Never accept bath wall tile to be installed over water resistant drywall.
4. Terracotta tiles (technically not ceramic) are often handmade and give an interesting look, but they are more difficult to maintain because they are porous and must be sealed every year in order to prevent dirt from getting into the little pores and making the entire surface look dirty.
5. Think about the grout. Select a color and width that will blend in with your tile. I personally suggest the thinnest grout width that works with your tile. Stay away from stark white as it will be noticeable and show dirt more easily.
6. If you are putting tile in your shower, you can get nice marble corner or end wall shelving units for shampoo, soap, and other products.
7. Ceramic tile specifications should give you a per square foot allowance for material. You may then go to a tile store and look at available selections to be sure that the allowances are adequate. Be very careful if the builder offers a total installed allowance for all tile in the home as opposed to an allowance for each square foot of tile in each area.
8. Furthermore, the tile allowance should be specified as an amount per square foot for tile material only. Do not accept this allowance as a total amount for ceramic tile installed. If the builder underestimated the amount of material or labor, you will end up with an unpleasant surprise in the end.
9. Ceramic floor tile will often crack. This happens because the wood floor is too “spongy” so the wood gives and the tile doesn’t – causing the tile to crack. The only way to avoid this is by stabilizing the wood floor by adding joists and support.
10. The other scenario is when applied over concrete slabs that are not thoroughly cured. To insure that you have no problems with this, install a heavy felt between the slab and the tile. If a crack occurs in the concrete, the felt absorbs the crack and spreads the separation out over the floor, keeping the tile from cracking.
11. Repairing tile is not as difficult as most people believe. Often, folks think that if one tile is broken they have to replace the entire job. If you have extra tiles, or can find the same tile, most tile professionals can replace a single tile and save you money.