Tile Considerations: The Do's and Don'ts

Tile is one of the most durable and design-defining choices you'll make in a renovation — and one of the easiest to get wrong. Whether you're planning a bathroom, kitchen backsplash, or entryway, here are the essential do's and don'ts we walk every client through before the first tile goes down.

The Do's

Do waterproof properly. A quality membrane behind shower and floor tile is non-negotiable — it's the difference between a bathroom that lasts decades and one with hidden water damage in five years.

Do check the slip rating for floors. Look for a DCOF (coefficient of friction) rating suited to wet areas. Matte and textured finishes are safer underfoot than high-gloss tile, especially in showers.

Do plan your layout before you tile. Dry-lay tile first to center patterns, avoid awkward slivers at edges, and make sure any focal point (like a niche or accent wall) lands where your eye wants it to.

Do use rectified tile for tight, modern grout lines. Rectified edges are precision-cut, allowing for thinner, cleaner grout joints and a more seamless look.

Do seal your grout. Unsealed grout stains, discolors, and absorbs moisture. A good sealer (reapplied every 1–2 years) keeps it looking new and protects against mildew.

The Don'ts

Don't skip the waterproofing to save time or money. It's the single most common cause of costly tile failures and mold issues we see in renovations gone wrong.

Don't put polished or glossy tile on shower and bathroom floors. It looks striking in photos but becomes dangerously slick the moment it's wet.

Don't ignore expansion joints. Tile and grout need room to move with temperature and humidity changes — skipping expansion joints can lead to cracking over time.

Don't mix too many tile sizes, shapes, or colors without a plan. One or two complementary tiles (plus a grout tone that ties them together) reads as intentional; five competing choices reads as chaotic.

Don't treat tile installation as a DIY weekend project for large-format, natural stone, or intricate pattern work. Uneven substrates, lippage, and poor spacing are hard — and expensive — to fix after the fact.

Getting tile right is part material knowledge, part craftsmanship — and it's one of the details that separates a renovation that photographs well from one that performs well for years. At Stake Construction, our team brings that expertise to every project.