DIY is now a way of life. The internet makes it easy.
Nowadays, you simply have to go online if you want to learn something. Most things that people used to pay for, they now opt to do by themselves. The massive access to information is changing the game.
However, is it okay to DIY tiling? You may think that you can do it by yourself, but is it really the proper way to go?
If you’re about to embark on a tiling project and you’re deciding between doing it yourself or hiring professional contractors, you have found the perfect article.
This article will enlist everything that you have to consider when choosing between DIY-ing or hiring professional tile contractors. After reading this and taking note of all the essential factors, you will definitely find it easy to decide if DIY tiling or hiring professional tile contractors is the way to go.
5 Things You Need To Consider When Deciding if You Should DIY or Hire Professional Tile Contractors
1. Your Budget
The main advantage of DIY-ing is you don’t have to pay for labor. As you will do it yourself, you won’t need to pay for someone’s time, skill, and experience. Granted that you will save a lot in paying for labor, you need to be aware of the following costs that DIY tiling requires:
- Costs for materials – you need to buy grout apart from tiles
- Equipment – you can opt to invest in them or simply borrow from friends and family
- Supplies
- Extra money in case you’d damage or break the tools you’d borrow
If you’d hire a local tiling contractor, you will need to spend on the following:
- Labour Costs
- Materials
- Clean-up
- Finishing Work
- Professionalism
If you’d hire professional tiling contractors, you won’t need to spend on buying equipment, supplies, and other tiling materials. Professional contractors have their own tools and supplies.
2. Needed Experience
If you’re a professional tile contractor or you have experience in tiling, then you know very well that you can do the job on your own. If you have little to no experience and you want to DIY, it’s best that you strictly follow every single instruction. From the materials to the steps and the proper way of using supplies and equipment.
Different tile projects require different levels of experience. Complicated tiling work with particular demands will need the expertise of someone with years of experience in tiling. Simple tiling projects with no complicated design and structuring can very well be done by you.
You need to be fully honest with yourself when deciding. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I have enough experience to do this tiling project? Is this a simple project that does not require the expertise of skilled professionals?
3. Needed Skills
There are many kinds of tiling projects. Each kind will require a particular skill set and expertise. You can DIY away if you have a generic tiling project that does not require complicated set-up and elite tile application skills.
Every project mainly differs when it comes to the kind of tile that you want to work with.
Natural stone tiles can be challenging so if you’re working with such material, it’s best to hire professionals. You will need to know how to work adhesives. If you have no time to study it and you want the project to be done in the best way possible, professional tile contractors should do the work for you.
With wooden tiles, you at least need to have basic carpentry skills. You should be confident in using screw guns and hammers.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are easy to work with. The only thing that you need to fully be careful of is the mixture and application of grout.
4. Design Requirement
Do you already have a design in mind?
If you already have a clear vision and you know just how to execute it, then you should be fine if you’d opt to DIY.
However, if you’re still not sure about your design and you don’t know how to go about tiling, it’s best to work with professionals. Professionals have years of experience in the industry. They can offer you numerous suggestions on how to go about it. They’re familiar with color combinations and different design techniques. If you don’t want to worry about the execution of the tile application that you have in mind, it’s best if you’d pay professional tile contractors to do the work for you. It will save you so much time and energy.
5. Project Size
Last but definitely not least, you should consider the size of your project.
If it’s a small project that can be done in just hours, you should consider doing it on your own. On the other hand, bigger projects require more time and effort. It’s best to work with professionals if you’re tiling project is of a large scale.
Getting the Right Quote
If you’ve finished the article and you’ve decided that it’s best to trust professionals with your tiling project, take note of the following questions that you should ask when you’re getting a quote:
- How long will it take for them to finish the job?
- What services are included in the price?
- What do you need to do before, during, and after the job?
Bottomline
If you have a small tiling project that does not require much time, effort, and skills, you should be okay if you opt to DIY. For bigger projects though, it’s always best to trust the skills and expertise of professionals.
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