A simple guide to tiling

Step Three - Get it straight

To be sure your lines are straight you will need a spirit level, a length of perfectly straight wooden batten and a plumb line. In the case of this kitchen, our spirit level showed that the bench from which we were tiling up the wall, was perfectly level.

If this is not the case take the wooden batten and measure upwards from the bottom of the wall exactly one tile length plus grouting (around 3mm). Use a spirit level to draw a straight line at this point. Fix the batten to the wall, with the top edge along this line. This gives a perfectly straight surface at which to begin tiling.

Then, drop a plumb line at the edge of the area to be tiled. Where this meets the batten you should have a perfect right angle. Place a second batten adjacent to the plumb line to get a right-angled frame for the first tiles. From this point, size up the area with your marked measuring stick to see if there will be an awkward (and unsightly) row of cut tiles at the top. If you're left with too narrow an area left over, just drop the horizontal batten lower to even up the size of tiles you will need at top and bottom.