Preparing your surface for tiling

Tiling is very much about preparation. The surface you'll be attaching your tiles defines how easy your work will be, and how even your final product will look.

In just about every case, you'll want to install some sort of backer board that you will affix your tiles to.

I won't go into the different types of backer boards, because I think it has been done better and at length in other places, so I'll just link to this great article which lays out the pros and cons of each type.

For most cases, your backer board will probably be cement board. It is very flat, water resistant, and doesn't move or flex. These features mean that your tiles will stay exactly where you put them, and your grout won't crack.

How much extra tiles to buy

When you purchase your tiles, make sure that you get more than you have calculated. Take the area you'll be tiling and add an extra 15%. These spare tiles will either get used during breakage, for extra small pieces, or in the future when you need to repair a single tile for whatever reason. They store easily, and can be hard to find. You will be grateful for it when you need it.