Tips and Tricks to a Professional Looking Tile Job If you visit enough businesses and homes you will eventually see a tile installation that just looks, well odd. The tiles are uneven, the grout lines are crooked or the cut pieces are weird in the way they fit into their spaces. If you follow these tips you will always have a professional looking tile job. It's easy once you know the tricks of the trade and you use a bit of patience to have a great looking tile job. Things to know: Before you mix any thinset, lay out a few rows of the tile floor, spacers and all this will help you determine the layout of the job Treat each wall separately and try not to leave skinny strips along the wall or at any openings Draw straight horizontal and vertical lines to the walls as a guide; know that you will make adjustments as you go Use good underlayment, you'd hate for the movement in the floor to crack your grout joints Mix only enough thinset or grout for 20 minutes of work time Clean your tile as you go, if you are away for more than a half hour clean up the job site and tools When tiling a bathtub wall, use a waterproof underlayment board Wear eye protection when cutting tiles Wear rubber gloves when grouting Use a damp sponge when grouting and make one swipe with the sponge turn it over and make one swipe with that side of the sponge then clean the sponge in a bucket of water Do not empty thinset or grout down the drain Read the label on your thinset and grout and follow the directions When caulking a tub to tile joint, use the tub stop and fill the tub with water, caulk and don't release the water until the caulk is dry And last but not least, research, ask questions, take a class be empowered you can tile like a professional.