Giving your garden a makeover isn’t just about the planting. There’s a good deal of hardscaping involved in the process, too.

For more than 70 years, Rubi has provided tools and tips for the construction industry. In addition to tile tools, we have a wide range of drill bits. Our drill bits work for concrete, diamond, glass, and tile.So, after weeks of procrastinating, you decided to redo your tile installation yourself. Of course, you also bought all the tile trowels and installation tools. Or so you thought. You sweated and grunted for hours laying tile. But as you admire your finished work, you realize something is off. Your tile isn’t level. It’s because you didn’t use a tile leveling system. One customer suggested spinning them right after installation to remove the substrate so they’re easier to withdraw. “I am a professional contractor and I’ve tried a lot of leveling systems for tile and I have to say these worked best,” raved one pro. “I am very satisfied with this product. They work very simple and remove [easily] and they keep a nice level floor.” Finally, if you do need to employ tradespeople (be that builders for the construction elements or a tiler), establish their fees up front, confirming whether they charge a day rate, cost per square metre or a job rate. Tile leveling systems, specifically the strips, keep tiles in place during the bonding and drying process. As a result, it can produce a professional, finished look. The Posts or Clips As I am sure everyone has noticed, there has been a wave of tile leveling systems to hit the market recently. Each system has pros and cons, and each professional has their own brand of choice. On my latest project I was able to test out some of these spacers for the first time. I am not here to tell you which is the best, or whose product you should use. I am here to tell you that regardless of which system you decide to employ, you must still to remember the basics of tile setting.

Before we dig into how to tile a garden, you need to have a long, hard think about whether doing it yourself is the right decision for you. When working out the cost of your tiling project, measure up the area in question by multiplying the length by width to get a square metre calculation. You’ll then be able to work out how many tiles (and how much adhesive and grout) you’ll need to cover the area. As with any tiling job, buy 10-15% extra to cover tile breakages and cuts.You might consider laying down a smooth surface like cement boards between the subfloor and your tile. Wear safety glasses to guard against the cement board’s chemicals. With another tile laid next to the tile with the clip, you can slide a wedge into the clip and use the adjustable pliers to crimp the wedge tight into the base. If you are using the Spin Doctor, just rotate your base until it’s flush with the two tiles.