What this work covers
Bathroom floor tiling starts after the waterproofing has passed inspection and dried. The installer sets the falls between the threshold and drain, beds each tile firmly, and checks drainage, hollow spots, and lippage before grout conceals the joints.
When this work is needed
A stripped-out bathroom, a new floor finish, or a relocated drain needs a new tiled surface with correctly formed falls after the waterproofing has passed. If the work is limited to grout or sealant repairs, replacing the entire floor may be unnecessary. First establish the extent of ponding, hollow tiles, or cracking and whether the repair would disturb the waterproof layer.
Decide before work starts
Choosing the tile is only one part of the decision. Agree on these five points before work begins.
- Tile size, surface finish, and required quantity
- Finished levels at the drain and threshold and the direction of the falls
- The layout of full and cut tiles, especially around the drain
- The materials and method used to form the base and bond the tile
- Acceptance checks for water flow, hollow spots, and lippage before grouting
Check in the quote
Use these questions when you review the quote.
- How will the waterproofing be protected, and how much substrate repair is included?
- Are the materials for forming the falls and bonding the tile specified?
- Does the price include tile quantity and wastage as well as cuts around the drain and threshold?
- Who will check water flow, hollow spots, and lippage, and at what stage?
- If the inspection finds ponding or hollow tiles, are repairs and reinspection included?
If you have floor photos or the tile quote, I can help you check the falls, drain layout, and hollow-spot inspection scope.
What to check on site
The main job is not arranging the pattern. It is creating a finished floor that drains naturally while keeping the waterproofing intact. Check the layout, bedding, and falls in that order.
- Waterproofing and Slope References Checked
Confirm the flood-test record and condition of the membrane, then set the falls from the threshold and shower enclosure toward the drain. Dry-lay the tile first so the cuts around the drain are not unreasonably small and the grout lines follow a deliberate layout. - Floor Tile Bonding Complete
Spread the adhesive so it fully contacts both the substrate and the back of each tile, then press every piece firmly into place. Keep the drain cuts even, align the joints, and control lippage without losing the planned fall. - Slope and Hollow-Spot Inspection Complete
Before the adhesive sets, pour water at several points and confirm that it runs continuously to the drain. After curing, tap the tiles for hollow areas and walk the floor barefoot to find sharp raised edges or movement.
Where problems usually start
- Standing water Insufficient fall toward the drain leaves water behind and repeatedly soils the grout.
- Cracking and hollow tiles Poor adhesive coverage leaves voids below the tile and increases the risk of cracking or detachment.
- Threshold edge An exposed or damaged waterproof layer at the doorway can become a hidden leak path below the finished tile.
- Lippage between tiles Uneven tile edges can catch bare feet and interrupt the intended water flow.
Do not assume that poor falls are the only cause of standing water. Check the drain height, blockage, and grout as well. For hollow-sounding tiles, consider the affected area, movement, and cracking before deciding whether repair is needed.
If a crack or damage to the waterproofing at the threshold is suspected, pause grouting and fixture installation. The tile and waterproofing teams should agree on the area to expose and the repair method before the work continues.
Timing and records
Allow roughly four to eight hours for the floor-tile work itself, but waterproofing checks, curing, inspection, and repairs sit outside that window. Allow at least 24 hours before grouting unless the product specification and site temperature or humidity require longer.
Record the tile product, batch and size, the waterproofed floor before tiling, the layout and falls, cuts around the drain and threshold, and the results of water-flow, tapping, and lippage checks. Once grout and fixtures are installed, the work below the tile is much harder to verify.
Bathroom floor tile carries the drainage falls across the waterproof layer. Reviewing the waterproofing before it and the grouting and fixture installation after it makes discontinuities easier to catch.