Tiling Around a Window: A Step-By-Step Guide

Tiling around a window can be a difficult task that involves proper planning, measuring, and cutting, as well as cutting and fitting trim. As long as you prep well, don’t rush, and have a bit of patience, you’ll be sure to get the job done properly.

Follow our smart step-by-step guide for everything you need to know to get a great finish.

Before you get started, in order to successfully tile around a window, you’ll need the following materials and tools:

Once you have everything you need, it’s time to get stuck in…

When tiling a wall with a window, it’s important to first lay as many full tiles as possible, leaving the cuts around the window until last. The first part of the window you will get to will usually be the bottom. 

Once you get to the next layer of tiles below the window, that cannot be laid as full tiles, leave this layer, and move onto the sides. Following the same layout of the previously laid tiles, work up both sides of the windows laying tiles. Continue laying the tiles up the sides of the window until you are a whole tile width past the top of the window. You should now have laid tiles along the bottom and up both sides.

For help on tiling walls, take a look at our more in-depth article to explain this process in more detail https://www.tilegiant.co.uk/news/how-to-tile-wall.

Use a spirit level to mark a line on the wall to show where the cuts will need to be made. Repeat this process on the other side of the window. This line will be used as a guide for the other tiles to continue along.

It is really important to keep the tiling around your window square so that your cuts will fit nice and neatly. Using your spirit level, measure between the top and the bottom of the gap between the tiles on either side of the window, to make sure they are straight.

Measure up, starting at the bottom in the centre of the window. Mark with a pencil where you are going to cut the tiles. Hold your first tile over the corner and mark the vertical and horizontal cuts with your pencil. Using a ruler, draw two straight lines so that they meet. This will give you the area that you need to cut.

Now it’s time to start cutting. Place your tile on the cutter, lining the parts out. Score the tile where the cuts need to be made, being extra careful not to overscore where the lines meet. Using the tile nippers, remove the excess tile small chunks at a time. Be careful not to break the tile by applying too much force, let the teeth of the nippers do the work. Once you’ve cut your tiles, to avoid sharp edges, use sandpaper to smooth off the edges.

Apply adhesive to the wall and then fix your first cut tile onto the wall at the outside edge of the window. Repeat this process for the cut tiles down the sides of the windows until you fill in all of the gaps. Clean the tiles before moving onto the trims.

Adding trims around the window gives a nice neat and rounded finish. Measure your trims on both sides of the window, as well as the top and bottom of the window, and mark with pencil where you need to cut. It’s best to use a hacksaw and a mitre block to get a neat 45-degree angle on the cut to ensure they join at the corners. Remember to have the trim standing in the mitre block, and not laying down, or you will make an incorrect cut. Check that all the trims fit as anticipated.

Now apply adhesive on all the edges (top, bottom & sides) and push the trims into place.

When the trim is added, you can start to lay the tiles on the inside of the window recess. Repeat steps 4-6 making sure the tiles are laid in the same rows and columns as the rest of the wall for a uniform layout.

Installing the corner tiles can be a little bit tricky - these best practices should make the process easier. Select a tile with the correct depth, place it on the tile on the window frame below and then spin it 180 degrees so that the cut edge is now facing you. Glide it up to cover the part to be tiled and mark with a pencil how much tile needs removing, allowing room for a spacer.  Cut the tile to the correct size but remember to spin the tile back round so that the clean edge faces towards you. Slot in the tile and press firmly into place. Add spacers and repeat this process around the window frame.

Once all of the adhesive has dried, apply the grout, ensuring to grout around the tile trims as well, then wipe it all clean. Once the tiling and grouting is complete you can seal around the gap between the window frame and tiles using a waterproof, mould resistant silicone sealant to complete the window recess.

Now that you understand the importance of thorough planning, measuring, and cutting, tiling a window recess should be fairly unproblematic, following our straightforward step-by-step guide.

Here at Tile Giant, we have everything you need to do a fabulous job of tiling around a window. From a huge selection of stunning tiles in all shapes, sizes and designs, to suit all budgets. To a wide variety of adhesives, grouts and silicones, plus tools & accessories, needed to finish the job. Happy tiling!