Can I install penny round tiles on my bathroom floor in a Centretown apartment myself?

Yes, you can install penny round tiles yourself if you have a steady hand, patience, and access to the right tools — but there are some specific challenges with this style that make it trickier than standard square or rectangular tile, and apartment living in a Centretown heritage building adds an extra layer of considerations.

Penny round tiles are small-diameter circular tiles, typically one inch in diameter, that create a distinctive honeycomb pattern. The main difficulty is managing all those tiny grout joints — a 100-square-foot bathroom floor might have 10,000 individual grout lines with penny rounds, compared to maybe 400 lines with 12-inch square tile. Each joint is a small opportunity for lippage (uneven height between adjacent tiles), and the sheer number of joints makes the work slow and meditative. Most DIYers find penny rounds take two to three times longer than larger tile formats. You'll also need spacers rated for small-format tile to maintain consistent joint widths — this is one area where precision really matters aesthetically.

The second major consideration is subfloor condition. Apartment buildings, especially in Centretown's older heritage stock, often have uneven concrete slabs, thin wood framing, or both. The industry standard for tile installation is a maximum of 3 millimetres of variation over 3 metres — most bathroom floors are much smaller than that, so you need a maximum height variation of about 1/8 inch across your bathroom floor. Uneven subfloors are the root cause of most tile failures. Before you buy a single tile, rent a straightedge from a tool rental shop and check your floor. If it's out of plane, you'll need to grind down high spots or apply a self-leveling compound to low spots. This step is non-negotiable.

For a Centretown apartment, check your lease and building rules first — some heritage buildings and landlord situations restrict renovation work, require advance notice, or have approval processes. A tile floor installation typically requires removing existing flooring, preparing the substrate, and several days of work. Notify your landlord in writing and get any required permission before starting. If you're renting, verify that you're allowed to make permanent changes to the bathroom floor.

Material-wise, you'll need unmodified thinset mortar (never mastic, which fails in bathrooms), sanded grout in a colour that complements your tiles, and a quality grout sealer after installation. For a typical apartment bathroom floor of maybe 25 to 40 square feet, expect to spend $150 to $400 on materials depending on tile quality, plus rental or purchase of tools — a notched trowel for small-format tile (typically a 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch square-notch), a grout float, a wet saw if you need to cut tiles around fixtures, and a straightedge for checking floor flatness.

The critical steps: First, drain and close the plumbing shutoff valve if your bathroom has radiant heating or other water lines near the floor — apartment plumbing runs close to the surface and accidental puncture is expensive. Second, prepare the substrate meticulously — clean the existing floor, remove any loose material, and level it within tolerance. Third, trowel thinset on both the floor and the back of each tile (back-buttering) to ensure 100 percent coverage — this is especially important with small tiles where voids can accumulate. Use consistent spacers throughout. Fourth, allow 24 hours for thinset to cure before grouting. Fifth, apply grout in multiple passes — work it into the joints, then wipe excess at a 45-degree angle after 15 to 20 minutes. Sixth, seal the grout after it cures fully (typically 72 hours).

One important note for apartments: penny round tile creates a very horizontal visual line due to all those circular shapes. In a smaller Centretown bathroom, this can sometimes make the space feel wider but lower — test with a mock-up or photos first if possible. Also, the tiny grout joints are harder to keep clean than larger tiles, and in a shared building where humidity varies seasonally, you may deal with slightly more grout maintenance than larger formats would require.

If you feel confident with the straightedge check, substrate prep, thinset application, and grouting process, penny round floors are definitely DIY-achievable for a careful homeowner. If substrate preparation looks questionable or you're uncertain about any step, hiring a professional tile installer for just the floor (while handling removal and cleanup yourself) can be a good middle-ground option. You can browse tile contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory if you decide professional installation makes sense for your timeline or comfort level.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Justyn Rook Contracting
• Luxe Painting and Renovations
• 613Bins