The biggest expense in decoration is building materials, but many people are led astray by merchants' sales talk. Expensive does not necessarily mean right, and cheap does not necessarily mean saving money. This Skill organizes the essence of the building materials selection topic in the Xi'an Decoration Classroom knowledge base by relevance priority (essentials first), covering tips to avoid pitfalls in the selection of all categories, including ceramic tiles, flooring, paints, doors and windows, hardware, waterproofing, tile grout, boards, etc.
Core Principles (Remember These 5 First)
- For building materials, determine needs before budget: it is not that the more expensive, the better, but "what exactly suits this home."
- For main materials, look at the usage scenario: ceramic tiles are divided by area (slip-resistant for kitchen and bathroom, wear-resistant for living room), while flooring depends on underfloor heating and humidity.
- Do not skimp on auxiliary materials: hidden engineering materials such as water pipes, wires, waterproofing, and adhesives will cause endless trouble if you save money on them.
- Boards are linked to environmental protection: check the environmental protection grade and real test reports, and do not be fooled by "zero formaldehyde" sales talk.
- Hardware and pipe fittings are key to service life: angle valves, floor drains, faucets, and hinges—small parts determine the big experience.
Quick Reference by Topic
- Ceramic Tiles and Stone: ref-001 (For a house with underfloor heating, lay wood flooring or ceramic tiles?), ref-002 (If you are worried about environmental issues with wood flooring, lay wood-look ceramic tiles), ref-003 (When laying ceramic tiles or wood flooring throughout, do you still need threshold stones?), ref-005 (Renovation lesson: the door and floor were not coordinated, and the moment the ceramic tiles were exposed I was stunned), ref-006 (How to choose between ceramic tiles and flooring?), ref-007 (6 major misunderstandings in ceramic tile selection; most people fall for them), ref-008 (When choosing decoration materials, the truth about ceramic tiles will make you afraid to look directly), ref-011 (How to make a good transition and closure between ceramic tiles and latex paint), ref-012 (How exactly should ceramic tile grouting and sealing be chosen and done? Tile sealant, epoxy colored sand, or polyurea—which one will not have problems?), ref-015 (After laying ceramic tiles, remember to put water and check the slope and waterproofing), ref-025 (When exactly is the right time to do ceramic tile grouting?), ref-026 (When installing skirting boards, if they cannot cover the ceramic tile gaps, whose fault is it?), ref-031 (Experience summary: tile grouting is safest after ceramic tiles are laid), ref-032 (If you know these 11 key points for tilers, your home's ceramic tiles will not fall into pitfalls!), ref-034 (For homes with balconies, what ceramic tiles are laid?), etc.
- Flooring and Woodwork: ref-013 (Types of environmentally friendly board materials), ref-016 (Which is better, solid wood flooring or composite flooring? This result is too unexpected!), ref-017 (How to choose wood flooring without falling into pitfalls? How to control environmental issues?), ref-018 (Wood-grain tiles exist precisely to replace wood flooring), ref-019 (Install doors first or lay wood flooring first?), ref-021 (For a second-hand home, laying wood flooring directly over ceramic floor tiles is absolutely feasible), ref-022 (Wood-grain tiles vs. wood flooring, the ultimate choice for renovation! Choose this way to avoid pitfalls), ref-023 (Solid wood flooring in renovation), ref-024 (160 sqm American style, wood flooring laid throughout in a dark color), ref-027 (Renovation wood flooring—everything you want to know is here), ref-028 (Can wood flooring be used on balconies? What conditions are needed?), ref-029 (Wood flooring can also have problems—lessons from the past), ref-030 (Wood flooring has so many drawbacks that people dare not use it), ref-039 (Laminated flooring in renovation), ref-041 (Seven deadly sins of summer flooring installation; never do this!!!), etc.
- Paints and Putty: ref-009 (How to choose wall materials (latex paint, art paint, wallcloth, microcement)? How to avoid mold, cracking, and ... in the south during the return of damp weather), ref-010 (Latex paint and wall and floor materials), ref-133 (How many coats of putty and latex paint, there is simply no strict standard), ref-136 (If the balcony is not tiled, what color latex paint should be used?), ref-137 (The order of latex paint and wooden doors, see whether a renovation company is good or bad), ref-138 (A plain white wall is too monotonous, latex paint can solve it), ref-139 (Latex paint for renovation), ref-140 (Spray latex paint on ceilings, try to avoid spraying walls), ref-142 (Utility balconies still use latex paint, no tiles, some people do this), ref-143 (What grade of latex paint is suitable for home use? How much per bucket is appropriate?), ref-144 (Children's rooms definitely use latex paint as the most eco-friendly option, what forms are there? You think it's just painting a plain white wall?), ref-146 (The truth about renovation latex paint, once you understand it you won't struggle), ref-147 (Identify good or bad latex paint in one minute, so accurate!!), ref-148 (If you don't want archway trim, latex paint is cheap and looks good), ref-149 (Buy latex paint to try? Selling fruit can also offer samples), etc.
- Doors, Windows and Glass: ref-020 (How to choose thermal break aluminum doors and windows, how to avoid spending a lot of money and still having drafts, leaks, and poor sound insulation?), ref-122 (During renovation, my favorite arched doors and windows)
- Hardware and Pipe Fittings: ref-135 (Should the kitchen keep a floor drain? Does it need waterproofing?), ref-168 (Waterproofing a kitchen without a floor drain, just wait for bankruptcy!), ref-174 (Is it necessary to keep a floor drain in the kitchen?)
- Waterproofing and Tile Grout: ref-134 (How exactly should a balcony be renovated and used? Whether to enclose the windows, make it a housework area or leisure area, whether the counterweight wall can be demolished, how to do waterproofing?), ref-145 (Can gypsum board be used for kitchen and bathroom ceilings? Waterproof or water-resistant?), ref-175 (If the dry area also holds a washing machine, how should plumbing and waterproofing be done?), ref-179 (Why is how waterproofing is done the correct way?)
- Other: ref-004 (Pitfall avoidance in material purchasing), ref-014 (Alternatives and eco-friendly materials (21 articles)), ref-033 (Children's room wall and floor materials, children's paint (integrated in reverse order)), ref-051 (Fine decoration, is it really to avoid wasting materials?), ref-052 (Renovation wall materials, these 6 are the most common), ref-053 (Renovation must-read | 2025 minimalist plan with no suspended ceiling, no background wall, and no piling up of building materials), ref-064 (Wallpaper purchasing), ref-091 (Imitating renovations by piling up building materials is really not as money-saving and practical as bare-bones renovation, and the key is it's also eco-friendly), ref-095 (What materials are these good-looking cabinets made of), ref-118 (Home appliance purchasing is too deep! These 'pseudo-common sense' ideas are not worth believing, they are all wasted money!), ref-125 (Why not use fabric curtains for dining room windows? These materials are excellent choices), ref-126 (Whole-house customization, what materials are good-looking wardrobes made of), ref-164 ('Minimalism makes you poor for three generations' is true! Ordinary families should not follow the trend of no baseboards, it is totally 'wasted money', whoever installs them is a sucker!), ref-167 (Lessons from problems and pitfalls to avoid when buying a house), ref-169 (A tiny baseboard, no need to struggle over renovation), etc.
How to Use
When users ask related renovation questions (whether or not construction has started), first locate the reference files by the topics above, then give advice based on the specific layout/budget. Key points:
- Give conclusions directly, first say 'what not to do', then say 'what to do'.
- When it involves alterations (knocking down walls, changing doors, changing drainage), be sure to remind them to first confirm whether it is a non-load-bearing wall, property management policy, and waterproofing scope.
- When it involves safety (electricity use, slip prevention, children's safety), use a self-check list format so users can troubleshoot accordingly.
- Don't go for the AI vibe; use the "everyday life" tone of the Xi'an renovation classroom—speak plainly and give solid, practical stuff.
Reference file list (180 in total, in reverse order of relevance)
- ref-001.md — Underfloor-heated home: lay wood flooring or tiles?
- ref-002.md — If you're worried about environmental issues with wood flooring, lay wood-look tiles instead
- ref-003.md — If you lay tiles or wood flooring throughout, do you still need a threshold stone?
- ref-004.md — Avoiding pitfalls when choosing materials
- ref-005.md — Renovation lesson: the door and flooring weren't coordinated, and the moment the tiles showed I was stunned
- ref-006.md — How to choose between tiles and flooring?
- ref-007.md — 6 major misconceptions when buying tiles; most people fall for them
- ref-008.md — When choosing renovation materials, the truth about tiles is too much to face directly
- ref-009.md — How to choose wall materials (latex paint, art paint, wallcloth, microcement)? How to keep them from getting moldy, cracking, or [incomplete] during the southern hui nan tian season?
- ref-010.md — Latex paint and wall/floor materials
- ref-011.md — How to make a good transition and closure between tiles and latex paint
- ref-012.md — How exactly to choose and apply tile grout/sealant? Which one won't cause problems: grout sealant, epoxy colored sand, or polyurea?
- ref-013.md — Types of eco-friendly board materials
- ref-014.md — Alternative solutions and eco-friendly materials (21 articles)
- ref-015.md — After laying tiles, remember to put down water and check the slope and waterproofing
- ref-016.md — Solid wood flooring or composite flooring: which is better? The result is really unexpected!
- ref-017.md — How to choose wood flooring without falling into pitfalls? How to control environmental issues?
- ref-018.md — The existence of wood-grain tiles is precisely to replace wood flooring
- ref-019.md — Install doors first or lay wood flooring first?
- ref-020.md — How to choose thermal-break aluminum doors and windows, and how to avoid spending a lot of money yet still having drafts, leaks, and poor sound insulation?
- ref-021.md — In a second-hand home, laying wood flooring directly over floor tiles is absolutely feasible
- ref-022.md — Wood-grain tiles vs. wood flooring: the ultimate renovation choice! Choose this way to avoid pitfalls
- ref-023.md — Solid wood flooring in renovation
- ref-024.md — 160 sq. m. American style, laying dark wood flooring throughout
- ref-025.md — When exactly is the right time to do tile grouting/sealant?
- ref-026.md — When installing baseboards, if they can't cover the tile gaps, whose fault is it?
- ref-027.md — Everything you want to know about wood flooring for renovation is here
- ref-028.md — Can wood flooring be used on balconies? What conditions are required?
- ref-029.md — Wood flooring can also have problems; lessons from past mistakes
- ref-030.md — Wood flooring has so many drawbacks that people are afraid to use it
- ref-031.md — Summary of experience: it's safest to do grout sealant after the tiles are laid
- ref-032.md — If you know these 11 key points for tilers, your home's tiles won't fall into pitfalls!
- ref-033.md — Wall and floor materials for children's rooms, children's paint (integrated in reverse order)
- ref-034.md — If your home has a balcony, what tiles should be laid?
- ref-035.md — Using tiles for a TV wall is affordable and eco-friendly
- ref-036.md — Remedying tile and wall problems
- ref-037.md — Does the kitchen flue backdraft damper need to be installed on the tiles?
- ref-038.md — A small amount of hexagonal tile accents: inexpensive and with a sense of design
- ref-039.md — Laminate flooring in renovation
- ref-040.md — No knocking, no smashing, tile paint is cheap and the effect is amazing, only after finishing did I know what it means to suffer the consequences of one's own actions
- ref-041.md — The seven deadly sins of summer floor laying, never do this!!!
- ref-042.md — These tiles are popular in renovations, hurry up and learn
- ref-043.md — Laying tiles throughout the renovation, absolutely can enlarge the space
- ref-044.md — 90 square meters done in American style, satisfied with everything except the floor
- ref-045.md — Bathroom tile selection, practicality first, aesthetics second
- ref-046.md — What size tiles to lay in the kitchen?
- ref-047.md — Don't want to tile the entire dry area, how to prevent water splashing?
- ref-048.md — Is it better to tile the dry area or not?
- ref-049.md — No suspended ceiling, no plaster molding, all soft-gloss tiles, practical and money-saving
- ref-050.md — Is it poor tile quality or poor worker craftsmanship? What are the signs of each?
- ref-051.md — Fine decoration, to avoid wasting materials, really?
- ref-052.md — Wall materials for renovation, these 6 are the most common
- ref-053.md — Must-read for renovation | 2025 minimalist plan with no suspended ceiling, no feature wall, no piling up of building materials
- ref-054.md — Renovating a new home, what tiles to lay on the balcony?
- ref-055.md — Flooring or floor tiles for renovation? You are all completely wrong!
- ref-056.md — Laying tiles on the balcony, look at how others did it
- ref-057.md — 165 square meter modern large residence with Zen feel, tiling everything will blow the budget
- ref-058.md — 8 kinds of "appearance killer" tiles, 99% of homeowners express regret after moving in
- ref-059.md — Full-package renovation, detailed guide to main material tiles
- ref-060.md — Bathroom without a window using plain white tiles? You are OUT
- ref-061.md — Dark kitchen tiles, how to match with cabinets?
- ref-062.md — Kitchen tiles laid halfway, is it good-looking or money-saving?
- ref-063.md — Underfloor heating smashing tiles + old house radiator replacement, must take seriously
- ref-064.md — Wallpaper selection
- ref-065.md — Do large-format tiles give a premium feel? Completely wrong
- ref-066.md — Home renovation is really beautiful, tile family antique tile matching
- ref-067.md — Not a single tile in the dry area, money-saving and practical
- ref-068.md — Dry area bathroom cabinet with only half-wall tiling, how to finish the edge?
- ref-069.md — Dealing with hollow tiles, cracking, and bulging
- ref-070.md — Open kitchen, how to finish tile edges?
- ref-071.md — Gray tiles, can lay out the fashion of young people
- ref-072.md — What to do about hollow tiles? Smash and redo?
- ref-073.md — From tile laying to construction completion, these all need attention
- ref-074.md — Old house tiles are hollow, can they be repaired directly without smashing?
- ref-075.md — DIY installation and following trends, the beginning of bathroom tile disasters
- ref-076.md — What tips are there for buying tiles during renovation? Can you avoid the traps?
- ref-077.md — Renovating a new home, the three most easily overlooked tile problems
- ref-078.md — Tiles are the key point in renovation, all about tiles
- ref-079.md — Be cautious when choosing tile patterns, beware of becoming a negative example
- ref-080.md — Balcony window flush with the wall, how to lay these tiles?
- ref-081.md — 115㎡ Terrazzo Tiles and Plain White Walls, Open Kitchen + Three-Separation Bathroom
- ref-082.md — There Are Only Three Mainstream Types of Tiles, What Are Their Taboos?
- ref-083.md — Glossy vs. Soft-Matte Tiles, Homeowners Are Even Fighting Over It! Who Actually Comes Out on Top?
- ref-084.md — For a Basic-Needs Home, There's No Need to Spend Big on Tiles
- ref-085.md — Two Types of Tiles for Bathroom Walls, Different Effects
- ref-086.md — 7 Types of Bathroom Tiles Not to Choose, Words of Experience
- ref-087.md — What Size Tiles to Use in the Bathroom Is Not Up to Whim
- ref-088.md — How to Check Whether Tile Installation Is Done Well?
- ref-089.md — Home in the North, Glossy Tiles Are Not Recommended for Renovation
- ref-090.md — Paint or Tiles for the Dry Area? It Depends on Your Lifestyle Habits
- ref-091.md — Copying Renovations and Piling Up Building Materials Is Really Not as Money-Saving and Practical as Frugal Renovation, and the Key Is It's Also Eco-Friendly
- ref-092.md — I Beg You, Don't Use Dark Glossy Tiles!
- ref-093.md — Problems with Tile Installation, These Mistakes Should Not Be Made
- ref-094.md — Covering the Walls of the Living and Dining Room and Bedroom with Tiles, What's the Point?
- ref-095.md — These Good-Looking Cabinets, What Materials Are They Made Of
- ref-096.md — Putting a Washing Machine on the Balcony, Can the Living Room Tiles Be Laid Continuously?
- ref-097.md — Not Recommended to Buy Tiles This Way, Otherwise You're Just Fooling Yourself
- ref-098.md — When Buying Tiles, Be Careful of Deliberate Under-Counting, Adding More Later
- ref-099.md — Hexagonal Tiles Are Really Popular, Only Good for Local Accents
- ref-100.md — The Bathroom Is Not Just Tiles, There Are Also Fancy Backgrounds
- ref-101.md — Dark Tiles for Kitchen and Bathroom Installation, Best Used with Caution!
- ref-102.md — Flooring Damp, Three Emergency First-Aid Moves!!!
- ref-103.md — Big-Brand Laminate Flooring Has Few Environmental Issues? How Does That Make the Dead Sanlu Feel?
- ref-104.md — Which Tile Brand Is Good? Which Person in the World Is Good?
- ref-105.md — Whether Tiles Are Soft-Matte or Glossy Can't Decide the Light, But It Can Decide the Class
- ref-106.md — Tile TV Walls, Don't Think It's Just Ordinary Tiling
- ref-107.md — Don't Shift the Blame When Continuous Tile Layout Has Problems! Craftsmanship Doesn't Take That Blame!
- ref-108.md — Problems After Tiles Are Laid, Where's the Cause?
- ref-109.md — How Exactly Is Tile Installation Labor Cost Calculated So You Don't Get Ripped Off?
- ref-110.md — What Door You Install Decides How Tiles Are Laid, Is Your Tiler Responsible?
- ref-111.md — Renovating a House, These Tiles Are Best Not Chosen
- ref-112.md — Renovating a New Home, Full-Polished Glazed Tiles, It's Not Easy to Say I Love You
- ref-113.md — Renovating a New Home, Paint or Tiles for the Balcony?
- ref-114.md — 130㎡ Open Dining and Kitchen, Continuous Tile Layout, Creating a High-Quality Residence
- ref-115.md — After Doing Many Full-Package Projects, I Found the Biggest Mistakes Are with Tiles
- ref-116.md — How to Buy Kitchen and Bathroom Tiles? What You're Struggling Over Is Money
- ref-117.md — Problems with Living Room Tiles, Take Warning
- ref-118.md — Buying Home Appliances Is Full of Hidden Depths! These "Pseudo-Common Sense" Ideas Are Not Recommended to Believe, It's All Throwing Money Away!
- ref-119.md — Use So-Called "Wood Floor Maintenance Essential Oil" with Caution
- ref-120.md — What a Pity to Have Laid 600*1200 Tiles, Too Petty, All Gaps!
- ref-121.md — Buying tiles yourself, make sure to calculate the quantity correctly
- ref-122.md — During renovation, my favorite arched doors and windows
- ref-123.md — Buying tiles for renovation, this one article on experience is enough
- ref-124.md — When choosing tiles, what factors need to be considered?
- ref-125.md — Why no fabric curtains for dining room windows? These materials are the perfect choice
- ref-126.md — Whole-house customization, what materials are used for good-looking wardrobes
- ref-127.md — Spending the same money, bathroom tiles can be accented with different colors
- ref-128.md — Soft-gloss tiles, they look classy from any angle
- ref-129.md — You can't use tiles like this in renovation? It's all wrong
- ref-130.md — Buying tiles for renovation, do you really think big shopping malls only have high-end goods?
- ref-131.md — Renovating a new home, the tile decorative pieces often overlooked by homeowners
- ref-132.md — Laying tiles in renovation, glossy tiles are really not recommended
- ref-133.md — How many coats of putty and latex paint, there is simply no strict standard
- ref-134.md — How exactly should a balcony be renovated and utilized? To enclose the window or not, make it a housekeeping area or a leisure area, can the counterweight wall be demolished, how should waterproofing be done?
- ref-135.md — Does the kitchen need a floor drain? Does it need waterproofing?
- ref-136.md — If the balcony has no tiles, what color latex paint should be used?
- ref-137.md — The order of latex paint and wooden doors, see whether a renovation company is good or bad
- ref-138.md — Plain white walls are too monotonous, latex paint can solve it
- ref-139.md — Latex paint for renovation
- ref-140.md — Latex paint sprayed on the ceiling, try to avoid spraying on walls
- ref-141.md — Kitchen countertops: quartz stone or sintered stone, which to choose?
- ref-142.md — Utility balconies still use latex paint, no tiles, some people do this
- ref-143.md — What grade of latex paint is suitable for home use? How much per bucket is appropriate?
- ref-144.md — Children's rooms are definitely most eco-friendly with latex paint, what forms are there? You thought it was just painting a plain white wall?
- ref-145.md — Can gypsum board be used for kitchen and bathroom ceilings? Waterproof or water-resistant?
- ref-146.md — The truth about renovation latex paint, once you understand it you won't agonize over it
- ref-147.md — Identify good or bad latex paint in one minute, so accurate!!
- ref-148.md — If you don't want archway trim, latex paint is cheap and good-looking
- ref-149.md — Buying latex paint to try? Selling fruit also allows taste testing
- ref-150.md — Latex paint no longer colorful, let the home return to nature
- ref-151.md — How to choose latex paint so you don't pay unnecessary money?
- ref-152.md — Is latex paint eco-friendly? Are there many fakes?
- ref-153.md — Children's room furniture and board selection (child-friendly)
- ref-154.md — Paint the bedroom background with latex paint? Because I don't want to create a health killer
- ref-155.md — Partial latex paint, the brilliance of color-blocking design
- ref-156.md — Board eco-friendliness and selection (15 articles)
- ref-157.md — Latex paint without being charged extra, be sure to clarify the details
- ref-158.md — Latex paint color change is good-looking, money-saving, and eco-friendly, be careful of problems
- ref-159.md — Latex paint color change, without painting the whole wall, also has stunning effects
- ref-160.md — Painting the bedroom latex paint gray, does it look good?
- ref-161.md — Finding a renovation company for construction, can you buy the latex paint yourself?
- ref-162.md — Eco-friendly + Aesthetics: What Color Latex Paint for the Bedroom?
- ref-163.md — Wallpaper or Latex Paint for Renovation? Which Matters More, Appearance or Health?
- ref-164.md — "Minimalism ruins three generations" is true! Ordinary families, don't follow the trend of no baseboards—it's a total waste of money. Whoever installs them is a fool!
- ref-165.md — [Homeowner Asks] For the Living Room, Is Latex Paint Better or Wallpaper?
- ref-166.md — Color-Blocked Latex Paint Application Gives the Bedroom an Unexpectedly High-End Feel
- ref-167.md — Lessons from Problems and Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying a House
- ref-168.md — Waterproofing a Kitchen Without a Floor Drain—Just Wait to Go Bankrupt!
- ref-169.md — A Tiny Baseboard—No Need to Struggle Over It in Renovation
- ref-170.md — Carpentry and Painting Stages
- ref-171.md — Omitted and Missing Items in the Construction Phase
- ref-172.md — Reference Renovation Price List for the Xi'an Area
- ref-173.md — After Baseboards Are Installed, They Warp, Have Large Gaps, and Can't Press Against the Wall? Problems Arise If You Don't Pay Attention to These Details
- ref-174.md — Is It Necessary to Keep a Floor Drain in the Kitchen?
- ref-175.md — Dry Area Also Used for a Washing Machine—How to Do the Plumbing and Waterproofing?
- ref-176.md — Pitfalls to Avoid in Design and Layout
- ref-177.md — Hidden or No Baseboards—Why Doesn't It Work?
- ref-178.md — New Standards for the Renovation Process and Schedule Management in 2025-2026
- ref-179.md — Why Is This the Correct Way to Do Waterproofing?
- ref-180.md — Which Type of Board Is Better for Whole-House Customization?