Setting tile on a plumbing wall takes a bit more patience & accuracy with cuts. My biggest advice on cutting holes around plumbing fixtures: 1. For main valve, use a grinder to cut the 5" hole ; if installing ceramic, using a diamond grinder blade to works great (montolit STL blade) 2. Have the actual escutcheon plate on hand to double check holes created 3. For a diverter like this Delta faucet system, using a hole saw. Not a lot of coverage with the trim plate 4. Its helpful to create a guide

Don't underestimate the time it takes to set tile 😃 It takes a lot of patience and forethought to have a productive day with setting tile. Here are a few tips on setting 3" x 12" tiles in a stacked pattern: 1. Create a story pole to reference the cuts and layout of your tile 2. Use a non-sag thinset like Ardex X5, X65, or X77 (long pot life!) 3. For application of thinset first burn thinset into substrate with back side of trowel & then directionally trowel 4. Backbutter tiles 5. For tile space