Tiling a wall
Tiling your kitchen or bathroom is a fantastic opportunity to create a statement that is reflective of your own preferences and may be done in either the kitchen or the bathroom. Even though in the past many have considered tiling to be a challenging do-it-yourself project, it is completely possible to produce a finish that looks like it was done by a professional tiler like stylebathrooms.ie if you plan ahead and follow the instructions in this guide properly.
Because they are long-lasting and simple to maintain, tile floors are particularly cost-effective to install over the course of their lifetime. The only maintenance that bathroom tiles require is routine cleaning, and occasionally replacing sealant or grout. Other than that, they require very little upkeep.
In this tutorial, we’re going to walk you through the entire process of installing wall tiles, from planning to cutting and laying tiles to finishing off with sealant and grouting.
How should a wall be prepared before it is tiled?
If you want your tiles to be correctly laid and to last for a long time, then thorough preparation is very necessary. Before you start laying tiles, you need to make sure that the wall is completely clean, free of dust and oil, and completely dry.
Before you begin tiling, you will need to seal the surface if you will be tiling directly onto bare plaster, timber, or ply. For the greatest results, use a primer made of BAL or SBR; a PVA primer will not be secure enough over the long run, especially on the walls of a bathroom. In the absence of a primer, the tile adhesive will start to dry up, which will result in the tiles becoming less secure.
When tiling on plasterboard, you must wait at least seven days after applying a new skim coat of plaster for it to fully dry before beginning the tiling process. If you are going to tile directly onto a sand or cement render, then the render needs to be at least two weeks old before you can begin. It is not a good idea to tile straight onto a wall that has been painted or papered.
Following the application, natural stone and maybe some porcelain tiles will need to be sealed. Seal the surface both before and after you grout by following the advice given by the manufacturer. This helps prevent stains from occurring on the tiles.
How many tiling pieces will I need for the wall?
To determine how many packs of tiles you will need, first determine the surface area of the area to be tiled in metres squared (length times width), then compare that number to the coverage provided by each pack. When measuring the wall area of a room with an irregular shape, divide it into segments and then put those segments together to get the total. Remember to add at least 10 percent more to account for the unavoidable waste and offcuts that will occur.
It is common practise to assign batch numbers to tiles; hence, if you want to achieve accurate colour matching, you should attempt to purchase all of the necessary tiles from the same batch.
What kind of tile adhesive should I make use of?
When installing tiles into walls, it is important to take into account the total weight of the tiles and adhesive. There will be a range of weight capacities that can be safely supported by the various wall surfaces. While you are making your plans, it is important to check the instructions provided by the tile maker to ensure that you purchase the appropriate materials. The helpful guide that we have provided below provides a summary of the maximum weights that certain walls can support.
When I start to tile a wall, where do I begin?
It is essential to begin the process of arranging your tiles in the appropriate place, since this will influence whether or not the completed wall appears correct. The objective of planning your layout is to produce a “centre” region in which to lay down whole tiles, and then to arrange edge tiles surrounding this area. Once this objective has been accomplished, the layout can be considered complete. The majority of the time, developing a strategy ahead of time proves to be beneficial. When planning and measuring, make sure to provide a gap of 3 millimetres for the grout.
As is the case with bathroom floor tiles, you should attempt to avoid using tiles that are smaller or have thinner edges. Your wall will have a much more professional appearance once it is finished if each edge includes tiles that are approximately the same size. When determining how to lay out the tiles and where you will begin, you will need to take into account the design of the tiles if you are going to be utilising patterned tiles.
Step 1
To create a gauge rod, cut a wooden batten to a length that is slightly longer than fifty percent of the width of the wall that you will be tiling. Along its length, position tiles and spacers, and then mark the corresponding locations on the gauge.
Step 2
Put a mark on the wall with a pencil at the horizontal centre of the wall. Adjust the position of your gauge rod in relation to this point such that one of the tile markings coincides with the centre point.
Step 3
Move the gauge closer to the wall while simultaneously noting the breadth of each tile as you go.
Step 4
It is essential to ensure that the width of your edge tile is at least half that of a whole tile. Once the tile has been put, an edge that is too thin will seem messy. If the space between the final whole tile and the wall is less than half the width of a whole tile, you should shift the centre point of your markings to the right by half the width of a whole tile when you are doing the marking out. This ensures a larger edge tile that also has a better appearance. After that, make a mark on the floor to indicate where the first whole tile will be set. This will serve as your starting point when working horizontally.
Step 5
Using a spirit level, mark a line going vertically down the wall from this beginning position all the way to the bottom of the wall.
Step 6
Continue the technique outlined above along the vertical line, locating the midpoint of the line, and marking it out accordingly. If the height of the bottom tile was originally less than half the height of a tile, you will need to adjust its position and then mark the beginning point of the first entire tile.
Step 7
Make a mark on the wall using a spirit level in the form of a horizontal line.
Step 8
You should now have two full guide lines on the wall – one vertical and one horizontal – if you followed the instructions carefully. Pipe detector testing should be done along both of these routes. If there are no pipes or wires in the way of your lines, you can secure the battens to the wall by using screws. Not only will these indicate your starting location, but they will also provide support for the tiles once they have been put.
What is the best way to tile a wall?
It is time to start laying down your wall tiles now that you have completed the prior steps of planning your layout and installing your battens. If you are going to use adhesive that is leftover from another job, make sure to check the expiration date before you use it. You have the option of purchasing adhesive that has already been combined or purchasing adhesive powder that you will need to mix yourself.
Step 1
If you are going to be making your own glue, then you need to follow the directions provided by the manufacturer and put the appropriate amounts of water and powder into a bucket. Employing a drill and a mixing paddle, give it a thorough mixing until you have a smooth, lump-free paste of the desired consistency.
Step 2
Using a notched measuring trowel, apply glue to approximately one square metre of the wall beginning at your starting position. First, lay the tile down on the floor using the smooth edge of the trowel; then, using the serrated edge, pull the trowel back over the tile. This helps to create a uniform surface on which to place the tiles by forming ridges in the glue while it is being applied. The next step is to press the first tile firmly into position using a little twisting motion to assist in securing the adhesive.
Step 3
Place the subsequent tiles in place using the batten as a guide, then use tile spacers to separate them from one another. Check the tiles with a spirit level on a frequent basis to ensure that they are flat and level. If a tile is sitting too high or low, you can carefully pry it loose and adjust the amount of adhesive underneath it accordingly.
Step 4
You should use a moist sponge to wipe away any glue that is on the tile surface, and you should also remove any excessive amounts of adhesive that are in the grout lines as you go along. Carry on until all of the tiles have been laid, and then wait until they are absolutely dry before removing the battens from the back of the tiles.
What is the proper way to cut wall tiles?
Step 1
After you have completed the installation of the whole tiles, you may move on to cutting and installing the edge tiles. First, you need to measure the distance that exists between each complete tile and the wall, being sure to account for the tile spacers. Because walls are rarely perfectly straight, you can’t assume that the gap will be the same throughout the entire wall; therefore, you need to measure each individual tile.
Step 2
There are a number of distinct approaches to cutting tiles, and the way in which you implement these approaches is determined by the kind of tile you have and the cut you need to make. The following are the four primary approaches:
- Create a scribble on the tile, then snap it.
- Make use of a tile cutter designed specifically for the task.
- Use a tile nipper.
- Utilize a tungsten carbide rod to make the cuts in the tile.
When cutting tiles, always sure to protect yourself by donning safety goggles and gloves. The simplest approach is to scribe the tile, which involves using a metal ruler and a pencil to mark your measurement onto a tile and then draw a cutting line.
Step 3
While maintaining pressure with the metal ruler against the pencil mark, use a tile scriber to make many cuts along the pencil line. Check that the tile has been scored throughout its whole length to ensure that it will have a neat edge.
Step 4
To break the tile in half, position your pencil so that it is directly underneath the scored line, then press down forcefully on it.
Step 5
Check that each tile that has been cut will fit correctly along the wall by placing it in position along the wall and remembering to leave space between the tiles. If you are satisfied with the way the tiles will fit, proceed to apply adhesive to the wall as you did before and then secure the cut tiles. If you find that it is difficult to apply adhesive to the wall, you can try applying it to the reverse side of the tile instead. Beginning at the base of the vertical edge, move your way up until you reach the top. Next, tile the edge that runs horizontally.
Step 6
Using a moist sponge, carefully remove any extra adhesive that may have been left behind. A window scraper can be utilised in a cautious manner in order to remove any excess of the solidified adhesive. After the tiles have been placed down, you must wait until the adhesive has completely dried before proceeding.
What is the proper way to grout wall tiles?
Step 1
After the tile adhesive has had enough time to dry, clean the tiles well to remove any traces of dust or grime. Create a paste out of the grout, then spread a little of it on each tile. When working the grout into the joints between the tiles, use a grouting float and move quickly in a diagonal motion. Because grout sets in about half an hour, you need to work fast and cover just tiny sections at a time.
Step 2
After you have completed grouting many rows, take a grout finishing tool and run it along the joints to create a clean, smooth finish. In the event that any grout makes its way onto the tiles, remove it with a sponge dipped in water before it has a chance to solidify.
Step 3
After the grout has had sufficient time to dry, remove any powdery residue from the tile surface by wiping it down with a clean, soft cloth. Then spray a grout protection onto the joints. Because of this, the lifespan of the grout will be extended because it will be protected against water, dirt, and grease.
