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How to install bath wall tile


How to install wall tile in bathroom | HowToSpecialist

This article is about how to install wall tile in bathroom. The bathroom is one of the most important areas in our home, so we have to make everything possible to turn it into a cozy and neat space, by learning how to tile the walls. You have to use proper materials, as to protect the bathroom walls from the constant humidity and heat, which can damage the structure of our homes. In order to install the wall tiles properly, one has to know several basic techniques regarding this project: how to cut tile, how to set the wall tile layout, how to prepare tile adhesive or how to lay ceramic tiles. Therefore, you have to pay attention to all these aspects before tiling a bathroom by yourself and read carefully all our articles regarding ceramic tile.

You have to prepare thoroughly the walls before installing tile in bathroom. Make sure the walls are straight and level, without any irregularities or residues, otherwise the tiles won’t stick to walls or you could end up with a crooked wall. In addition, if you have to install wall tiles on drywall, you should prepare the surface thoroughly. Therefore, make sure you have installed green drywall (designed to resist water and moisture) or even better cement boards, in the areas exposed to moisture. These sheets of cement are made of materials which do not absorb water, making them the proper solution for your bathroom walls exposed to moisture.

The cement boards have to be secured with galvanized screws (to prevent them from rusting) to the structural studs, in the same manner as a regular drywall boards (use a stud finder to know were to drive in the screws). In addition, you have to use special fiberglass tape to mask and protect the joints between the boards. Remember that  in the shower area, you have to insulate thoroughly the wall against moisture, so it is compulsory to use these cement boards. If your bathroom walls are covered with paint, you have to remove it, otherwise the tiles won’t stick to the surface. In addition, use sandpaper and a special solution (according to the type of paint), to remove the paint from the walls. After you have finished removing it, you have to clean the dust or residues off the wall.

 

Made from this plan

 

In order to install wall tile in bathroom, you need the following:

 

Materials

 

Tools

 

Tips

 

Time

 

 

How to install wall tile in bathroom

Installing wall tile in bathroom

 

On the market, there are many products to choose from, so try to buy the tiles which fit best your needs and tastes. Nevertheless, make sure the bathroom tiles are designed to resist against water. Strange as it might seem, there are several types of ceramic tile that are not water-resistant. Consequently, pay attention before buying the ceramic tile from your local store. In addition, before placing the order, you have to measure the surface on which you are going to install tile (multiply the total length by the height of the wall), and add 10-15% for cutting waste.

Smart tip: In order to tile the bathroom walls, you need several tools: notched trowel, score-and-snap tile cutter, wet saw cutter and a hole saw tile drill bit (to install tiles around pipes). These tools are essential for a project done in a professional manner. Consequently, you should either buy them if you can afford, or rent them  for several days (especially the wet saw, which comes at a higher price). In addition, make sure the tile adhesive has the right consistency (if it doesn’t slip off the trowel it has the right consistency).

 

 

Wall tile layout

Tile layout

 

Measure the height from the floor up to the ceiling. Then, lay your tiles on the the floor in a straight line, making sure you put spacers between them. Next, use a tape measure along the tiles to see how much you have to cut from the first row of tiles (you should install full tiles on the last row). In addition, you have to measure the width of the walls,  to see how much you have to cut from the tiles around the corners. The tiles have to be wider than 2”/5 cm, otherwise you have to compensate from the opposite corner tile.

 

Wall layout

 

We recommend you to set up the layout of the wall tile from the very beginning. You can draw the layout on paper, or by using a computer software. In our case, we used Sketch-up to draw a random layout.

Smart tip: Remember that it is essential to pay attention to the exact dimensions of the room, otherwise you won’t get a proper sketch and the end result might not satisfy your needs.

 

 

Spreading adhesive on bathroom wall

Mixing tile adhesive

 

Mix a small quantity of tile adhesive in a construction bucket. Fill about 1/4 of the bucket with clean water and pour the thinset powder. Then, you should leave the adhesive to soak water for 5 minutes. In this manner, the water will activate the additives in the thinset.

Next, use a drill machinery with a mixing paddle to prepare the adhesive. Use your feet to lock the bucket into position, while you mix the adhesive with the paddle. From our experience, we recommend you to use average speeds at first and then increase it if needed.

 

Spreading out adhesive on wall

 

After you have prepared your bathroom walls, you can start installing the tiles. If the adhesive doesn’t fall of the trowel, it means that it has the right consistency.

Load a little adhesive on the trowel and use the straight edge to spread it on the wall. After you’ve got an even layer of adhesive, you should use the notched edge to comb it. Hold the trowel at 45º against the wall and press firmly, as to make sure the mortar bed is evenly distributed on surface.

 

 

Installing tile on bathroom wall

Installing tile in bathroom

 

Start installing the first row of full tiles from the most visible corner, when entering the bathroom door. Make sure the tiles are not scratched or nicked before you install them over the adhesive bed. Select only the best tiles, to get a neat look.

Smart tip: In order to lay the tiles properly, you have to twist them lightly, while you are pushing them firmly into the adhesive. After you have installed them, you should check if they are level and aligned.

 

Spreading out adhesive on bathroom wall

 

Continue spreading out the adhesive on small surfaces (as to prevent it from getting dried before you install tiles on the whole area), using the notched trowel. The pattern of the adhesive ridges is not important, provided the bed of mortar is even on the whole surface.

Smart tip: It is always better to installing tile on the whole row, before going to the next one. In this way, you make sure the tile rows are perfectly level and the bathroom will have a neat appearance.

 

 

Installing wall tile spacers

Installing wall tile spacer

 

It is impossible to install wall tiles in bathroom properly, without using the right spacers. Generally speaking, tile spacers come in a large variety of dimensions, so it is up to you the type of tile you are using. Similarly, you could install small or large spacers.

The main role of the tile spacers is to help you maintain an even gap between the tiles and to ensure the joints are consistent. Work with great care and install the spacers every time you lay a tile on the bathroom wall.

Smart tip: Do not reuse tile spacers, as you will end up with a wrong tile layout. This is one of the biggest mistakes that can be done by an unexperienced diy-er. Not only the tile won’t be level, but they will be also vulnerable to impacts (they might break).

 

Installing wall tile in bathroom

 

In this image you can see an intermediary stage of our project. Consequently, you can notice the tiles are all level and the joints are even due to the proper installation of spacers. The tile pattern is not important, but if you use tiles of different colors, it is essential to decide the pattern from the very beginning.

Smart tip: Use the level on a regular basis, to check if the wall tiles are plumb. It is important to spot any mistake, as soon as possible.

 

Wall tile spacer

 

In this image you can see a close-up of a tile spacer. You should be able to notice that a tile spacer plays a fundamental role in the success of any tile project: it helps you install tiles properly and keeps the gaps even.

Smart tip: Remember that you can buy tiles that do not require the installation of spacers, at all. These kind of tiles are more expensive, but worth the money if you like their look.

 

 

Installing tile corner joints

Installing cut tile in corner

 

In most of the cases you have to cut the tile as to fit along the wall corners. Consequently, use a tape measurement to determine the dimension at which you have to cut the tile. Afterwards, you could use a score-and-snap cutter, a diamond blade or a wet saw, to make the cut in a professional manner.

The tile corner joints are very important when installing tile in your bathroom, as they are extremely visible, so you have to pay attention to this procedure. For an unique look, you can install corner trims, but make sure they match with bathroom tile.

Smart tip: You can notice that it is hard to spread out adhesive in such a small area using your notched trowel. Therefore, you have two alternatives: either you apply adhesive on a larger surface before installing the last two tiles, or use apply adhesive on the back of the cut tile, using a small trowel.

 

Tile corner joint

 

In this image you can notice the corner trim installed. We personally prefer the traditional way of installing corner tile, but it is up to your tastes. The greatest advantage of using corner trims is that it hides the poor cuts.

Smart tip: Install the corner trim properly, otherwise you will end up with an ugly gap between the trim and the wall. In most of the cases, the gap is created due to the use of too much tile adhesive on the wall.

 

Installing tile around bathroom window

 

Next, we also have to install tile around the bathroom window. This step is a little bit more difficult, as it implies a lot of measurements and cuts. Nevertheless, if you are using a level and a proper tile cutter, you won’t face any issues while tiling around the window.

Smart tip: Make sure the gaps between tiles are continuous from bottom up to top. If you pay attention to this aspect and make proper cuts, you won’t face any issues throughout the project.

 

Exterior tile corner joint

 

There are more types of corner trim, on one hand there are interior corner trims, as on the other hand there are exterior corner trims. According to your needs and tastes, you can install both of these corner trims.

In addition, you can notice that the gaps between the tiles are continuous, even if we speak of the bathroom window. Use the edge of the trowel to clean the adhesive between the tiles, making sure you don’t move them from position. From our experience, we recommend you to clean the adhesive residues after several hours from the tile installation.

Smart tip: When installing exterior corner trims around a window, you have to use a miter saw, to cut it at 45º. Nevertheless, if the cuts are not perfect, you can fix the issue by using a little grout (of the same color).

 

Installing tile around window

 

After you clean the tiles and grout them, your bathroom window will look neat. Nevertheless, you could choose not to install tiles around the window, but we think that not only it would look better, but it also protects the walls from moisture and impacts. Therefore, you’ll see the results over time.

Smart tip: You should choose corner trims that fit with the color pallet of your ceramic tiles, otherwise the effect would be appalling.

 

Cutting round hole in tile

 

When tiling the bathroom walls, you will face certain situations when you have to cut around pipes, drains or other obstacles. Consequently, you should use a hole saw drill bit, as to cut a perfectly round hole.

Smart tip: Alternatively, you can use tile nippers to cut out a roundish hole. Of course the fist option is better, but you can also do the job using the second method. If the hole is highly visible, you should buy the hole saw drill bit and attach it to your drilling machine.

 

 

 Installing the last row of wall tile in bathroom

Installing last row of tile in bathroom

 

As we have already emphasized, you should install full tiles on the last row, as it is the most visible area from any corner of the bathroom. That is why, you have to make good calculations, before you start installing the tile in your bathroom, otherwise you might have to make additional cuts .

Smart tip: The operation is straight-forward: just spread adhesive on the surface using the notched trowel. The bed of mortar has to be even, otherwise you won’t be able to lay the wall tiles properly.

 

Tapping wall tile

 

In order to fix the tiles on position, you have to tap them either with a rubber mallet or by using your hand (we don’t recommend you to use this method, as you could injure yourself).

Use the level to check the alignment of the tiles, as after the adhesive dries out, it would be impossible to fix the problem. Use spacers to make sure the tile joints are even.

 

Wall tile in bathroom

 

After you have completed tiling the bathroom walls, you should also grout the gaps between the ceramic tile rows. You should also use a sponge and a bucket with clean water, to remove dust and residues off the tiles. In addition, use appropriate products to freshen up the look of your bathroom, every week.

Smart tip: We hope that you have enjoyed our step by step diy article and we recommend you to leave a comment if you have any questions.

 

 

Thank you for reading our article on how to install wall tile in bathroom and we recommend you to check the rest of our projects regarding ceramic tile. Don’t forget to share our projects with your friends by using the social media widgets. LIKE us to be the first that gets our latest projects and to help us create more free tutorials.

How to Install Wall Tile in Bathroom (A DIY Guide)

Installing wall tile in your bathroom is a great way to add style and functionality to your bathroom remodel. Wall tile is durable, easy to clean, and (most of all), way more beautiful than drywall.

To install wall tile in a bathroom, start by preparing the cement board substrate on the bathroom walls. Next, attach the wall tiles to the cement board substrate using a high quality thinset mortar. Start at the bottom of your bathroom walls and work your way up, installing tile spacers and tile levelers as needed. Grout your tile joints and seal all intersections with a high quality silicone.

Although the installation of bathroom wall tiles is a generally straightforward process, there are numerous tips and tricks that are vital for a successful installation. This article will demonstrate how to to install bathroom wall tiles from start to finish.

Let’s get started!

1. Prepare the Cement Board Substrate

Prepare the Bathroom Wall Tile Cement Board Substrate

Before you can begin tiling your bathroom walls, you need to install a cement board substrate. A properly installed cement board substrate is crucial to for any bathroom wall tile project and the installation can be accomplished relatively easily by the average homeowner.

Before we talk about installing cement board, let’s answer a few of the common questions about Cement Board.

What is cement board?

Cement board is a building material made of a mixture of cement, glass fibers, and reinforcing fibers that is formed into a sheet. Cement board sheets are typically 3 feet by 5 feet in length, but also come in 4 foot by 8 foot sheets as well. Cement board sheets typically come in ¼”, ½” and even 5/8” thicknesses.

½” and 5/8” thickness cement board is required for wall applications. The additional thickness provides strength and durability when spanning between wall studs.

What is cement board used for?

Cement Board is almost always used as the backing or substrate for tiled walls

Cement board is most commonly used as the backing or substrate for tiled walls or floors.

Cement board is much more durable and water resistant than gypsum board and is, therefore, used in most applications where water will be present

How to install cement board

Now that you know what cement board is, let’s talk about installing it. To install cement board on your bathroom walls, you will need the following materials:

  1. Cement board (Square footage based on your application)
  2. Cement Board Screws (Rock-on, Backer-on, etc. )
  3. Alkali Resistant cement board tape.
  4. Thinset Mortar
  5. Drill
  6. Putty knife or Trowel

To install cement board on your bathroom walls, follow these general steps:

  1. Plan out your Cement Board Layout to Maximize Full Sheets
  2. Screw Cement Board Sheets to the Wall
  3. Tape the cement board joints with fiberglass mesh tape
  4. Fill Cement Board joints with Mortar
  5. Allow mortar to dry and prepare for tile installation

For extremely detailed cement board installation instructions, I recommend you read my article linked here and watch my “How to Install Cement Board on Walls” Youtube Video below:

Learn how to install cement board on walls by following the Steps outlined in this video

Once you have installed your bathroom wall tile cement board substrate, you can begin installing your bathroom wall tile.

2. Purchase your Bathroom Wall Tile Installation Materials

Before you can begin installing your bathroom wall tile, you will first need to purchase all of the necessary materials. To successfully install wall tiles on your bathroom wall, you will need (at a minimum) the following materials and equipment:

You will also need other miscellaneous items such as a bucket, mixer, gloves, etc. Let’s take a minute to discuss each material.

Tile

When selecting your bathroom wall tile, ensure that you are using a tile that can be installed vertically. Additionally, I recommend that you use a porcelain tile that is durable and moisture resistant.

For my bathroom wall tile installation, I used a 12″x24″ porcelain tile (pictured below).

For my bathroom wall tile installation, I used a 12″x24″ porcelain wall tile

For nearly every bathroom wall tile installation, you will also need to cut some of your tiles. There are many different methods for cutting tile (Wet Saw, Dry-cutter, Angle Grinder, etc.) that can be used depending on the tile type and installation method.

Spend some time thinking about which tile cutting method is best for your application and purchase/rent the necessary equipment.

Various methods for cutting tile are discussed later in this article.

Thinset Mortar

Once you have purchased your tile, it’s time to select your thinset mortar which will bond your tiles to the substrate.

Select Your Thinset Mortar

The type of thinset mortar you select will depend on a variety of factors such as:

Be sure to check with the tile manufacturer to determine if there are any specific thinset mortar requirements. I recommend the following Schluter Thinset Mortar types – depending on your application:

Check with the tile manufacturer if you have any questions about tile and and thinset mortar compatibility.

Tile Spacers and Tile Leveling System

For all tile installations, you need to use tile spacers to maintain uniform spacing between tiles. For wall tile installations, it is highly recommended that you use a two-in-one tile spacer and leveling system.

For my bathroom wall tile installation, I used the Spin Doctor Tiling Spacer and leveling system (pictured below)

Two-in-one tile spacer and leveling system

This system (or similar) will ensure that all of your tiles are evenly spaced and that there is no “lippage” (unevenness) between any two adjacent tiles.

Trowel

In order to apply your thinset mortar to your tiles and cement board substrate, you will need to use a trowel. The size and type of trowel used will depend on the bathroom wall tile and thinset mortar you select. Check with the tile manufacturer to determine what trowel size is right for your bathroom wall tile application.

Grout

Lastly, you will need to purchase grout to fill all of the wall tile joints. I recommend epoxy grout for wall tile installations. Grout will be discussed in more detail later on in this article.

With all of your bathroom wall tile materials and equipment selected, we can now begin the bathroom wall tile installation.

3. Establish Your Wall Tile Layout

Before placing your first bathroom wall tile, you need to plan out and establish your tile layout.

PRO TIP: The key to a successful bathroom wall tile installation begins with establishing your Tile Layout

Because there are so many different tile patterns and tile sizes, there is no “best” way to plan out your tile layout. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when establishing your tile layout:

As stated above, there is really no “one size fits all” tile layout approach. However,

By following the guidelines above and giving your layout a bit of forethought, you will set yourself up for more professional looking installation.

4. Install Your First Row of Bathroom Wall Tile

After establishing your tile layout, it’s time to install the the first row of bathroom wall tile. To get started, mix up your thinset mortar according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It is recommended that you use a drill and a paddle mixer for best mixing results.

Mix up Thinset Mortar according to the Manufacturer’s instructions

Once the thinset has been mixed up, apply thinset mortar to the application area using a trowel. Only apply as much thinset mortar as you need for the first row of tile.

Apply thinset mortar for the first row of wall tiles

It is recommended that you begin applying thinset mortar to the wall using the flat side of the trowel to ensure good coverage on the bathroom wall.

Next, comb notches into the thinset mortar using the notched side of the trowel. Apply thinset mortar to the bathroom walls using “directional troweling” – meaning that all trowel lines run in the same direction.

Before placing the first tile, you want to maintain an expansion gap (usually 1/8″) between the bathroom floor tile and the first row of bathroom wall tile. This gap will allow for expansion and contraction in the future, minimizing the possibility of your tiles cracking. To achieve this expansion gap, install spacers between the bathroom floor and the first row of wall tiles as shown below:

Position Spacers between Floor and wall tile to maintain an expansion gap

Next, install your first bathroom wall tile by positioning it on top of the spacers and by pressing the tile firmly into the thinset mortar.

Install the first bathroom wall tile by positioning it on top of the spacers and pressing it firmly into the thinset mortar.

It is recommended that you lift up and check a few tiles to ensure that you have good thinset mortar coverage. If not, you will likely want to “back-butter” your tiles. “Back-buttering” is the act of applying some thinset mortar to the back of the tiles before setting them in place.

If necessary for proper coverage, consider “Back-buttering” the tiles with thinset mortar before applying them to the bathroom wall

As you place your tiles into the thinset, ensure that you have used enough spacers/levelers to prevent lippage and to make sure that the spacing is uniform between each tile.

Install spacers/levelers to prevent lippage and to make sure that the spacing is uniform between each tile.

Continue to install thinset mortar, tiles, and spacers in the locations established by your tile layout for the first row of tiles.

Once you have completed the first row of tiles, use a level (a laser level is recommended) to ensure that the top of the first row of tile is perfectly level. This first row of tiles will serve as the “base” for the next rows of tile, so ensuring that it is perfectly level all the way across is crucial.

Once you have made any adjustments (if necessary) to ensure that the first row of tiles is level, Begin installing the next row.

Apply thinset mortar to the application area for the second row and position your tile spacers.

Apply thinset mortar to the application area for the second row and position your tile spacers

Continue to install the bathroom wall tiles as done for the first row. As you progress up the wall, be sure to screw on the tile leveling system to ensure that there is no lippage between any two adjacent tiles.

Apply the second row of bathroom wall tiles and install the tiling leveling system

Continue to apply bathroom wall tiles in this manner, row after row. Cut tiles as needed during the Bathroom Wall Tile installation process.

Cut tiles as needed during the bathroom wall tile installation process (wet saw)

Apply bathroom wall tiles up the entire wall, cutting them as necessary. Be sure to continue installing the tile spacers and the leveling system as you progress up the wall.

Apply bathroom wall tiles up the entire wall, cutting them as necessary

Once you have finished installing tile on the first bathroom wall, move on to the next wall. Start at the bottom of the wall (just like you did for the first wall) and install your first row of tiles.

In addition to the expansion/contraction gaps maintained between the bathroom floor tile and the bathroom wall tile, it is also recommended that you leave a 1/8” gap at the intersection between walls. Again, this gap will be filled with silicone as the final step in the bathroom wall tile installation process. Basically, you want to maintain an expansion gap at each change of plane (floor to wall, ceiling to wall, and wall to wall).

Continue to install tile on your bathroom walls according to your tile layout until all tiles have been installed.

5. Cutting Bathroom Wall Tiles Around Obstructions

For every bathroom wall tile installation, you will find yourself in a situation where you need to cut your tiles around obstructions (outlets, light fixtures, etc.).

Example of Bathroom Wall Tiles Cut Around Outlets

There are many method for cutting wall tiles around obstructions. Some of the most common solutions are listed below:

Use an Angle Grinder with a Diamond Blade

An angle grinder equipped with a diamond blade is one of the fastest ways to cut wall tile around obstructions.

Consider using an Angle Grinder with a Diamond Blade for cutting tiles

Use a Dremel Tool with a Diamond Blade

For more intricate cuts that require a bit more precision, consider using a Dremel tool equipped with a diamond cutting wheel. This method is best for cutting around outlets or other small obstructions.

Consider using a Dremel Tool with a Diamond Wheel for smaller cuts

Use Diamond Hole Saw Bits for circular cuts in the center of tiles

For circular cuts that are located in the center of tiles, consider using diamond hole saw bits. Use a drill and apply firm even pressure to cut through the tile. Consider adding a bit of water to the cut area as you drill to avoid overheating the bit.

Consider using diamond hole saw bits for circular cuts in the middle of tiles

The three methods listed above are typically the best ways to cut your bathroom wall tiles around obstructions.

6. Clean up any Excess Thinset Mortar

Although often overlooked, cleaning up the excess thinset mortar (as you go) is extremely important for a successful shower pan tile installation. If you allow for thinset mortar to dry on the face of your tiles or within the grout lines, it will be incredibly difficult to remove later.

To avoid this, use a wet sponge to remove any excess grout from the face of the tile and from in between the grout lines before it dries.

Use a wet sponge to remove and excess thinset mortar from the face of the wall tile before it dries

Pro Tip: It is extremely important that you remove any excess thinset mortar while it is still wet. If you allow the thinset mortar to dry, it will me much more difficult to remove.

If any thinset mortar does dry on the face your tiles, your best bet is to scrape it off the face of the tiles using a 5 in 1 painter’s tool)

Scraping any dried thinset that has hardened between the grout lines is usually best accomplished by using a grout scraping tool.

7. Allow Thinset Mortar to Dry and Remove Tile Spacers

Once you have cleaned up any excess thinset mortar from the face of your tiles and from in between the grout lines, allow your bathroom wall tile installation to dry for roughly 48 hours. This will allow for adequate time for your thinset mortar to fully cure and harden.

Once the thinset mortar has fully cured, remove your tile spacers from in between your tiles. To do this, strike the spacer and tile leveler with a rubber mallet in the direction of the grout line. If done correctly, the spacers should easily snap out from in between your bathroom wall tiles.

Remove Spacers by Striking them with a rubber mallet

Once all of the tile spacers have been removed, perform minor clean up work as needed to prepare for grout installation. This minor cleanup work may consist of the following:

Once all of your grout preparation work has been completed, you can begin to install your grout.

8. Apply Grout to Bathroom Wall Tiles

Apply Grout to the Bathroom Wall Tiles

Once you have given your bathroom wall tiles sufficient time for the thinset to dry (usually 48 hours) you can apply grout to your bathroom wall tile. Although there are many different types of grout, it is recommended that you use Epoxy grout for your shower wall tiles since epoxy grout is fully waterproof and stain-resistant.

To apply epoxy grout to your shower walls, mix up the epoxy according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Next, apply the epoxy grout to the shower walls using a grout float.

Force the grout into the grout lines by applying pressure with a grout float. Once grout has been applied to all of the grout lines, remove the excess grout immediately.

Clean the face of the tiles using a wet sponge and grout haze remover and allow the grout to dry.

For detailed epoxy grout installation instructions, check out my “How to Install epoxy Grout” Youtube video below:

9. Apply Silicone to the Expansion Joints

Once you have installed your grout and cleaned up any excess, you can apply silicone to all of your expansion joints. Apply a high quality silicone to all expansions joints (floor to wall, ceiling to wall, and wall to wall).

These flexible joints will flex with any expansion and contraction and are instrumental in preventing your tiles from cracking. For detailed instructions on how to apply silicone to your expansion joints, watch my Youtube Video below:

Once you have applied silicone to your expansion joints, your Bathroom Wall Tile installation is complete. Congratulations!

Completed Bathroom Wall Tile Installation

For a detailed demonstration of every single bathroom wall tile installation step outlined in this article, check out my Youtube Video below:

Thanks so much for checking out ATImprovements! If you learned something from this project, you might also like these other DIY Projects:

How to tile a Shower Pan: How to Tile a Shower Pan (Kerdi Shower Pan Tile Installation) – AT Improvements

How to Install the Schluter Kerdi Shower System: Schluter Kerdi Shower Kit Installation (Everything you Need to Know) – AT Improvements

How to Install Hexagon Floor Tiles: How to Install Hexagon Floor Tile – AT Improvements

To see the full bathroom transformation time lapse, click here!

Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: This is a reference guide only. Links included in this article might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting ATimprovements so I can continue to provide you with free content each week

How to lay tiles on the wall with your own hands: the correct laying of tiles yourself

Tiles are the most common finishing material for wet rooms. In some cases, apartment owners make repairs on their own, laying ceramic tiles is one of the most difficult procedures. Let's see how to do this job correctly.

Tools

The choice of devices depends on the complexity of the cut. In most cases, it is more convenient to manage with a tile cutter. The grinder is the most difficult tool to use for a beginner; when using it, it is imperative to use protective equipment for hands, eyes and respiratory organs. In addition, because of it, a lot of dust is produced. For curved cuts, it is better to use tongs. Read more about cutting tiles in a separate article

Leveling walls

Tiles must only be laid on even walls, otherwise problems may arise. The tile can fall off, on the elements with decor, the differences will be especially striking.

How to detect irregularities

The wall may visually look even, because of this, alignment is not done and the tile is immediately started. In fact, this effect is deceptive, even small deviations (more than 5 mm) after cladding will be noticeable.

To detect deviations in the walls, you should pay attention to a number of points.

Defects

Sometimes the wall has a flat plane without deviations, but there are local damages on it. Before laying, all these flaws must be eliminated. Defects are often related to the quality of the substrate.

You can read about repairing cracks in walls in a separate article

Is it worth removing the old coating?

Dismantling of plaster or tiles takes a lot of time, besides, you have to solve the problem of removing construction debris. Often the owners decide to lay tiles on the old finish, but there is a danger that both layers will fall off.

To resolve this issue, a simple construction rule should be followed: in multilayer structures, adhesion should decrease closer to the outer material. If the outer layer has a high peel strength, then it is likely that it will fall along with the base.

In some cases, materials with high adhesion (cement-sand mortar) lose their adhesion to the wall due to a violation of the technology. In this case, an air gap is formed between different materials. When tapping, the sound of surfaces with cavities is different, in this case, the builders say that the plaster “booms” - the adhesion of the material has decreased. If you stick a tile on such a surface, the glue will tear off the base.

If the wall is painted with oil paint, then the strength of its adhesion to the tiles should be increased. Usually, in this case, the entire base is not dismantled, but notches are made on it with an ax or other strong steel tool.

How to level the walls?

In some cases, wall irregularities are smoothed out by increasing the layer of tile adhesive. This is acceptable if we are talking about small differences (2 - 4 mm). The disadvantage is that tile adhesive is more expensive than plaster, and the thickening of the layer leads to poor adhesion. Consider the main methods of alignment.

Plaster suitable for brick, gas block and concrete walls. If the differences at the walls are more than 50 mm, then leveling with plaster is considered inexpedient from an economic point of view.

Read more about leveling walls with plaster in the article

Leveling with plasterboard involves the construction of a frame. At the same time, each wall takes 5-7 mm from the space of the room. In the bathroom, you can only use moisture-resistant drywall, you can also use GVL or akvalista sheathing.

When can I start laying tiles?

After completing the plastering work, wait for the mortar to gain strength. This usually takes one to three weeks. It all depends on the temperature and humidity level in the room. The most optimal temperature is 20 degrees, lowering slows down the solidification.

It is not recommended to force the process with a heat gun or directional light. Uneven drying leads to cracks.

Read the article about errors in wall plastering.

Preparatory work

Surfaces must be primed and waterproofed prior to tiling.

Waterproofing

We recommend waterproofing wet and damp areas in bathrooms. Processing can be both full and local. The choice of materials is also individual: the most budgetary option involves the use of polyethylene film, rolled and mastic compositions can also be used.

The choice of waterproofing scheme depends on the design of the house. In prefabricated buildings, where the sanitary cabin has not been dismantled in the bathroom, it is possible not to make a protective layer for all surfaces. Read more about waterproofing wet rooms in a separate article on the site.

Priming

These compounds should improve the adhesion of the adhesive to the substrate. The choice of soil depends on the nature of the foundation.

Concrete contact was originally intended for gypsum plasters, it sticks to the base and roughens the surface. Due to this, the gypsum can cling to the surface. For cement-sand mixtures, such a priming composition is not required, since they grow into the wall as a crystal lattice during the hardening process. Betonkontakt interferes with this process.

After applying the primer, wait for it to dry. In some cases, the agent is applied in several layers. Please refer to the user manual for details on how to use it.

Laying out

An important stage without which work cannot begin. The layout allows you to immediately think over the location of all elements and reduce the number of trimmings to a minimum. It is useful to pre-plan the placement of tiles on paper. Particular attention is paid to the line of adjoining walls to the floor and ceiling, as well as corners.

Distribution of elements

Sets of tiles are usually combined into collections, this is a single group of ceramic products in the same style, which is represented by background elements, borders and tiles with decor.

It is possible to lay out the wall with single-colour background tiles only. This option will be the most budgetary, because the background tile is usually the cheapest in the collection. Decor and borders are best placed in places where they will always be visible. Placing a tile with a pattern or a knot behind the shower cabin does not make sense. You also need to make sure that such tiles do not have to be cut - usually the trimmed decor always looks bad, there is a feeling of randomness and ill-conceivedness in the interior.

Types of layouts

According to the layout, the layouts are horizontal, vertical and diagonal. All these ways of arrangement affect the pattern and ornament. The easiest for beginners is the horizontal method, and with the diagonal there will be the largest number of trimmings.

The layout should start with drawing a row, for this you need to find out how many whole tiles are included along the length of the wall. Trimmings of less than half of the tiles at the corners do not look aesthetically pleasing, so we subtract one tile from the resulting number, and align the rest in the center. So we get a symmetrical layout, and the trimmings at the edges will be more than half the tile.

This method is associated with an increase in the consumption of materials, but there is another nesting method that is based on masking short cuts. They can be hidden behind the washing machine, shower, hanging cabinets. It is better to always lay solid tiles on outer corners, leave short pieces at the inner joints of the walls.

Before laying out, it is recommended to check the dimensions of the room with a measuring tape. Also, do not forget about the seams (2-3 mm), which must also be taken into account in the calculations.

When laying vertically near the ceiling, it is better to place solid tiles, and lay the trimmings next to the floor.

Work in progress

Laying tiles on the wall in the bathroom should be combined with other finishing operations.

This order of work is due to the fact that the laying of tiles on the wall starts from the second row, and not from the first and they do it before finishing the floors, but after the screed. The first row is usually edged and is performed after the floor.

Support for the second row

From the floor we need to measure the distance equal to the first row. Usually this size is taken from the layout. If the first row is solid, and trimmings are placed near the ceiling, then the size of the seams and the thickness of the floor tile along with the mortar must be added to the height of the tile.

At this height, you need to make a horizontal mark, for this you can use the laser level. Along the line we fix the support under the second row, it can be made from a wooden lath or from a drywall profile.

If the layout is diagonal, then the guide must be fixed at an angle of 45 degrees to the floor.

Preparation of tile adhesive

The adhesive is made from a dry mix, before mixing it is recommended to read the instructions on the package. To do this, you need a container and a drill mixer. All glue preparation equipment must be clean, as particles of the old solution can complicate the work and ruin the seam.

Violation of the consistency of tile adhesive is one of the most common mistakes, in the article on our website you can read about other shortcomings when laying tiles.

The tile adhesive must be suitable for the humidity and temperature conditions of the room. For the bathroom, it is preferable to use a moisture-resistant composition.

Laying the first row

Start work after the primer has dried. To apply the adhesive, you will need a regular and comb spatula, a level and auxiliary tools to set the same seam size. The adhesive can be applied to the wall, to the tile itself, or to both surfaces. The latter option is used for large deviations in the level of the walls (up to 5 mm). First, the solution is smeared on the surface, and then the excess is removed with a comb.

According to the quality of the base, the tooth of the tool is selected, 6 mm is suitable for even walls, 8 mm is the average option, and 10 mm is best used for uneven surfaces. If the solution is applied to both the tile and the base, then the strips from the comb on different planes should be perpendicular (on the wall - horizontally, and on the tile - vertically). Also, large combs are used for large fragments of tiles.

Examples of incorrect laying on "linden"

Avoid circular movements with a comb, in this case the adhesive is distributed unevenly over the surface of the tile: in the corner it turns out little, but on the opposite side - a lot. Also avoid laying on "linden".

SVP (tile leveling system)

In order for the seam to be the same size everywhere, different devices are used: matches, crosses, SVP. The first option was often used in the Soviet years, but now improvised means are practically not used. Crosses are the most affordable leveling device, they are inexpensive and readily available. SVP (tile leveling system) is a more advanced device, it allows you not only to set the same width of the seam, but also adjust its depth, which ensures the same level on the entire surface of the wall.

After installation, the tiles are tapped and checked with a bubble level.

It is better to trim the tiles after all solid elements have already been glued to the wall. In this matter, it is wrong to focus on the original markup, as small flaws or irregularities can fail.

When the grout has set, but not yet completely dry, two important procedures must be remembered: the removal of the crosses and the stitching. If the alignment systems are not removed, then after the adhesive has set, they will be difficult to remove and some of them may even remain inside. Jointing is needed so that there is room for grouting, this procedure can only be done when the solution has not yet hardened.

Grouting

Immediately after gluing the tile, wash its surface so that dirt does not interfere with grouting the joints. If this is not done, then it will be difficult to wash the dried glue. The seams are filled with a special composition, a fugue, it protects the inter-tile space from moisture and destruction. The grout mixture is applied with a rubber spatula, the composition should completely fill the recess.

After grouting is completed, do not forget to clean it from the tiles. To do this, you can use detergent and a sponge, but do not use a product with dyes, because it can change the color of the fugue.

Read more about errors when grouting tiles in a separate article.

Laying tiles on the wall with your own hands

  1. Home
  3. Articles Laying tiles on the wall Do-it-yourself tile laying Instructions for laying tiles

    1. Surface preparation for cladding

    It is unrealistic to simply take and start gluing ceramic tiles on the wall. Firstly, laying always starts with at least 2 horizontal rows. Secondly, the very surface of the wall must first be prepared, leveled, strengthened and removed various debris.



    The final result of wall cladding with decor from the Armonia collection by Ape Ceramica.

    The surface for laying tiles can be leveled or prepared as follows:

    • Plaster the surface along the beacons with a cement-sand mortar, if the walls are generally curved or not finished in any way.

    • Putty the walls with putty if the old plaster is of normal strength, but there are slight irregularities on its surface.

    • If the surface is drywall, then a fiberglass mesh is mounted on it and the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe wall along the mesh is puttied with cement putty or tile adhesive.

    • If the wall is puttied with gypsum putty, then to increase adhesion with tile adhesive, the entire surface is swept with a brush or broom, after which a penetrating primer, betogrunt, betokontakt or their equivalent is applied to the entire wall area with a roller.

    Attention!

    If priming is planned with a penetrating primer, it is imperative to sweep the surface from dust. If this is not done, the wet dust will curl up and roll over the surface with a roller, as a result, crystallization will occur - a thin film that does not increase adhesion, but, on the contrary, can make the adhesive not adhere to the wall at all.

    After all the necessary actions to level the surface, it is necessary to accurately determine the future location of the tile on the wall itself. To do this, you first need to find the highest point of the floor at the bottom of the wall. If the floor is not yet tiled, a long bubble level is passed along the perimeter of the room at the base of the wall and, thus, the area where the screed is most elevated is determined. In this place, 1 mark is made on the surface of the wall. Further, from 1 mark, about 10-15 mm are measured up the wall and a second mark is made - this will be the zero of the future floor tile.


    Leveling the surface of the wall on which it is planned to lay the tiles.

    At the second stage, the height of the facing material, which is planned to be laid on the wall, is precisely measured with a tape measure. For example, the height of the tile is 30 cm, which means that this distance is measured from the previously found zero point up the wall surface and a mark is made. After that, a long bubble level is applied to the obtained mark, it is set to an even horizontal position and a straight line is drawn along the entire length of the wall along the level.

    All ceramic wall tiling will be done from the line described above. However, so that the tile does not slide down under its own weight, it is necessary to temporarily mount the stop along a solid line to the wall. As a stop, you can use a flat edged board, the remaining unnecessary metal profile or lining panel. Temporary mounting of the stop to the wall is carried out with ordinary metal dowels.

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    2. Determine the location of the future vertical cutting row

    The wall is prepared, the tile stop is mounted, however, before you start laying the tiles on the wall, you must also decide where the vertical row of not a whole tile will be located. To do this, you need to measure the width of the tile and the total length of the wall. The length of the wall is divided by the width of the tile and determines how many full vertical rows of tiles will fit on the wall. As a result, there will be a small distance. If this distance is less than half the width of 1 tile, then such a narrow wedge on the wall will look ugly. In this case, two vertical wedges are made on the wall at each corner. If the distance described above exceeds half the width of 1 tile, then such a vertical row of cut tiles is placed in the corner that is least accessible to the eye.

    Tip!

    The area on the wall surface, which is the least noticeable, is located behind the door to the room or on the side of the entrance in the opposite corner.

    To lay tiles on the wall, you need the following tools:

    Production of working glue:

    • Mix the entire substance with a perforator with a mixing nozzle in the drilling mode until a homogeneous thick mass is obtained;

    • Leave the resulting adhesive mass for 10 minutes at rest, then mix the entire substance again.


    3. The process of laying tiles on tile adhesive on the wall

    First of all, the wall cladding is made with solid tiles, and cutting is done towards the end of the work. The prepared working tile adhesive is applied to the wall with a spatula or trowel and distributed to create a layer of equal thickness using a comb. Then the adhesive composition is applied to the reverse side of the tile and distributed in the same way. The tile is applied to the wall, resting on the mounted stop, and slightly pressed.

    In a similar way, several more ceramic tiles are laid nearby. After that, a level is set vertically on 1 first glued tile and with the blows of a rubber mallet it is given an even vertical position. Next, the level is applied to the entire row of 3-4 tiles horizontally, and the rest of the tile is adjusted according to the first 1 tile set according to the level. After leveling a small row of tiles, PVC crosses are placed in the tile joints.

    On the first day, it is desirable to lay out the maximum area of ​​​​solid parts of the facing material. On the second day, first of all, a vertical row of cut tiles is laid out on the glue. After that, bring the entire lining to the ceiling. On the third day, you can safely dismantle the stop nailed to the wall and proceed to finish the lowest horizontal row. Before gluing the lowest row of tiles, you first need to cut and prepare a dozen small strips of masking tape and chop more chips of different sizes from a wooden block.

    The sequence of work when finishing the bottom row is similar. The glue is applied and distributed on the wall and the back of the tile, the tile is applied to the wall and leveled using a level and mallet. However, under the lowest horizontal edge of the tile, you will need to pick up and insert wood chips, while crosses are pre-installed in the upper section of the tile. In principle, wooden chips are enough to temporarily fix the tiles on the wall until the glue hardens, but to be sure, the glued and exposed tiles of the lower row are additionally fixed with the tiles from the upper row with strips of wide adhesive tape.

    Leveling rows of tiles with PVC crosses.

    4. Grouting

    A few days after the wall is completely finished, using a knife and pliers, PVC crosses are removed from all tile joints. Also, fixing tape and bottom wood chips are removed from the bottom tile. All the seams between the tiles are passed with a sharp knife blade to remove excess glue and, if possible, deepen the seams.

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