Tiled walls can provide in alternative interior and protect walls from splashes of liquid, mainly in Kitchens and Bathrooms. Here is a short guide on how to tile a wall.
There are thousands of different styles and sizes of tiles on the market today, choosing the right tiles can be a difficult task. Consider the size of the room you need to tile, whether you need a full wall, half wall or simply the space between your kitchen surface and cabinets.
Think about what type of atmosphere you would like to create, if you are tiling a small dark room, light clean tiles are perfect and you can find tiles with an iridescent finish or with glitter, which will reflect even more light.
For a bathroom celebrities would die for, dark tiles and a white suite really does look the business and provide a dramatic finish.
What will you need to tile your wall?
- Wall Tiles
- Tile Adhesive
- Tile Cutting Tool
- Adhesive/Grout Spreader
- Grout
- Tile Spacers
- Level
- Sponge
Tiling takes patience but the finish can be very pleasing to the eye.
First prepare the walls and ensure they are smooth and hole free. New plaster needs time to dry before you apply tiles. Whether you are tiling a kitchen or bathroom, consider marking out on the wall your tile line. Do not start your tiles flush against a kitchen surface or bath, you need space to place sealant and space for movement. Once you have marked out these areas, consider how you are going to lay your tiles, will they be uniform, or will you stagger the tiles to look like brickwork, you may need to cut some tiles using a tile cutter.
Starting from the bottom, apply your adhesive with your spreader. Adhesive Spreaders have teeth to create a series of raised bumps in the adhesive. This enables the backside of your tile to stick to the wall. Once your first tile is in place simple push onto the wall gently and on both top corners place a tile spacer. You may need to trim the tile spacers to place at the bottom corners. These ensure the tiles are exactly the same distance apart and uniform. Continue along the row, always checking the level of the tiles and that all are pressed against the wall at the same level.
When you have finished allow time for the adhesive to dry, clean off any excess, then it is time to apply the grout in between the tiles. With your grout spreader, wipe grout into the gaps between the tiles, until level with the edge of the tile. Allow to dry, then wipe over all tiles with a damp sponge to remove any excess grout. There you have it, your beautiful tiled wall, expertly finished.