FemaleFirst Guide to Wall Tiling

30 November -0001

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Good tiling is relatively easy if accompanied by careful planning.

Estimate the number of tiles you need beforehand and know your design requirements if you are introducing a pattern or border. Then set out your starting point, and plan how to deal with awkward corners or recesses.

Take care with spacing and bedding the tiles and clean off excess adhesive and grout as you go.

Protect your eyes with safety glasses or goggles when cutting tiles. Be careful of snapped tile edges because they can cut you. To protect sensitive or dry skin, gloves should be used when applying adhesive or grout (the ready-mixed paste which fills the gaps between adjacent tiles).

You can easily brighten up your bathroom or kitchen by using wall tiles. These are both decorative and functional.Wall tiles provide bright and easy-clean surfaces which are especially useful in kitchens and bathrooms. They are hard wearing and water resistant, and can help to brighten up small rooms or shaded work areas by reflecting natural light.

2 - Tile choice

Ceramic wall tiles are available in a wide choice of sizes, colours, designs and shapes. Square tiles are the most common, but other shapes include rectangles, hexagons, diamonds, octagons or interlocking designs. Wall tiles are thinner (4 to 6mm thick) than floor tiles, as they are subject to less wear. They are easier to work with and cut or snap to a scored line. They are also brittle and will chip or break easily if dropped.

Combination tiles feature a pattern or design motif on a background and coordinate with plain tiles. They allow you to add interest to an otherwise plain wall.

Universal tiles have bevelled edges and/or spacing lugs to give correct spacing for grout between tiles.

Standard field tiles have square edges and must be spaced by other means. Plastic spacers can be used to give even spacing for the grout.

Rectangular border tiles (often half-size), ceramic edging trims and mouldings are available to give definition to the tiled area. Clearly defined and well-finished edges give a professional look.

Grout lines must be aligned and a constant width, as the eye is drawn to the straight lines of the grouting. When choosing a border tile or trim, make sure that it is the same width as the other tiles used.

3 - Surface preparation

Tiles can be stuck to most surfaces with the right preparation. The surface must be flat because tiles reflect light and show up any unevenness.

Surfaces must be clean, dry and stable. Crumbling plaster must be removed and all imperfections and holes made good. Newly plastered walls must be allowed to dry thoroughly for several months.

Flaky, crumbly and absorbent surfaces can be primed with a PVA-based adhesive. Use a building/construction type as directed. Waterproof adhesive should also be used in areas which could become wet.

Old ceramic tiles do not have to be removed: you can tile on top. Check if they are firmly fixed - if not, use a good tile adhesive to stick them into place. Make sure that the joints between the new tiles are not in the same place as the old ones.

You do not have to re-plaster a wall that is either bare brick or taken down to brick level. Use exterior grade ply or plasterboard fixed to the wall to give a clean and flat base surface on which to tile.

More Tiling on page 2