There’s more to wall preparation than just a superficial cleaning. You need a well-prepared surface to guarantee that your tiles adhere correctly and last for many years. Plastering or puttying the wall is usually part of this preparation, which gives your tiles a smooth surface.
Let’s talk about puttying first. In order to create an even surface and fill in small imperfections, this step is necessary. Although the process is rather straightforward, careful attention to detail is necessary to achieve the best results. To create a smooth surface for tiling, apply putty in thin layers and sand it down.
Another option is plastering, particularly for more significant irregularities. It offers a more durable fix for uneven walls. Plastering entails covering the wall with a thicker layer and smoothing it out. Plastering can handle larger imperfections, but it requires a bit more time and skill.
Each technique has a place when it comes to wall preparation. You’ll make the perfect surface for your tiles if you use the proper methods and give it enough time to cure. In addition to improving the final project’s appearance, a properly prepared wall will guarantee that your tiles stay firmly in place.
| Step | Description |
| 1. Prepare the Surface | Clean the wall thoroughly to remove dust, dirt, and any loose material. Ensure the surface is dry before proceeding. |
| 2. Fill in Holes | Use a suitable filler or putty to fill any holes or cracks. Allow it to dry completely before sanding. |
| 3. Sand the Wall | Lightly sand the wall to create a smooth surface. This helps the plaster or putty adhere better. |
| 4. Apply Primer | Apply a primer to seal the wall and improve adhesion. Choose a primer appropriate for the wall type. |
| 5. Apply Plaster or Putty | Apply a layer of plaster or putty to create a smooth, even surface. Use a trowel to spread it evenly and remove excess material. |
| 6. Smooth the Surface | Use a wet sponge or a smoothing tool to ensure the plaster or putty is even. This helps reduce imperfections. |
| 7. Allow to Dry | Let the plaster or putty dry completely. This can take several hours or overnight, depending on the product used. |
| 8. Sand Again | Once dry, lightly sand the surface to remove any rough spots or high areas. Ensure the wall is smooth before tiling. |
| 9. Check for Irregularities | Inspect the wall for any remaining irregularities. Fill and smooth any areas as needed. |
| 10. Final Clean | Clean the wall to remove any dust or debris before applying the tile adhesive. |
- Features of preparing walls for tiles in the bathroom
- Why prepare the walls
- How to prepare walls for decoration with ceramic tiles in the toilet with your own hands
- Concrete walls
- Is it possible to lay tiles without leveling
- What to plaster with
- Preparation of walls for the installation of tiles in the bathroom: the better
- Video on the topic
- Gypsum or cement plaster in the bathroom? All stages of preparation for laying tiles
- Plaster aerated concrete before laying tiles or not???!
- How NOT to lay tiles during bathroom renovation. Laying tiles on tiles and painted walls
- TILE IN THE BATHROOM FELL OFF!!! What the craftsman did WRONG?
Features of preparing walls for tiles in the bathroom
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Tiling tiles is an easy task.
The base surface preparation calls for a lot more care and attention.
This is a crucial component that determines the masonry’s quality, appealing appearance, and longevity.
When working in rooms with high humidity, like bathrooms, the preparatory step is especially crucial.
Why prepare the walls
The base surface of the tiles must meet several general specifications, including being smooth and having strong adhesion indicators. However, since the bathroom provides the most favorable conditions for the growth of mold and fungus, the walls are treated with an antifungal compound when repairs are made there. Pathogenic microorganisms are stopped from spreading by anti-fungicidal substances.
When materials with higher absorption capacities, like drywall, are used as a surface beneath tiles in bathrooms, they are additionally coated with a unique water-repellent primer. Without this kind of processing, masonry will fall apart.
It’s critical to properly prepare your wall for tile installation to guarantee a seamless and long-lasting result. Plastering or putting the wall entails doing this to make the surface even. Using the appropriate filler, begin by filling in any large gaps or cracks. When the larger flaws have been fixed, smooth the surface with a coat of plaster. The idea is to have a level, smooth surface but to allow for small imperfections, which are usually acceptable and won’t interfere with the final tiling. This preparation guarantees a polished finish and improves tile adhesion.
How to prepare walls for decoration with ceramic tiles in the toilet with your own hands
There are various steps involved in preparing the toilet for independent repair:
- dismantling of the old coating (if any);
- alignment;
- primer.
Correctly, the walls in the apartments are made of brick or concrete. Every resource has unique training characteristics.
Concrete walls
Concrete needs to be leveled before tiles are laid.
- Preliminary visual assessment is carried out and measured using the level.
- When irregularities are detected, their nature and parameters are determined.
- Before carrying out the work, the walls are cleaned of dust and dirt.
- Plaster is used directly for leveling with pronounced differences. If the concrete is smooth, but there are cracks or potholes, putty is used. If the difference is more than 5 cm, plasterboard is used for leveling.
- Then the walls are primed to give or enhance adhesive and water-repellent properties.
- After completing each stage of the work, the coating must be given time to dry completely. The operational life of the masonry directly depends on the degree of readiness of each layer.
When installing on a brick wall, laying can be done without any prior preparation using an adhesive composition with higher adhesion rates, as long as there aren’t any significant initial unevenness variations in the wall.
Rough seams in this instance still require putty. However, this mixture is always consumed in large quantities, making this method unprofitable. Using large, heavy tiles with this method is not advised as they have the potential to slide under their own weight.
Plastering the walls along the beacons and prime is required if the brickwork exhibits noticeable variations and unevenness.
Sufficient irregularity
It’s hard to get perfect results, even with the most meticulous base surface leveling. Basic mistakes in measurements and computations may occur as a result of subpar supplies or common vision issues with the master. The measuring devices themselves initially contain a certain percentage of error.
You should aim to eliminate all potential errors from the outset because there is a time limit for repairs, which does not always accommodate more changes. But in line with SNiP, there are also some mistakes that are acceptable to make when doing interior work:
- Vertical deviation of the surface with laid tiles per 1 meter – 1.5 mm.
- Vertical and horizontal deviation of seams: per 1 meter – no more than 1.5 mm.
- Curvature of the plane with masonry – up to 3 mm.
- Joint width – no more than 0.5 mm.
- Mismatch of the profile at the joints of finishing elements and seams – up to 3 mm.
Is it possible to lay tiles without leveling
Although it is not recommended, it is a possibility to install tiles on uneven walls. In rare circumstances, such as when funds or time are insufficient for excellent leveling, you may install on an unprepared surface. It is crucial to realize that such masonry can have much lower quality and a shorter service life.
Installing tiles on uneven walls is a difficult procedure that calls for specific knowledge and expertise, so it is not advised for inexperienced craftsmen to do this kind of work alone.
What to plaster with
Plaster selection for interior design is based on anticipated layer thickness. The choice of composition depends on the kind of room that will be used for finishing.
Cement mortars that stop moisture from seeping into the base material are used when working in highly humid areas. It was only recently that additives were added to the composition of gypsum mixtures to improve their water-repellent qualities.
- Cement based plasterWeber "Vetonit" characterized by high durability, ease of use and versatility. This plaster is good because it can be used for finishing both dry and wet rooms.
- Cement plaster Ceresit CT 24 Light positioned as a “light” mixture suitable for working with cellular concrete and sand-lime brick. An important advantage of this composition is its economical consumption. Can be used for work in any type of room, as well as for external work.
- PlasterVolma Aquaslayer MN – a moisture-resistant solution that contains various supplies that provide additional moisture resistance. It is used in the decoration of bathrooms, saunas, pools, etc.p.
Preparation of walls for the installation of tiles in the bathroom: the better
It is not advised to glue tiles onto putty because it is a less sturdy finishing layer, particularly in bathrooms. Moisture can cause the putty layers to separate from the base, which will cause the masonry to collapse.
Is grout necessary?
Grout is always applied during the final stages of construction to give the work an attractive, integrated appearance and to shield seams from excessive moisture, which can lead to the growth of mold and fungus.
It is advised to use epoxy grouts for tile joints in bathrooms that are more resilient to moisture and chemical cleaning agents. Because epoxy grouting is more erratic, handling them requires utmost caution.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the bathroom has a high relative humidity level when priming the walls for tile installation. This is the most important consideration when selecting finishing materials. Another trick is to let every finishing layer completely dry. Other than that, even for novice artisans, the work principles are not significantly different from those of other rooms and do not present significant challenges.
In order to achieve a seamless, long-lasting finish, it is essential to prepare your walls before installing tiles. You can prevent problems down the road, such as uneven tiles or poor adhesion, by properly installing or plastering the surface. This becomes a manageable and efficient process with the correct methods and resources.
Recall that the objective is to create a surface that is as smooth and level as feasible. Although minor deviations may be tolerated, major flaws must be fixed to guarantee the greatest outcomes. In the long run, taking the time to properly prepare your walls will pay off by giving your tiling project a polished finish.
You can successfully and satisfactorily complete your tiling project by handling the wall preparation yourself by adhering to these guidelines. You’ll be well on your way to having a beautifully finished wall if you keep these pointers in mind.
