Is it possible to lay tiles on uneven walls in the bathroom: the technique of laying on curved walls without leveling

Bathroom tile installation is a popular project, but it can be challenging when working with curved or uneven walls. One may question whether achieving a satisfactory outcome without first leveling the surface is even feasible. The good news is that you can accomplish a clean, long-lasting finish without going the extra mile to make the walls perfectly smooth if you use the appropriate technique.

Although working with uneven walls necessitates some approach adjustments, the final product’s quality and appearance need not be sacrificed. There are ways to make sure your tiles are securely fastened and properly aligned, even if the walls have more noticeable flaws or are slightly bowed.

This post will walk you through the procedure and provide helpful advice on how to install tiles on uneven bathroom walls. Even if your walls aren’t exactly straight, you can still approach the project with confidence if you follow these steps.

Topic Details
Is it possible to lay tiles on uneven walls? Yes, it is possible to lay tiles on uneven walls without leveling, but it requires a specific technique and careful planning.
Challenges Tiles may not align perfectly, causing visible gaps or uneven surfaces. Extra adhesive might be needed to fill gaps.
Techniques Use a thicker layer of adhesive on the uneven areas. Start from the most visible section of the wall. Use tile spacers to maintain even gaps.
Tools You"ll need a notched trowel, tile spacers, and a level to ensure tiles are as straight as possible.
Tips Work slowly and check each row for alignment. Consider using smaller tiles, which are easier to adjust to uneven surfaces.

What you need to know when tiling uneven walls

Navigating pages

Read this article if the state of the walls bothers you and you need to make repairs. You will find a lot of helpful advice in it.

New technologies enable the annual appearance of contemporary building materials with unique qualities and enhanced features. This goes a long way toward making the work easier and producing finished products of greater quality.

Is it possible to lay tiles without leveling the walls?

In some cases, tiling the walls as quickly as possible is required when performing repairs. However, since the finishing surface isn’t perfect every time, things can get trickier. Although it is not ideal, it is still possible to lay tiles on an uneven wall. It is only done as a last resort in situations where there is an obvious lack of time or when the plastering estimate does not account for the cost of the repair. Getting a satisfactory outcome is quite possible with the right approach and diligence.

Laying tiles on uneven walls in the bathroom: a guide

This task proves to be challenging even for seasoned pros. Let’s examine its application in more detail.

Where to start

Don’t finish in a hurry. Assess the surface’s readiness for work first. In order to accomplish this, each wall is hung, with a 20–25 cm retreat from the corner. After that, screws are inserted from the top and bottom. Following that, threads are drawn diagonally, vertically, and between them.

This makes the overall unevenness of the base visible. As an alternative, you can accomplish the same thing by applying a long rule (2.5–3 m) to the surface in all directions.

Defects are eliminated or minimized if they significantly complicate the work. Using a hammer drill, protruding parts are brought down, and the depressions are filled in with plaster mesh. This will ensure that the leveling material sticks firmly.

Because the adhesive layer is different thickness in each section of an uneven wall, the surface tension of the wall becomes uneven when tiling. As a result, surface cracking is possible. Use a tile mixture to form the finishing plane as much as you can to avoid this.

It is imperative to attempt to decrease the layer thickness when applying. By doing this, the chance of the tiles sinking after they are glued is eliminated.

How to lay the first rows

Prior to installing the tiles, a 15-20 cm wide strip is created on each wall using an adhesive mixture and a rule. A laser level is used to mark a horizon line once the base has dried. It has a galvanized profile or wooden beam installed and fastened in a circle along it. This will serve as the front row’s support.

After adhering two tiles to the wall in opposing corners, they start to lay while double-checking their verticality. Periodically, the top and bottom of the row’s plane are double-checked while the rule is applied. The uneven surface causes the adhesive beneath the tile to be substantially thicker than what the manufacturer recommends, which causes uneven shrinkage of the tile.

They attempt to complete everything at once because variations (steps) arise when laying over multiple days. The adhesive mixture’s shrinkage value is predetermined if this isn’t feasible. After laying and drying the first row, beacon tiles are placed at the top and bottom, and the indent from their plane is measured.

How to decorate corners

The corners of the room will unavoidably need to be faced when tiling the walls. The interior design is finished with this work. There are several techniques for forming corners:

  1. Overlapping laying – connecting tiles with a stop without processing the ends. This is the simplest option for obtaining a corner with subsequent grouting of the seam.
  2. Butt laying – connection of elements due to cutting the edges of the tile at an angle of 45 °. Classic corner finishing option.
  3. Installation of corners – the use of special metal or polymer profiles to hide the junction of the planes.

The final approach is thought to be the best. Using various types of profiles results in well-designed, damage-resistant internal and external corners.

How to glue baguettes and baseboards

Minor interior details entirely alter the perception of a dish, just as the addition of spices completes its taste experiences. Installing a baseboard and a baguette would be examples of such additions to the bathroom. This completes the chord arrangement in the bathroom design.

The type of ceiling finishing determines the baguette material that will be used to finish the job.

  1. Strips of polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam and polyurethane are usually glued with Moment silicone sealant or Liquid Nails assembly adhesive.
  2. If we are talking about a PVC baguette, it is attached with brackets or self -tapping screws when installing a ceiling frame made of plastic panels.
  3. When installing the baseboard, use a one-component polymer adhesive or the same "Liquid Nails" for the PVC option, and for ceramics – tile mix.

Is it possible to lay tiles on collapsed walls?

The owners are rarely happy with the state of the walls prior to the renovation. Their upper or lower portion is typically "collapsed."

The base needs to be relatively level and strictly vertical at all times in order to lay tiles properly. As such, it remains pre-leveled despite the tight deadlines.

If not, the enlarged adhesive layer will contract during drying, resulting in an imperfect final surface.

It will be easier to work with a medium-sized tile. Then, minor cladding flaws are simpler to conceal.

It is feasible to lay tiles on uneven bathroom walls, but doing so calls for a certain method to guarantee good adhesion and a pleasing finish. Using a thicker layer of adhesive and carefully adjusting each tile as you go to match the contours of the wall is a better option than leveling the walls. Although you can work with the current wall shape using this method, a successful finish will require patience and close attention to detail.

Performance characteristics

The likelihood of material pealing off is high when it is laid on visibly uneven walls. Besides, a dry plaster mixture is stronger than the glue used as a leveling agent.

Therefore, in order to achieve a high-quality outcome, it is crucial to adhere to a few basic guidelines: prepare the material in accordance with usage instructions and use the appropriate technology. If everything checks out, the repair will be of excellent quality and you won’t have to worry about it for a while.

It is possible to lay tiles on uneven bathroom walls without first leveling them, but doing so calls for caution and the appropriate methods. Although the process might require more time and work, the end product could be a stunning and useful finish that improves the appearance of your bathroom.

A smooth appearance can be achieved by using methods like varying the adhesive’s thickness and beginning at the area that will be seen the most. It’s crucial to understand that this technique is most effective on walls with small imperfections. For optimal results, leveling may still be required for walls that have large curves or bumps in them.

Ultimately, how much of the unevenness you can handle and your level of skill will determine whether you decide to level the walls or not. This technique provides a way to avoid the additional work of leveling while still attaining a professional finish for those who are confident in their tiling skills.

Video on the topic

A to Z how to put tiles on uneven walls 2 Part A to Z how to put tiles on uneven walls 2 Part

HOW TO LAY TILES ON CROOKED WALLS

Laying tiles on uneven/tilted walls. Opinion of Dmitry Pavlov.

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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