Rules for facing walls with ceramic tiles

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Ceramic tiles are a common option for wall coverings in kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces where easy upkeep and durability are essential. They are perfect for both functional and ornamental uses because of their adaptability in design and resistance to moisture.

But using ceramic tiles to achieve a polished appearance calls for precise planning and adherence to guidelines. Every stage is vital to guaranteeing the tiles stick correctly and endure for many years, from surface preparation to adhesive choice.

This tutorial will walk you through the fundamental guidelines for applying ceramic tiles to walls, assisting you in avoiding common blunders and producing a faultless finish.

Step Description
1. Surface Preparation Ensure the wall is clean, dry, and even. Remove any old paint, plaster, or debris.
2. Marking Guidelines Use a level and chalk line to mark horizontal and vertical guidelines for accurate tile placement.
3. Applying Adhesive Spread tile adhesive evenly on a small section of the wall using a notched trowel.
4. Placing Tiles Press tiles firmly into the adhesive, following the marked guidelines. Use spacers to maintain even gaps.
5. Cutting Tiles Cut tiles to fit edges and corners using a tile cutter. Ensure clean cuts for a neat finish.
6. Grouting Once the adhesive sets, apply grout between the tiles using a rubber float. Wipe off excess grout.
7. Cleaning Tiles After the grout dries, clean the tiles with a damp sponge to remove any grout residue.

A little about ceramic tiles

Once upon a time, this material was only utilized to face the kitchen, bathrooms, and shower rooms. The tile has been forced from its proper position by the introduction of new materials to the market. Furthermore, the product stood out due to its rather boring decorative appearance. The current state of affairs has drastically changed. Why is that the case?

  1. Wear resistance. What other material can boast that it can retain its qualities for fifty years.
  2. Durability. The walls are subject to a small load, but even this can ruin any decorative coating. Tile finishing is an excellent solution that will allow you to avoid almost any problems.
  3. High hygienic indicator. This property goes unnoticed when it comes to other, more expensive materials. But human health depends on it. Tiles do not absorb foreign odors and dirt, which prevents the occurrence of pathogenic microbes.
  4. Excellent moisture resistance. No wonder they are used in rooms with high humidity.
  5. Absolutely environmentally friendly. Ceramics do not emit substances harmful to health.
  6. Fire safety. Due to the manufacturing technology of the material used, the product does not burn and does not contribute to the spread of fire.
  7. Wide selection. There are various types of wall tiles. But another thing is pleasing, a great many different decorative options have appeared that allow you to create real masterpieces.

There are a few drawbacks as well:

  • Poor sound insulation. Indeed, to create reliable sound insulation, you will have to use additional materials that are pre-laid on the surface.
  • Difficulty in working with walls. If you need to hang a cabinet or shelf on the wall, you will have to try. After all, the tile is quite fragile, incorrect drilling will lead to its damage.
  • High price. Yes, the cost of the product is quite high. Particularly expensive are elements with a pattern, which are sold individually or in square meters. But an area tiled with tiles always looks advantageous.

It should be mentioned that one drawback is how challenging the work is. To achieve a truly perfect surface, a certain level of skill is needed. It is not realistic to expect everything to go smoothly the first time. However, there’s no need to give up—any task can be completed on your own. The most important thing is to exert the required effort and perseverance.

By adhering to certain guidelines, ceramic tile facing walls can be made to look good and last a long time. It’s crucial to prepare the surface properly, choose the appropriate adhesive, and place the tiles precisely. A polished and long-lasting wall covering is the outcome of meticulous grouting and consistent spacing.

What is required for high-quality installation

Of course, you should have a tool ready that is perfectly organized. The list of requirements is standard, but each device can be swapped out for an appropriate one if necessary.

To use at work:

  • A separate container for water. The volume should be more than five liters.
  • A container for mixing the solution. It should be convenient for preparing the mixture and for collecting it.
  • Trowel. This tool can be replaced with a metal spatula.
  • Rubber spatula. Needed for grouting.
  • Notched spatula. They apply the mixture.
  • Various measuring devices – tape measure, level, cord.
  • Mallet. Many use a wooden hammer, but a rubber tool is much better.
  • Pliers. Ordinary nippers will do.
  • Sprayer.
  • Tile cutter. The tool must be reliable, some cheap options simply fail.
  • Set of dowels.

Grout and glue solutions (mastic) that must be purchased separately.

Independent preparation of the solution

The mixture for laying tiles can be made by you. This does not imply that you should not have faith in bought options. All it offers is the chance to save a little cash.

Cement is the composition that is most frequently used in work. It acts as a foundation for the addition of water and sifted sand. Their proportion may change.

With tile material, there is a standard option that works well for nearly every kind of work. For the concoction that you require:

  1. Cement (m400) – one part is required.
  2. Sand (fine fraction) – take two and a half parts.
  3. Water – half a part.

Note: A conditional indicator and a container with a set of ingredients are generated in one section. Consider a children’s bucket that holds one liter.

Dry ingredients are mixed first. They are combined after being put into one container. Achieving a homogeneous composition is essential. They then start adding water. It is preferable to work on this in batches, mixing as you go.

Checking the quality of the prepared mixture

The solution is verified to ensure that it is dependable and of the highest caliber. This is accomplished easily:

  • a separate ceramic element is moistened with water (it is convenient to use a sprayer);
  • apply the prepared mixture;
  • turn the tile over and shake it;
  • a layer of cement of at least three millimeters should remain on the reverse side.

Remixing and adding the required ingredients (sand or cement) are done if this outcome could not be obtained.

When performing face work in highly humid rooms, use specialized tile adhesive. This will prevent potential issues and prolong the preservation of the material’s essential qualities.

Surface preparation

It is imperative to prepare surfaces before applying ceramic tile cladding using the appropriate technology. This process should only be disregarded if all required surface manipulations have already been performed.

The estimated allowable vertical error (for a two-meter wall) is six millimeters. It’s not too difficult to check this indicator. A surface is treated with an aluminum rail (level) measuring two meters. There may be a variety of spaces between the two planes. Marks larger than six millimeters should be treated with a plaster mixture in these areas.

Guidance! It’s not necessary to smooth the walls flawlessly before tiling. After plastering, even a small amount of roughness will be helpful. This will lead to improved material adhesion to the surface.

  • Remove all old coatings. Clean off the paint, remove the wallpaper.
  • The work area is carefully tapped. A small hammer is used for this. It is necessary to determine whether there are voids. In such places, the finish will need to be removed and a new layer of gypsum or cement mixture applied.
  • Greasy stains are removed. Otherwise, nothing will hold. Degreasing is carried out with a special solution of hydrochloric acid (three percent). It is applied and left for three to four minutes. Next, everything is thoroughly washed with water and allowed to dry.
  • Bulges that are more than three to four millimeters are knocked down with a chisel.
  • If possible, it is better to completely plaster the surface, removing the old layer. Of course, this will take longer and be more expensive, but for old houses, this is the key to the reliability of the coating.
  • Notes are necessarily made. They are applied in random order on the entire wall. They should be of small depth and will serve to secure the solution well.
  • When everything is ready, primer is applied.

Note that it’s not always possible to remove old paint while the base is still sufficiently sturdy. Such a section needs to be covered in numerous deep scratches. There isn’t another way to ensure that the mixture will remain intact.

Laying tiles

Surface marking is the first step in the ceramic tiling process. A cord is used for this purpose. The floor’s height is ascertained right away. This is an indicator that needs to be calculated beforehand. After calculating all the values and accounting for the possibility of seam variations in size, dowels fastened with screws are affixed along the wall’s edges, and a cord is drawn between them.

When there are no required skills or the laying scheme is quite complex, preliminary marking is carried out.

The following is the general order of work:

  1. Before tiling the walls, they need to be laid out. Each element is laid out in the order in which it will be fixed to the surface. Attention should be paid to the drawings, their sequence, location.
  2. Next, when all the nuances are taken into account, spray the work area with water. The reverse side of the material used is moistened. If a cement mixture is used, then a small part of it is well diluted (the reverse side of the product will be dipped into it).
  3. Laying begins from the corner, which will be opposite the entrance to the room. It is better to do this from the second row. To do this, according to the existing markings, along the bottom, a wooden lath or metal profile is installed, which will serve as a support for the row.
  4. The mixture is collected from the container with a notched trowel and transferred to the surface. You can apply it to the tile itself. And also combine these options. This depends on the quality of the solution used and the type of surface.
  5. The product is installed on the existing lath and pressed against the wall. For reliability, you can tap it with the handle of the spatula. Everything is immediately checked by level.
  6. The second tile is laid in the same way. Special wedges are inserted between adjacent elements, they will maintain a uniform position of the seams. For reliability, stick on masking tape, which will hold both sections together.
  7. Having completed the first row, check it with a level. Next, start working with the second row.

Guidance! It is best to reserve the lower part for the final decoration. To put it another way, they start working on it after the floor is installed. If necessary, the tiles can be quickly cut with a tile cutter.

Advice from experts

  • You need to be especially careful when tiling the walls in the bathroom, the back side should be completely covered with the mixture. If this is not done, the material will crack.
  • For greater convenience, when planning large-scale work, make a template. Previously, it was made of steel of different thicknesses. But this is a rather labor-intensive process. It is much easier to make it from a sheet of plastic. To do this, apply the tile, mark its outline. From the resulting size, retreat five millimeters to the middle. Cut out the resulting frame and process the edges. Now the resulting template can be attached to any convenient box. The tile is brought to this hole and pressed, the solution is applied and leveled. It turns out that each element will have the same layer.
  • When it is necessary to drill a hole for various decorative elements or plumbing fixtures, a special drill is used – ballerina. It is adjustable, which makes it possible to make different connectors.
  • Moldings are installed last.

Ceramic tile facing walls is a useful and fashionable way to improve any area. You can accomplish a stunning and long-lasting outcome with meticulous planning and attention to detail.

Recall that having a smooth, clean surface is essential. Applying adhesive correctly and positioning tiles will guarantee longevity and a polished appearance.

The final steps, grouting and sealing, are not to be taken lightly. These finishing touches give your tiled walls a unique look while also protecting your hard work.

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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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