Developed in 2000, we’re amongst the leading tilers in Dublin. Consistency and quality are at the core of whatever we do, allowing us to end up being amongst the most reputable tiling business in Dublin.
With years of tiling experience, our dynamic group have fulfilled virtually every tiling request possible, building long lasting relationships with a host of customers & suppliers and crafting a service unlike any tiling company in Dublin. From small works to massive tasks, we position client complete satisfaction and performance above all else, ensuring we provide on-time, in budget and to a high requirement.
How to tile a wall
Create a sensational wall with appealing, useful and durable wall tiles
Tiling is a proficient task but we’re here to help you get the very best surface to your wall tiles. Whether you’re tiling an entire bathroom, a shower cubicle, a splashback in a kitchen area or a small area around a fireplace, our advice will help you attain an excellent result.
Prior to you begin, it’s important to prepare your tiling. Computing the number of tiles & adhesive you need, preparing the wall and planning out the position of the tiles are all necessary aspects. Our guide to planning your wall tiles covers all you require to know prior to tiling.
This guide will walk you through how to lay the tiles. In our example we’re tiling a whole wall with square tiles in a linear tiling style.
We’ll explain how to:
- Fix whole tiles to a wall
- Cut tiles for barriers and corners and apply corner tile trim
- Grout and finish wall tiles
- Seal around the edges of tiling
Tools & Materials
Materials
- Wall tiles
- Filler – if you have any holes in the wall that require filling. If the hole in the wall is larger than the size of your fist, we advise getting an expert to make the repair work.
- Tile adhesive – we advise ready-mixed tile adhesive to save time
- Tile spacers
- Hygienic sealant – we recommend anti-mould sealant for a finish that lasts
- Grout – we encourage ready-mixed grout
- Multi-purpose fabrics
- Tile trim – as needed.
Tools
- Rule
- Measuring tape
- Chinagraph pencil or felt-tip pen – if required, to mark tiles for cutting
- Trowel
- Notched trowel (likewise called a notched spreader).
- Tile cutter.
- Tile file – if required.
- Hacksaw – if needed, to cut the tile trim.
- Grout spreader (also known as a grout float).
- Grout finisher (likewise called a grout shaper).
- Claw hammer.
- Sponge.
- Container.
- Level.
- Cartridge gun – if needed. Some sealant comes as a trigger weapon and doesn’t require a cartridge gun. Examine the item guidelines for the sealant.
- Sealant smoother.
Safety set.
- Security gloves.
- Dust mask.
Security.
- When cutting tiles, use safety goggles and a dust mask to protect you from flying fragments and sharp edges.
How to tile a whole wall
When you’ve prepared the tiles, prepared the wall and repaired your timber battens, lay entire tiles initially by following these steps.
Action 1
Scoop up some tile adhesive with the trowel and press it onto the wall, beginning in the corner formed by the timber battens. Then spread it with the notched trowel, working away from the corner with horizontal strokes. Hold the edge of the notched trowel at an angle of about 45 °. The ridges in the adhesive will guarantee there’s an equal amount behind each tile, making it easier to get them all level. Try not to work on more than one square metre at a time, as the adhesive could begin solidifying prior to you’ve put all the tiles in place.
Pick a suitable tile adhesive for your tiles: for ceramic tiles use a ready-mixed tile adhesive or powder adhesive and a powder tile adhesive for porcelain tiles.
If your tiles are larger than 20 x 20, apply adhesive to the wall and likewise on the back of the tiles.
Step 2
Put your first tile into the corner, pressing its edges against the corners and the whole tile securely against the wall. Then include a tile above it and one next to the original tile pushing them securely into the adhesive utilizing a twisting action.
Wipe off any adhesive from the tiles with a moist sponge as you go– if you let it dry it’ll be very difficult to take off.
Top pointer – using mosaic tiles.
When using mosaic tiles to the wall, hold a piece of board over the tiles while the adhesive is wet and tap the board gently with a rubber mallet. This will provide the tiles a flat, even end up.
Some mosaics are set at various heights, in which case you ought to use your hand to ensure they’re all separately bedded into the adhesive.
Action 3
Put tile spacers into the corners in between the tiles and change the tile positions as and when required. Press them in securely and position them flush against the wall so you can grout over them.
Step 4
Include another tile above the last one you used, and another beside it. Continue using the whole tiles in this way up until you’ve tiled the location covered with tile adhesive.
Apply another square metre of adhesive and tiles up until you have fixed all the entire tiles.
At the edges of the wall, put one leg of the spacer in between the tiles so the rest is sticking out– we’ll eliminate this later before grouting.
Step 5
Delegate dry for the length of time directed on the tile adhesive guidelines.
Step 6
Eliminate the vertical lumber batten by prising out it’s nails with the claw of a hammer.
Step 7
Repair entire tiles to the other area of the wall, starting from the corner beside the tiles you have actually already repaired.
Step 8
As soon as all the entire tiles have actually been fixed and are dry, get rid of the horizontal timber batten.
Now you have actually repaired all of the entire tiles, you’re ready to fill the edges and corners of the wall. Head to ‘How to tile corners’ to find out how to do this.
How to tile corners
In this area, we’ll talk you through tiling corners. There are two types of corner– internal and external. These could be corners developed by corners or walls created by obstructions:.
Internal corner
The corner join in between 2 walls, for instance the corner of a space, or the corner created by a door frame.
External corner
Outward-facing corner that extends into the room, for example the corner of a feature wall or the edge of a window recess.
There’s a different technique for tiling depending on the type of corner, and we’ll discuss both techniques in this area.
Often you may discover that you can fit entire tiles across the wall without requiring to cut a tile for the corner. If no cuts are needed, dive to the section ‘How to end up and grout wall tiles’.
You’ll require to cut a tile to fit into the corner.
How to determine and mark tiles for cutting
There are 2 ways to mark a tile and measure for cutting:
Alternative 1
Hold the tile you’ll be cutting over the last whole tile in the row. Fit another versus the wall and mark where it overlaps the one listed below with a tile scribe, chinagraph pencil or felt-tip pen.
Choice 2
Take different measurements at the top and bottom of the space you’re going to fill utilizing a measuring tape. Mark the measurements at the top and bottom of the tile. Line up the square with the two marks and draw the line in between them with a pencil or felt-tip pen, offering you a vertical line to cut along.
With the marks made, it’s time to cut the tiles. Head to our How to cut tiles post for suggestions on this.
After you have actually cut the tile, check to see that it fits. If you need to make any small modifications utilize a tile file.
If you’re also going to tile the nearby wall, you don’t have to be totally precise as the edges will be concealed by the tiles on the other wall.
How to tile internal corners
Step 1
After you’ve cut the tile, check to see that it fits. If you need to make any little modifications utilize a tile file. You do not have to be totally precise as the edges will be hidden by the tiles on the other wall if you’re likewise going to tile the adjacent wall.
Step 2
Use the narrow end of a notched spreader to put adhesive on the back of the cut tile. Press it into place so it’s level with the surrounding tile. If you require to, Usage spacers.
Step 3
If you’re tiling more than one wall, proceed to the next wall. If not, you’re ready to begin grouting and ending up the tiles. For guidance on this, jump to our section ‘How to end up and grout wall tiles’.
How to tile external corners
Use tile trims to get a neat surface on external corners. It likewise helps to safeguard the edges of the tiles from knocks, which might chip them.
Action 1
End up tiling your very first wall.
Action 2
Utilize a measuring tape to measure the length of the edge that you’ll be repairing the tile trim to.
Action 3
Measure the tile trim to the same size and make a mark on it to show where to cut. Use a hacksaw to cut the tile trim to the length you require.
Step 4
Add a narrow strip of tile adhesive to the untiled wall utilizing the notched trowel and press the trim into it.
Step 5
Line the trim up with the tiles of your very first wall. Put two spacers in between the trim and each tile (one near the top of the tile and one near the bottom) to ensure there’s a gap for grout.
Action 6
Put more tile adhesive on the untitled wall with the notched trowel. Add the adhesive vertically from top to bottom to avoid knocking the tile cut out of place with the teeth of the notched trowel.
Action 7
Start tiling your second wall, working away from the corner trim. As you set the tiles in place, keep in mind to permit a narrow grouting space in between them and the trim. Insert spacers and change the tiles as you go, so the gap remains the exact same and the trim remain in location.
How to end up and grout wall tiles
As soon as the tiles are repaired in place and the adhesive has actually dried, it’s time to use the grout.
Step 1
Get rid of the protruding tile spacers at the edges of the wall and at corners.
Step 2
Starting in the bottom left corner, press a small amount of grout onto the face of the tiles with a trowel.
Use a grout spreader, also called a grout float, to spread it, making long, diagonal strokes and working it into the joints between tiles. Continue till you have actually grouted all the joints. The grout will quickly begin to solidify, so do this as quick as you can.
Split it into sections and grout a section at a time if you’re grouting a large location. This is to avoid the grout solidifying excessive whilst you complete grouting the whole location.
Action 3
Immediately after you complete using the grout, discuss the tiles with a damp sponge (but not too wet as this might cause discolouration) to eliminate any excess. Make sure not to drag any grout from the joints.
Step 4
Leave the grout to dry. As it does, you’ll see a powdery movie appear on the tiles from all the sponging. Wipe this off with a soft, tidy fabric.
How to seal around the edge of tiling
Sealing around the edge of tiling is vital to stop water supporting the tiles, particularly around worktops, basins and kitchen sinks. Water behind tiles can trigger damage to the wall, fittings and components. We’ll talk you through sealing the edge of tiling with hygienic sealant.
Action 1
Attach the nozzle to the sealant and cut off the suggestion, as directed by the item directions. If required, put the sealant into the cartridge gun.
Action 2
Run a constant bead of sealant, working from one end of the tiled area to the other, from left to. Attempt to keep a steady pressure on the trigger of the gun and a consistent speed when you’re doing this.
Action 3
Smooth any abnormalities in the shape of the bead with a sealant smoother (or a wet finger), but make sure not to pull the sealant from the surface.
Step 4
Leave the sealant to dry.
Calculating the number of tiles & adhesive you need, planning and preparing the wall out the position of the tiles are all essential factors. Our guide to planning your wall tiles covers all you require to understand prior to tiling.
In our example we’re tiling an entire wall with square tiles in a linear tiling style. If you’re also going to tile the surrounding wall, you don’t have to be totally precise as the edges will be hidden by the tiles on the other wall.
Start tiling your 2nd wall, working away from the corner trim.
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