Founded in the year 2000, our tiling company has established a strong reputation as one of the top providers in Dublin. We prioritise consistency and quality in all of our work, which has earned us the trust of many clients and made us one of the most reliable tilers in Dublin.
With years of tiling experience, our dynamic group has fulfilled virtually every tiling request imaginable, constructing lasting relationships with a host of customers & suppliers and crafting a service unlike any tiling company in Dublin. From small works to large-scale tasks, we position consumer fulfilment and effectiveness above all else, guaranteeing we deliver on-time, in budget plan and to a high requirement.
How to tile a wall
Develop a spectacular wall with appealing, practical and durable wall tiles
A fantastic outcome is possible whether you’re tiling a bathroom, a shower cubicle, a kitchen splashback, or a small section near a fireplace. Our guidance will assist you in obtaining that desired result. Prior to you start, it is very important to prepare your tiling. Determining the number of tiles & adhesive you require, preparing the wall and planning out the position of the tiles are all important elements. Our guide to planning your wall tiles covers all you require to understand prior to tiling.
This guide will stroll you through how to lay the tiles. In our example we’re tiling an entire wall with square tiles in a direct tiling style. We’ll explain how to:
– Repair entire tiles to a wall
– Cut tiles for corners and barriers and apply corner tile trim
– Grout and surface wall tiles
– Seal around the edges of tiling
Tools & Materials
Products
– 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 suggest getting an expert to make the repair work.
– Tile adhesive – we recommend ready-mixed tile adhesive to save time
– Tile spacers
– Hygienic sealant – we recommend anti-mould sealant for a surface that lasts
– Grout – we recommend ready-mixed grout
– Multi-purpose clothes
– Tile trim – as needed.
Tools
– Rule
– Measuring tape
– Chinagraph pencil or felt-tip pen – if needed, to mark tiles for cutting
– Trowel
– Notched trowel (also referred to as a notched spreader).
– Tile cutter.
– Tile file – if required.
– Hacksaw – if needed, to cut the tile trim.
– Grout spreader (likewise called a grout float).
– Grout finisher (likewise known as a grout shaper).
– Claw hammer.
– Sponge.
– Container.
– Level.
– Cartridge weapon – if needed. Some sealant comes as a trigger weapon and does not need a cartridge weapon. Check the item directions for the sealant.
– Sealant smoother.
Safety package.
– Safety gloves.
– Dust mask.
Security.
To protect yourself from flying fragments and sharp edges, it is important to wear safety goggles and a dust mask when cutting tiles.
How to tile a whole wall.
When you’ve planned the tiles, prepared the wall and fixed your wood battens, lay whole tiles initially by following these actions.
Step 1.
Scoop up some tile adhesive with the trowel and press it onto the wall, beginning in the corner formed by the timber battens. The ridges in the adhesive will guarantee there’s an equal amount behind each tile, making it easier to get them all level.
Choose an ideal 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.
Use adhesive to the wall and also on the back of the tiles if your tiles are larger than 20 x 20.
Step 2.
Place your very first tile into the corner, pushing its edges versus the corners and the whole tile securely versus the wall. Then add a tile above it and one beside the original tile pushing them strongly into the adhesive using a twisting action.
Wipe off any adhesive from the tiles with a wet sponge as you go– if you let it dry it’ll be very tough to remove.
Leading idea – applying 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 offer the tiles a flat, even finish.
Some mosaics are set at different heights, in which case you need to use your hand to ensure they’re all separately bedded into the adhesive.
Step 3.
When needed, put tile spacers into the corners in between the tiles and change the tile positions as and. Press them in firmly and place them flush against the wall so you can grout over them.
Step 4.
Add another tile above the last one you applied, and another next to it. Continue applying the whole tiles in this way until you have actually tiled the location covered with tile adhesive.
Apply another square metre of adhesive and tiles till you have fixed all the entire tiles.
At the edges of the wall, put one leg of the spacer between the tiles so the rest is sticking out– we’ll eliminate this later before grouting.
Step 5.
Leave to dry for the length of time directed on the tile adhesive guidelines.
Step 6.
Get rid of the vertical wood batten by prising out it’s nails with the claw of a hammer.
Step 7.
Repair whole tiles to the other section of the wall, starting from the corner next to the tiles you have actually already fixed.
Step 8.
Once all the whole tiles have 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 learn how to do this.
How to tile corners.
In this area, we’ll talk you through tiling corners. There are 2 types of corner– external and internal. These could be corners created by walls or corners developed by obstructions:.
Internal corner.
The corner sign up with between 2 walls, for example the corner of a room, or the corner created by a door frame.
External corner.
Outward-facing corner that protrudes into the space, for instance the corner of a function wall or the edge of a window recess.
There’s a different method for tiling depending upon the type of corner, and we’ll describe both methods in this section.
Sometimes you may discover that you can fit whole tiles across the wall without needing to cut a tile for the corner. If no cuts are necessary, dive to the area ‘How to finish and grout wall tiles’.
You’ll need to cut a tile to fit into the corner.
How to determine and mark tiles for cutting.
There are two methods to mark a tile and measure for cutting:.
Choice 1.
Hold the tile you’ll be cutting over the last entire 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 utilising a measuring tape. Mark the measurements at the top and bottom of the tile. Line up the square with the two marks and draw a line in between them with a pencil or felt-tip pen, providing 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.
Step 1.
After you have actually cut the tile, check to see that it fits. If you require to make any small adjustments utilise a tile file.
You do not have to be totally accurate as the edges will be hidden by the tiles on the other wall if you’re also going to tile the surrounding wall.
How to tile internal corners.
Action 1.
After you’ve cut the tile, check to see that it fits. If you require to make any little adjustments use a tile file. You do not have to be totally accurate as the edges will be concealed by the tiles on the other wall if you’re also going to tile the adjacent wall.
Action 2.
To apply adhesive on the back of the cut tile, use the narrow end of a notched spreader. Then press it into place so it’s level with the surrounding tile. If you require it, Use spacers.
Action 3.
If you’re tiling more than one wall, carry on to the next wall. If not, you’re ready to begin grouting and finishing the tiles. For guidance on this, jump to our area ‘How to grout and end up wall tiles’.
How to tile external corners.
Use tile trims to get a cool surface on external corners. It likewise assists to protect the edges of the tiles from knocks, which could chip them. The trim comes in a series of materials, sizes, shapes and colours. Here we’re utilising white 1/4 inch external edge tile trim.
Step 1.
Complete tiling your very first wall.
Step 2.
Utilise a measuring tape to measure the length of the edge that you’ll be repairing the tile trim to.
Step 3.
Measure the tile trim to the exact same size and make a mark on it to indicate where to cut. Use a hacksaw to cut the tile trim to the length you need.
Step 4.
Add a narrow strip of tile adhesive to the untiled wall utilising 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 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.
Step 6.
Put more tile adhesive on the untitled wall with the notched trowel. To avoid knocking the tile trim out of place with the serrated edges of the notched trowel, apply the adhesive in a vertical motion, starting from the top and moving downwards.
Step 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 gap between them and the trim. Insert spacers and adjust the tiles as you go, so the space stays the same and the trim remains in place.
How to finish and grout wall tiles.
After fixing the tiles securely and allowing the adhesive to dry, the next step is to apply the grout.
Action 1.
Get rid of the protruding tile spacers at the edges of the wall and at corners.
Action 2.
Starting in the bottom left corner, press a percentage of grout onto the face of the tiles with a trowel.
Use a grout spreader, also known as a grout float, to spread it, making long, diagonal strokes and working it into the joints in between tiles. Continue up until you’ve grouted all the joints. The grout will soon start to solidify, so do this as fast as you can.
If you’re grouting a large location, divide it into sections and grout a section at a time. This is to avoid the grout solidifying too much whilst you finish grouting the whole location.
Action 3.
Right away after you end up applying the grout, review the tiles with a wet sponge (however not too damp as this might trigger discolouration) to remove any excess. Take care not to drag any grout from the joints.
Action 4.
Leave the grout to dry. As it does, you’ll observe a grainy film appear on the tiles from all the sponging. Clean this off with a soft, tidy fabric.
How to seal around the edge of tiling.
To prevent water from seeping behind your tiles, especially in areas like worktops, basins, and kitchen sinks, it is crucial to properly seal the edges. Failure to do so can lead to damage to the wall, fittings, and fixtures. In this guide, we will explain the process of sealing the edge of tiling using sanitary sealant.
Step 1.
Attach the nozzle to the sealant and cut off the suggestion, as directed by the item guidelines. Put the sealant into the cartridge gun if required.
Step 2.
Run a constant bead of sealant, working from one end of the tiled location to the other, from left to right. When you’re doing this, attempt to keep a steady pressure on the trigger of the gun and a constant speed.
Step 3.
If there are any imperfections in the bead shape, you can use a sealant smoother or a wet finger to gently even them out. Be cautious not to remove the sealant from the surface while doing so.
Step 4.
Leave the sealant to dry.
Calculating the number of tiles & adhesive you require, preparing and preparing the wall out the position of the tiles are all important aspects. Our guide to planning your wall tiles covers all you require to understand prior to tiling.
In our example we’re tiling a whole wall with square tiles in a linear tiling style. If you’re likewise going to tile the adjacent wall, you do not have to be absolutely accurate as the edges will be concealed by the tiles on the other wall.
Start tiling your second wall, working away from the corner trim.
Modern Tiling Videos