Thinking of tiling bathroom or kitchen walls yourself? Don’t be fooled by the idea that putting tiles on a wall means gluing them next to each other in an orderly way and trowelling on some grouting.
Unless you’ve done your homework regarding the correct tiles to use, have the necessary tools, purchased the right amount of tiles and understand what’s needed to successfully complete the task, your pretty bathroom/kitchen dream could become a nightmare.
To avoid disaster, here’s an overview:
Aesthetics and practicalities must go hand in hand for somewhere as functional as a kitchen or bathroom. Before letting yourself loose in a tile centre to gaze at a mind boggling array of shapes, styles and colors with a price tag of up to $150 per square metre take time to consider who regularly uses the bathroom/kitchen and how their habits and lifestyle should affect your choice.
How much wear and tear will the tiles need to withstand? Is easy maintenance and cleaning a priority? Are the tiles going to have to withstand a constant barrage of water or heat? Will the occupants be bringing a lot of dirt and grime into the area?
Next, observe the size, shape and style of the bathroom/kitchen. What does the room need to enhance it? More light? Softening down? Brightening up? If the room is small and dark, don’t choose heavy-looking tiles. Instead, pick tiles that are light colored and shiny. Also make sure the tiles blend with the style of the room – sleek, state of the art tiles don’t match a cosy cottage.
Porcelain tiles: Made from fine-grained clay and other minerals and processed to be resistant to tough treatment whether inside our outside the home. A good choice for the rough and tumble of family life.
Glazed ceramic tiles: Made from clay and water, they are dried before being glazed on the surface with a specific color similar in strength to glass. The baking process varies depending on how tough they need to be. Easy to clean but hardiness will vary.
Vitrified tiles: These extra tough tiles stand up to rougher treatment than ceramic or porcelain because they’ve been baked at a much higher temperature. This makes them harder to polish than marble and the same color goes all the way through. So even if they’re chipped, it won’t be noticeable.
Now focus on creating a personal sanctuary that’s both practical and visually pleasing. Visit as many tile showrooms as you can, search the internet, browse through homestyle magazines, bring home samples and check out other people’s bathrooms. Don’t forget to ask lots of questions.
Okay, you’re ready to purchase your tiles. How many? How do you estimate what’s required? What adhesive will you need? What color grouting to choose?
While calculating how many tiles to buy, take into account breakages, miscalculations and difficulties in cutting the tiles to size. The professionals recommend buying at least an extra 10 per cent more than you estimate. What you don’t use become spares – or better still, search for a retailer who will allow you to return unused tiles.
How to estimate the amount of tiles
Add on (at least) 10 per cent.
To complete your project you’ll need appropriate tools. The professionals use:
Gauge stick - a long ruler
Depending on the size and complexity of your project, you may not need all of the above tools. Tiling showrooms sell basic handyman’s kits for simple tiling jobs. While you search for tiles, seek guidance as to what tools you’ll need.
How to buy the right amount of adhesive and grout? Rely on advice from the tile centre on what adhesive and grout will suit your tiles, how much you’ll need and what spacers to use. Make sure the adhesive is waterproof.
Step one: Setting out the tiles
Mark the bottom of the lowest row of tiles and (temporarily) nail a thin guide batten to the wall in line with the mark. Test with a spirit level to make sure it’s exactly horizontal. Mark the centre of the wall using the gauge stick to set out rows of tiles on each side.
Use the spirit level to place a guide batten against the last vertical line and nail it to the wall. If tiling around an object such as a window, use the object as a starting point so the tiles surrounding it are of equal size. Use a (temporary) guide batten above the window to position the row of tiles above it.
Step two: Applying the adhesive
Apply a waterproof adhesive to the wall so it covers about one metre square. Use the adhesive spreader to form horizontal ridges in the adhesive.
Step three: Placing the tiles
Take the first tile and position it in the right angle formed by the set battens at the skirting level. If the tile doesn’t have lugs (small bumps on each edge of the tile), place plastic spacers between them to ensure that there’s enough width for the grout to prevent cracking and splitting.
Wipe away any adhesive from the surface with a damp sponge. Tile along the batten until the first rows are complete, ensuring that each tile is horizontally perfect. When you have completed the task, leave the battens in place for 24 hours until adhesive is dry.
Step four: Fitting tiles around appliances
When fitting tiles around a wall fixture i.e. a pipe or tap, try to set them so that you can cut shapes from the edges of two adjacent tiles. If that’s not possible, mark the centre of the pipe/tap on the top and side edges of the tile and draw lines across from these points so they join. Draw a circle around where the two lines cross. Cut through the centre of the circle and use a tile saw to cut out what remains of the circle.
Step five: Grouting the tiles
The most popular grouts are pre-mixed pastel grey, white or brown paste, but it’s possible to select from dozens of shades, mostly in earthen-colored hues. Note that it’s almost impossible to find an exact match for tiles.
Allow 24 hours to pass before applying grout with a rubber bladed spreader. Sponge excess grout from surface of tiles before it sets and smooth the joints with a blunt-ended stick. When the grout has dried, use a dry cloth to polish the surface of the tiles and leave for up to a week before using.
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