Tiling Tips for Truly Professional Looking Wall Tiles

Date: Jan 20 2018 10:35AM

Tiling tips-wall tiles

The tiling process can be a frustrating time for most home owners but if you get it right, the effects can last a lifetime. One of the most important things to do if you are tackling the project yourself is to do your research. For instance if you thinking about wall tiling the first thing you need to do is consider the area you are tiling and the background you are tiling to.

Most ceramic wall tiles can be fixed to different wall surfaces so long as the appropriate adhesive is used. If you are tiling onto a surface that is already tiled then you may want to take a few considerations into account, for instance, are the existing tiles securely fixed, and are they clean and free from any grime or grease?

Another important issue is that tiling onto pre-existing tiles will add extra weight to your walls so you need to be sure that you are not exceeding weight limits. A plaster skim will take 20kg including 2kg -4kg for grout and adhesive and bare plasterboard will hold up to 32kg which again should also includes 2kg-4kg for grout and adhesive. These weight limits can also be a major factor when choosing the type of wall tile that you are going to use, both porcelain and natural stone can well exceed the limit for a skimmed plaster wall.

Taking the time to select the right adhesive and grout for your project is time well spent, with many products on the market it is essential that you make an informed choice. When choosing your grout make sure it is suitable for the area you are tiling, for instance Mapei ultracolur plus water repellent and mould resistant grouts are now available and ideal for using with bathroom tiles.

Ready mixed bucket adhesives are the choice of many tilers but they are not suitable for every type of wall tile. In general if you are fixing to a plaster skimmed wall with a ceramic tile under 300 x 300mm a ready mixed adhesive will be suitable, though there are different types depending on the area you are working in. if you are tiling in a bathroom area then make sure your adhesive is suitable for wet areas.

Cement based adhesives don’t need air to dry but instead use a chemical reaction; this means that they are much more suitable for larger format low porosity porcelain tiles. As with all cement based adhesives if you are tiling on to plaster the surface should be primed first.

If you have any doubts tiles4all are always happy to answer any questions you may have and of course you should always check the manufactures details and instructions of suitability found on the back of the product you have purchased.