How to Tile a Wall
There’s no need for you to hire a professional to put tiles on your walls. With the right equipment and knowledge, you’ll be able to do it yourself. Here are some steps you can follow to tile a wall.
Things You’ll Need:
Ceramic Tiles
Tile adhesive
Trowel
Grout
Caulk
Level
Sponge
Tile cutter
Pencil
Rubber float
Steps:
Prepare the wall. Get rid of wallpapers and dirt. Scrape off old paint. Use a sponge to clean the wall. You might need to use a sandpaper to get rid of hard to remove dirt on your wall.
With a level, determine the center of the wall and mark intersecting lines. Lay out tiles on the first row, starting from the center going to the ends of the row. Make sure that the tiles at the end of the row are of the same size. If not, you may need to adjust your vertical reference.
When tiling, always start from the center. Apply an adhesive coat from the center going to one side. Work one side at a time of each row.
Carefully place the tiles on the wall. Press firmly. Don’t forget to place spacers on all sides of the tiles. These are the places where you’ll be applying grout later on.
Cut tiles to your desired shapes if you have to go around fixtures like a light switch. Don’t forget to sand the edges to dull the sides, as the sides of a tile can be sharp when cut.
You’ll need to wait until the adhesive dries before you can apply grout.
Follow the instructions for mixing the grout.
With a rubber float, apply grout on the tiles. Make sure to press the grout on the tiles so it goes down to the bottom.
Use a damp sponge to wipe off excess grout.
When the grout dries, wipe the tiles again with a cloth to clean the tiles.
Seal the edges of your tiles with a caulk.