Ceramic tiling is in progress. Wall cladding with ceramic tiles. Do-it-yourself tiling. Do-it-yourself ceramic tile laying

Wall cladding with ceramic tiles can be done by hand without spending a lot of money on specialists. It just takes you a little longer than a pro.

Good day to all those who decided to start repairs in their favorite apartment. In this article I want to tell you how to choose the right ceramic tile for the bathroom, as well as how to work with it. Be patient friends and you will certainly succeed. So, let's begin!

How to choose ceramic tiles

I want to note right away that it is ceramic tiles that are the best material for finishing a bathroom, so it is very important to choose not only a color scheme to increase the visual space, but also a quality product. Initially, experts recommend choosing the tile itself, and only then proceed to the selection of plumbing and accessories.

Useful information:

Basically, ceramic tiles today are produced in collections that include both wall and floor tiles, as well as decorative elements. The collection will have one style, range and theme. Now the choice is simply huge, and it will not be difficult for you to make a choice, however, a professional consultant in the salon can always help you and even create a 3D picture of your bathroom in the colors of the ceramic tiles you like.

Pay special attention, when buying, to the appearance and quality. Basically choose a classic design, as the color schemes are made in a soft and eye-pleasing color. After all, going into the bathroom, you want to relax and enjoy, and not be in constant tension. Bright and colorful ceramic tiles you will get bored very quickly. The most pleasant tones, as experts say, are: pink, light blue, beige, imitation of natural marble and stone. Do not chase the brand - this tile will cost much more.

Preparing a bathroom for tiling

We start by first printing out the tile and laying it out so that it is at your fingertips, as well as prepare the entire tool. And only after that we begin to knead the glue.

The mixing container is a plastic bucket or basin. Why plastic - yes, because it is then easier to clean it from glue residue. At the beginning, pour cold water and then pour out the dry adhesive mixture, gradually mix with a drill and mixer until smooth.

Important! You should not have lumps - I think there is no need to explain here.

All instructions are written on the bag of adhesive powder. If the mixture is thin, your tile will float, if mixed too thick, it will be much more difficult to work. Do not knead too much at once, as the glue thickens and dries quickly.

Important! Do not lay tiles on an adhesive mixture that has already dried up a little, this will weaken the adhesion of the tile to the adhesive mass. It is better to remove the adhesive and apply a new solution.

If you start laying ceramic tiles on a vertical surface, then start laying from the floor or, for example, from the bath, as this will be a kind of support. And be sure to lay the crosses.

It's also very important! Between the floor and the first row of tiles, be sure to leave a seam with the help of crosses. Usually, I’ll tell you from personal experience, the consumption of crosses is twice as much as you bought the tiles.

There are so-called zones where it is not possible to apply glue to the wall with a spatula - these are corners, wall joints, various transitions, etc. In this case, apply the adhesive base with a notched trowel directly onto the tile. Thus, we lay out the area that will be most convenient for work, and leave to harden.

The next day, take care of all the hard-to-reach places, because, working near a dry tile, stumbling can ruin many hours of work.

Only after the tile has dried sufficiently and all the moisture has gone, and this is 2 - 3 days, proceed to grouting the joints with a special grout mixture. Which you can easily buy at any store that deals with building materials.

Don't skimp on your grout and only buy branded grout, as your grouts can crack and lose their chic look in a fairly short amount of time.

This is done in an elementary way: we knead the mixture, as we knead the glue and rub the grout with a rubber spatula into the seams. After drying, we wash the tiles and, voila, beauty!

To achieve an ideal result in work, you can process ceramic tiles with a special compound. It gives the tile an extra good shine, as well as a protective layer from dirt and moisture.

Video: how to grout seams in a tile

How to drill and cut ceramic tiles

If when facing you needed an incomplete tile, then we do the usual trimming of the tile. The tile that you have prepared for the floor is best cut with a tile cutter. It looks like a glass cutter attached to a frame.

For wall tiles, you can use a regular glass cutter. Be sure to measure the exact distance that you need and put all marks on the tile with a marker or pencil. We put a solid ruler on the wall tile, press it strongly so that it does not move, and with strong hand pressure we draw it with a glass cutter or cutter. After that, they simply break it along the notch with special tongs or hit the back of the tile on a wooden block at the place of the incision. The cut edge can be sanded using an abrasive block.

Holes in tiles - are made mainly with a special tool called a "ballerina". But at home, you can usually do without it. We will need a regular drill and drills for drilling walls, concrete and the like. We drill without strong pressure, while slowly pour water over the drilling site so that the tile does not burst. If a figured cutout is needed, then we cut it with an ordinary grinder with a stone disk or bite it out with special tongs.

Cladding interior walls with ceramic tiles is one of the most common ways to finish rooms with high humidity. Ceramics is durable, resistant to all kinds of influences, it does not absorb moisture and odors, and with a wide range of its shapes, colors and textures, no type of cladding can be compared. Ceramic tile is an expensive material, but it fully copes with the decorative, sanitary-hygienic and protective function. About the advantages of ceramics, the nuances of its choice and the technology of wall decoration with its help - today's material.

Benefits of ceramic tiling

When choosing a material, it is necessary to make sure that it meets the requirements of the operating conditions in the room where the repair is to be carried out.

The advantages of tiles include the following:

versatility of the material - ceramics can be used in a room for any purpose;
ceramics environmentally friendly, safe material;
the cladding is not afraid of temperature changes, therefore it can be used in unheated rooms;
ceramics is not afraid of high humidity and a direct fall of water, so it is used in pools, baths, showers;
ceramic tiles form a strong, durable coating on the wall due to high adhesion to the base;
subject to the technology, the lining can be done independently;
On sale you can find ceramic tiles of various shapes and sizes. Some collections are represented by original products in the form of rhombuses or polygons. In addition, ceramics are distinguished by a large assortment of colors, patterns and patterns, as well as imitations of the surface of other materials;
ceramics are durable and fireproof, so it is used for wall cladding in the kitchen. The material does not absorb dirt and odors, it is easy to clean;
it is a hygienic material, so it is used for wall cladding in medical facilities and laboratories.

Varieties of material

There are several varieties of ceramic tiles for interior work. This allows you to choose the material, quality and performance properties and which correspond to the conditions of a particular room.

Table 1. Types of material

Illustration	Peculiarities
	Produced by dry pressing. The surface of the tile is covered with an opaque glaze. Due to the use of double firing technology, the material is quite durable and wear-resistant. It can be used as a cladding in rooms for any purpose.
	A distinctive feature is white color. It is made from expensive high-quality clay using double firing technology. It is used as an interior finishing material.
	Material with a porous structure without a glazed coating. It has high strength and wear resistance. Differs in rich assortment of shades.
	It is produced using the technology of sintering clay raw materials. The finished product has a high mechanical resistance. It can be used as an external cladding material. The color and gamut is limited to brown and yellow shades.
	The raw material used is not kaolin clay. The finished product does not have a glazed finish. Produced by pressing. The structure is homogeneous, so the policy has high mechanical strength. Can be used in high traffic areas.

The size of the tile is small 5 x 5 cm, medium 10 x 10 cm, 10 x 15 cm and large when one of the sides reaches 40 cm.

A separate category of material is mosaic. Small items are glued to the backing. This allows installation to be carried out quickly. Mosaic can be used as the main finish or for decorating an accent wall, niche, column - a flexible substrate allows you to veneer structures of any shape.

The more joints between the tiles, the less the surface lined with it is resistant to moisture. The joint is a potential risk. The tile joints must be carefully monitored, cleaned and, if necessary, updated.

Modern grouting materials are highly resistant to moisture and mechanical stress, so they retain a neat appearance for a long time and reliably protect the base from moisture.

Suitable substrates for ceramic tiles

According to the type of base that can be used for ceramic tiles, the material is universal. Ceramics can be attached to DSP, concrete, cement screed, drywall and old and tiled cladding. The bases themselves are divided into those that are specially prepared for laying policies and universal ones. Most surfaces require pre-treatment.

cement board

Cement slabs form a base ready for tiling. Of all sheet materials, this is the most expensive option, but its high strength makes it the most suitable base for ceramic cladding. DSP can be laid on the floor and mounted on walls in any premises, including those with high and humidity, where the base material is protected by waterproofing.

Fiberglass gypsum boards

Fiberglass gypsum boards are not the usual GVL or GKLV. This material is specially designed as a base for ceramic cladding. The load that such a base can withstand is somewhat lower than for DSP due to its lower hardness and strength - this is worth considering. The peculiarity of the structure of the plate is the presence of a core impregnated with a water-repellent composition and a moisture-resistant coating. Therefore, such a plate is used in rooms with high humidity. Fiberglass in the composition of the plate additionally strengthens it. In order for the base to be moisture resistant, do not forget about the high-quality sealing of the joints with silicone sealant.

GKLV

Moisture resistant drywall is made in green or blue. It is a versatile base for painting, paneling and wallpapering. Despite the name, GKLV is somewhat vulnerable to moisture, therefore, it requires waterproofing protection when used in the bathroom.

GVL

Ordinary drywall is used as a base for ceramic tiles in rooms with a dry and moderately humid microclimate. With high humidity, it is necessary to perform high-quality waterproofing.

Note! Ceramic policy is a rather heavy material that affects the base. So, a drywall sheet with a thickness of 12 to 15 mm will not be enough. The walls are sewn up with a double layer of drywall with a thickness of 12 mm each.

Concrete

Concrete base - one of the universal types, designed and breeds ceramic tiles. The laying process does not cause difficulties with the evenness of the base.

Important! Concrete should not contain film-forming substances that will reduce the level of adhesion between the tile adhesive and the base.

Cement strainer

This type of base is a reliable and durable option for tiles. In this case, the screed itself is made on any basis. The screed is made if it is necessary to level the floor and walls, as well as to install a slope in the shower room. A screed may be required when forming an irregularly shaped base, such as a round column. The disadvantage of this version of the base device is the long drying of the screed.

Existing ceramic cladding

Laying a new ceramic coating directly on top of an existing old one is possible on a cement mortar. This will save on costs and work time. The main condition is that the old cladding must be firmly fixed along the entire wall, while the vertical surface must be perfectly flat. It is worth remembering that as a result of such laying, the thickness of the coating will increase. In order for the new policy to be firmly entrenched on such a base, the old one is treated with sandpaper, thereby ensuring better adhesion to the cement mortar.

Features of the choice of ceramic tiles

Ceramics is the best finishing option for combined bathrooms, toilets and bathrooms. When choosing it, they take into account not only the decorative effect and the ability to create an optical effect of increasing space, but also the operational properties of the material.

Note! First, choose a tile, and then to it - plumbing and accessories.

Ceramic tiles are divided into wall and floor. The second one is thicker and larger. Often ceramics in the store are offered in the form of a finished collection with elements for floors and walls. In this case, the combination of textures and shades is thought out by designers, the collection is made in the same style, and therefore looks organic and natural.

When choosing the material yourself, it is recommended to give preference to classic shades that have a pleasant shade and are versatile in combination with other materials. These include pink, light blue, beige, as well as tiles with a pattern that imitates marble or stone.

How many tiles do you need

Tile - the material is not cheap, so you should immediately decide on its quantity. When calculating, several nuances are taken into account. It is recommended to purchase tiles with a small margin, given the likelihood of marriage during trimming. In this case, the material must be from the same batch. Otherwise, it is possible to distinguish between shades.

When measuring continued under the cladding, it is necessary to pay attention to the geometric parameters of the room, namely the evenness of the walls and corners.

Walls are drilled on a sheet of paper on a scale. On each of them, the layout of the tiles of the selected size is marked, decorative inserts, borders, and the thickness of the tile joint are drilled. The laying method is taken into account - “in a row” or “seam to seam”. The layout is performed so that the elements cut in the corners are not too narrow. When the calculations are made, another 10% is added to the resulting value - for marriage, trimming and inaccuracies in the calculations.

Wall cladding with ceramic tiles is usually done where water protection is required. The vapor permeability of the tile is in fact almost zero. That is, it is an ideal material for wet rooms. Today we will consider why ceramic tiles are used to clad interior walls at all. Because it would be wrong to say that the meaning of this element is limited to a kitchen apron. That is, protecting the walls from splashes of flying water. In fact, everything is somewhat more complicated. We hope that after reading this review, readers will understand why ceramic tiling technology is used in showers.

Wall decoration with ceramic tiles

Why is ceramic tiling necessary?

Let's consider a shower room with walls facing the street in winter. Such conditions are taken in order to maximize the factors. This will allow the reader to quickly understand the situation. To illustrate our considerations, we will use the calculator for calculating load-bearing structures, located at the following address http://smartcalc.ru/thermocalc?&gp=212&rt=0&ct=0&os=0&ti=20&to=-10&hi=55&ho=80. All initial data will be entered into the program. The calculation results are presented in the form of graphs and visual diagrams.

So, let's say that the outer, which in construction terms means 4 widths of the bond faces. Or two block lengths. In practice, this amounts to something on the order of half a meter. The parameter is typical for various old public buildings in our country. For definiteness, let the brick be ceramic, that is, red. We have chosen not quite a good calculator. It does not allow you to set the temperature above 24 degrees, which is the maximum norm according to the SNiPs of our country. This means that we will get not quite a shower room, but rather a dressing room. But we will make the wall cladding with ceramic tiles anyway.

Bright wall cladding

Choose the type of masonry. Let it be a ceramic full-bodied brick with a density of 1800 kg / cu. m. We get that almost the entire wall is damp through and through. Excluding the outer 10 percent. This is what ceramic tiles are for. At a negative temperature of 28 degrees below zero, frost penetrates to a depth of 17 cm, which is about a third of the total thickness of the wall. As a result, this area is under the influence of strong destructive factors. Under the influence of cold, water will turn into ice, this will cause a decrease in the life of the building. Simply, the ceramic brick will begin to crumble outside.

Let's see how the introduction of a vapor barrier layer will affect the situation. It is easy to see that one layer of membrane, laid from the inside, eliminates all problems. Condensation inside the supporting structure ceases to fall out. This means that the frost resistance factor fades into the background, and the brick will last much longer. But there is also one big problem here. The vapor barrier membrane must somehow be mounted inside. This is where the so-called performance qualities of the cladding come into play. Ceramic tiles are chosen for the simple reason that they are very resistant not only to moisture, but also to abrasion.

Wall decor with tiles

Anyone who is in the know knows that any facing coatings are tested in factory laboratories with special devices. During the procedure, a kind of brush moves back and forth at high speed along the defenseless material. In accordance with this, the facings are divided into wear resistance classes. So, for tiles, this parameter is very high. Any class 34 laminate is resting. That is why tile is used for facing the interior of the room. If we go even further, then modern technologies allow ordinary concrete to impart waterproofing and vapor barrier properties. But for some reason no one makes pools with gray walls.

And thus, we come across the third reason for the use of tiled cladding. These are excellent decorative qualities. If robots without aesthetic preferences were washing in the bath, it would be enough to process bare concrete walls. This is even a better option in terms of price and quality of work. But a person is arranged in such a way that he wants to see beauty around him. That is why, finally, the tile is used. Even the simplest and its varieties are pleasing to the eye.

Some may argue that ceramic tiles are very easy to clean. That is, it prevents the reproduction of harmful bacteria in an indirect way. And we will note that lime plaster completely inhibits the growth of any flora. You can also polish it. That is, the question of the unhygienic use of bare concrete is quite controversial. In more detail about this, perhaps, the sanitary-epidemiological service can tell.

How to choose the right ceramic tiles

Not so long ago I had a chance to watch a report on youtube about the work carried out. The technology provided for the creation of a perfectly even coating. And although it was about the floor, we will now see that wall cladding with ceramic tiles vividly touches this moment. What's the matter here? The client, a rich man, nevertheless, like any other, wanted to save money. So he bought a beautiful ceramic tile, but a little defective. What did it consist of:

Each element was shaped like a petal. Or, if it would be more clear, a bent scale. Its center lay below the edges. As a result, on a flat surface, the tiles rolled from side to side, like a children's swing.
Some corners of the tile had poor cut quality. That is, during molding, apparently, some technological requirements were violated. The edge turned out to be fuzzy, crumbling.

Variety of ceramic tiles

And everything would be fine, but dashing trouble is the beginning. It was required not just to lay the tiles end-to-end, but to do it with an offset. So that at each intersection there is a square of empty space where decorative metal elements should be inserted. As a result, the slightest deviations in the thickness of the seams per millimeter in one direction or another became noticeable. This was especially emphasized by small metal inserts. On the one hand, they had to be stacked in one row, on the other hand, this clearly showed the indicated defect. This is where the designer comes into play. He said that this quality of work nullifies all his work. We are not going to understand this difficult situation, but just want to emphasize that choosing a tile with your own hands is a very responsible matter.

To make your purchase correctly, you need to ask the dealer to open several different boxes. Of course, we are not talking about the Field of Miracles now. These boxes should be packages of ceramic tiles. 1-2 samples are taken from each. To begin with, the geometric dimensions are compared. The tiles on the table or in the hands are placed end to end, and the discrepancies are evaluated. 1 millimeter, this is already a marriage that reduces the cost of goods. Then the geometry is evaluated. Any flat table will work for this. No corner should rise or fall.

Wall decor with ceramic tiles

The quality of the edge finish is then assessed. They should be rough, but not broken. Any defects in this regard in the future may prevent the tab from being carried out. The reverse side of the tile can be dotted with various depressions. Their shape and arrangement are completely chaotic. Unlike the previous case, this is not a defect. This structure is made to improve adhesion with glue.

How to apply ceramic tiles

First of all, you need to remove the old ceramic tiles. It is not necessary to study the GESN - the cladding is done for yourself - but the cost of materials is worth estimating. It is useful to know that tiles are applied to the plan of the apartment. Therefore, if the new contours of the area of its occurrence differ from the old ones, the revision is transferred to the category of redevelopment. Here is such insanity. We admit that it is impossible to reduce the coverage area, but we cannot say why we should note the increase. This directly follows from the operating conditions of the supporting structures, which we calculated above. If you remove the tiled apron, the walls may feel bad.

Vertical tiling

How to tear off the old tile yourself? We like the ax trick the most. We will not cook porridge from it, but instead we will find in addition a mallet or a hammer. Usually in some places the tiles already disappear. This is where you need to start. We pry it with an ax and begin to swing it, holding it with a hand from below so that it does not fall and split. Practice shows that adjacent tiles do not hold well. Moisture, steam got under the cladding in places, and the tile adhesive was probably not designed for this. With all the ensuing consequences.

With that said, try to find a tile adhesive that doesn't let steam and moisture out. If this cannot be done right away, then look for an additive in the cement. Such substances in a relatively small amount help to give the cement mortar new qualities. As a result, the hardened tile adhesive will no longer allow moisture to pass through. This is the main reason for the loosening of the masonry.

We believe that most readers have already tried laying tiles themselves. Need instructions?

The wall is marked taking into account the crosses that determine the thickness of the seam.
Tiles are laid in rows, starting from the bottom.
Each element is leveled with a mallet, level and plumb line.
The work is carried out with a wavy spatula. The solution is calibrated with a comb.

You see: everything is as simple as one-two-three. And there is no need to cram FER, wall cladding with ceramic tiles is more critical to the presence of skillful hands.

Wall cladding with ceramic tiles in the bathroom, bathroom and kitchen can be called a traditional finishing option. Ceramics is not afraid of moisture, does not require special care and is quite durable. does not conduct electricity because it is an insulator. It absolutely does not emit harmful substances, which makes it an environmentally friendly facing material.

Facing for walls is represented by a great variety of forms of colors and shades. This may confuse the buyer. However, there are simple rules for choosing wall tiles:

 If the room is not large, then it is necessary to choose wall light tones and shades. This will visually expand the space.
 Ceramic for walls is thinner than for the floor
 High-quality ceramic facing tiles must have regular geometric shapes

It's important to know! In order to check the quality, take two tiles from the package and attach them to each other sides. There should be no gaps. There should also be no gaps if you attach two ceramic tiles with their faces.

 Demand from the seller a certificate for the purchased batch
 If you take several packages, be sure to check the color in each box (sometimes it may differ if the batches are different)
 Ask the seller what glue is recommended to use for laying the purchased facing material

Preparing the walls of the room for cladding

The quality of the work performed is directly related to how smooth the walls are. It is easy to check this and use a construction plumb line for this - this is a weight on a strong rope. It is applied to each wall along the perimeter and the curvature of the walls is determined.

It's important to know! If you lay ceramic tiles on curved walls, this will lead to an overuse of expensive tile adhesive.

In addition, it is very difficult to glue tiles on a thick layer. This is because the glue solution will float down and you will have to sit over each tile for 15-20 minutes until the glue sets. A thick layer of glue will not give a strong connection between walls and tiles

Wall tiling requires even walls. There are two simple ways to level the walls:

 Plastering with cement mortars
 Alignment of walls with moisture-resistant drywall

The first option is quite complicated and requires certain skills. In addition, plastering is a long process. Before laying the tiles on the plaster, it is necessary that it is completely dry, and this process takes 3 weeks.

Plaster leveling technique:

 Installation of vertical beacons on the walls and with an interval of no more than 1 m
 Preparation of sand-cement or lime mortar
 Throwing the mixture on the space between the beacons
 Mortar screed by the rule on beacons

The second option is devoid of such shortcomings. You can throw drywall on the walls in one day. The next day, tiles are laid on the walls. Save time on the face. Special skills are not required, so any master can handle it.

Technique for leveling walls with drywall:

 The wall is pre-primed with a deep penetration compound
 To keep the sheet on the wall stronger, tile adhesive is applied to it with slaps around the perimeter and center
 A slab of moisture-resistant drywall (it is covered with greenish paper) is attached to the wall with dowels 6 x 40 mm
 The verticality of drywall is checked by the rule of 1.5 m with a level
 Level adjustment is done with dowels, tightening or releasing them
 Walls leveled with drywall are primed for the best adhesion of tile adhesive and plasterboard sheet

Wall laying

The technology of facing walls with ceramic tiles requires laying them out against the wall in order to determine how many whole tiles will fit in a row. Cut ones are recommended to be placed symmetrically (in the corners).

After that, it is necessary to prepare a solution of tile adhesive. The dry mixture is added to a plastic bucket with water and thoroughly mixed with a drill or perforator with a nozzle for mixing liquid solutions. The proportions for mixing are indicated on the packaging, and they must be strictly observed.

After mixing into the adhesive, it should not contain lumps. Do not make the glue liquid, as the tile can slip. It also cannot be made rigid - in this case there will not be good adhesion to the wall and tiles.

The finished adhesive is applied to the wall with a notched trowel. A whole tile is applied to the wall and pressed tightly with your hands. If the tile is large, then it can be tapped with a rubber mallet. Verticality and horizontality are checked by a rule with a level.

Plastic crosses are inserted between adjacent tiles. They allow you to make the tile seams the same.

It is possible to level a tile after its laying within 10-15 minutes. If the time is not met, the solution is removed from the wall and tiles, after which the operation is repeated.

A tile cutter is used to cut tiles. The whole tile is marked with a ruler, pencil and placed in the device. Slightly pressing the lever of the cutting tool, spend on the tile 1-2 times. After that, it will easily break off at the incision site.

In the corners of the room, you can lay plastic corners. Cut tiles are inserted into its grooves, which makes the seams in the corners perfectly even. If there are water pipes in the wall, then they must be bypassed by cutting holes in the tile. To do this, you can use a diamond crown of the required diameter and a drill.

If there are no such tools, then use tongs for ceramic tiles. They bite a rounded segment from the edge of the tile and lead it under the pipe. They complete the bypass of the pipe with a second tile with the same bitten segment.

Grouting or jointing of tile joints

When the ceramic tiling is completed, the adhesive must be allowed to dry for about 24 hours. After that, the crosses are removed, and the seams are cleaned of tile adhesive with a spatula. Gypsum grout is used for walls. It can be produced in different colors, so it should be selected to match the tone of ceramic tiles.

Important! For grouting floor tiles, mixes based on sand and cement are used.

The solution is diluted with water in a shallow container and applied with a rubber spatula to the tile joints. In this case, the composition must penetrate deeply into the seam for reliable fixation. Excess grout is removed with a damp sponge.

After 2 hours, the lined tile is washed from the remnants of the grout (fugue) with warm water and a rag. If you have any questions, it is recommended to watch the wall cladding with ceramic tiles on the video presented on this page.

For many years, wall cladding with ceramic tiles has been a traditional option for interior decoration. In particular, this solution is the most popular for the kitchen, bathroom or bathroom. The tile gained its recognition due to its resistance to moisture, and besides, it is not picky in care. The tile is quite easy to clean, has a high level of strength and does not conduct electricity. In addition, ceramics is an environmentally friendly material.

The choice of tiles for wall cladding

To date, the variety of tiles is quite large. A large assortment of types, shapes, colors and shades is simply misleading. But let's look at the main criteria for choosing a tile. It is enough to follow a few simple rules:

If the room is not large, then a good option would be to choose a light tile. Since this will give the effect of increasing the room, and also make it brighter.
Note that the tiles intended for walls are somewhat thinner than the material for flooring.
High-quality tiles should be of regular geometric shapes. And the quality in this regard is easy to check. Take several tiles from the same package and place them next to each other. If their size does not match, then you do not have quality material.
Each seller must have a quality certificate for the products that he sells. Ask him to present.
If you buy several boxes of tiles, be sure to check the color in each package, it must be completely identical.
Ask the seller what glue to buy for this type of facing material. Since each tile has a different adhesive, depending on the type of material, size and weight.

Wall cladding with ceramic tiles: surface preparation

The quality of work will depend directly on how smooth the walls are. That is why first you need to check the surface of the walls for irregularities. To perform this task, a plumb line or a building level is well suited. We apply it to the wall, and all the flaws immediately become visible.

We also note that cladding on curved walls will lead to significant costs of tile adhesive. It will be much cheaper to pre-putty or plaster to level the surface.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that it is quite difficult to equip tiles on a large layer of glue, and this will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on the result of the work. Ultimately, it’s not enough that you have to hold each tile for 10-20 minutes, but in the end, the tile may simply fall off soon.

As already mentioned, tile laying is carried out on a previously leveled surface. Alignment can be done in several ways:

Surface plastering.

Considering the option of plastering, it should be noted that the work will require some skill. In addition, the process itself takes a long time, and at least three weeks will pass from the moment preparations begin until the laying begins.

Surface plastering technology

The work is carried out in several stages:

First of all, you need to install beacons.
After that, the solution for plastering is prepared.
The third step is the application of the solution.
And the last stage is alignment using a level or a rule.

GKL installation technology

Considering the second alignment option, it should be noted that it is somewhat simpler, but much faster. You can install drywall sheets in one day. In addition, the very next day you can begin work on wall cladding with ceramic tiles. As you can see, the time savings are enormous. At the same time, we note that special skills for the work will not be required.

The process itself is carried out as follows:

Initially, the walls are primed. It should be noted that a deep penetration composition is used.
Next, tile adhesive is applied to the drywall sheet (around the perimeter and in the center).
The sheet is pressed against the wall and aligned with the rule. Then it is checked by the building level.
Next, a full fixing with dowels is carried out. If necessary, adjust the position of the sheet.
After that, the GKL is primed for the best adhesion of the glue and the drywall itself.

Wall cladding technology with ceramic tiles

Preparatory work

Wall cladding with ceramic tiles should be carried out on a flat base, respectively, we figured out the alignment options.

Before starting work, if you do not yet have sufficient experience in their implementation, read the literature on doing wall tiling with your own hands.

As part of the preparatory work, it is necessary to check the integrity of the foundation. If there is damage, they must be repaired. Then calculate the consumption of tiles and purchase the required amount.

How to divide a tile into parts?

When carrying out work, sometimes you may not need a whole tile, but a certain piece of it. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to divide the tile into parts. And this is done as follows:

It is necessary to measure and mark the line along which you will separate the tiles
Then attach a ruler in the line and draw a glass cutter along the line, while pressing hard on it
Then turn the tile on the back side and tap it a little

A slightly more convenient and faster option would be to use a special cutter. If you have one, then you are lucky, and the work will be somewhat faster and easier. If not, then buying it for the sake of one room is not worth it. Its price is quite decent, and in the absence of the need to constantly cut tiles in large quantities, it will be irrational to purchase such a device.

Also, if you need to make round holes in the tile for rosettes, you can use a ballerina cutter. In addition, cutouts can be made in the same way as in the case of separation, using a glass cutter.

Laying tiles on cement mortar

The first way of laying tiles, and the oldest, is the arrangement on cement mortar. The technological process is as follows:

To begin with, you need to hang a plumb line on the wall, mark it and install beacons by which we will mark the coverage levels.
Next, on the edges of the walls, it is necessary to fix plumb slats up to 2 meters long, further to these slats there will be a guide thread that will determine the level of the tile. Those. a kind of beacon, on which we will carry out all the work.
Before starting work, the tile must be moistened, which will lead to a stronger adhesion of the material with the adhesive.
Then we apply a solution to the tile, and press it against the wall. It should be noted that it is necessary that the tile touches the beacon (i.e. the equipped thread / lace). After that, it is necessary to knock on the tile for its uniform laying. To do this, use a rubber mallet.
For arranging even seams, special crosses are used. Between each tile, depending on its size, at least two pieces are inserted, not far from the tops of the tile. After the solution dries, the crosses are removed.
After completion of work, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the mortar from the tile, and also wipe it.
Further, after drying, grouting is carried out (we will consider its technology a little later).

Thus, the walls are lined with ceramic tiles on cement mortar.

Laying tiles with glue

Also, in addition to using cement mortar, tiles can be equipped with PVA-mastic, or special tile adhesive. The technology of work is very similar to the previous version, but there are some characteristic differences. Let's take a look at them.

First of all, it is necessary to prime the surface. A primer is applied to the previously cleaned base with a layer of up to three millimeters.
Before laying the first row, equip the guide rail by leveling it with a level. In the future, you should focus on the first row, while checking each subsequent level for the absence of deviations.
Using a spatula, apply glue evenly on a flat surface and level it so that the layer is about 3-4 millimeters.
Next, lean the tiles against the wall. You should also tap it a little with a rubber mallet or a wooden block, which will help to evenly distribute the mastic over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe tile.
If the adhesive protrudes beyond the seams, it must be immediately removed with a spatula, because, having dried, it will not provide such an opportunity and somewhat spoil the appearance of the tiled coating. To arrange the seams, crosses are also provided between the tiles.
After the glue dries, it is necessary to remove the crosses, and then the arrangement, putty and grouting are carried out.
The last step is to clean the surface from debris, dirt and dust.

Note that when gluing tiles, there is no need to pre-wet it. At the same time, the seams are filled with special tabs for the duration of the work, which will help keep them in the required position and prevent them from slipping. In addition, constantly monitor the level of the tile. The slightest error at the bottom by 1 millimeter, reaching the top, will lead to surface distortion and the creation of a rather large slope, which will subsequently lead to flaking and falling off of the tile.

Grouting and jointing

After completing the tiling of the walls, it is necessary to allow the glue (or mortar, depending on the choice of method) to dry. Drying occurs during the day.

After drying, the crosses are removed and the seams are cleaned from excess mortar. Cleaning work is carried out with a spatula. Next, grouting is carried out, for which a gypsum mortar is used. It should be noted that this gypsum grout is commercially available in several color variations. Therefore, it can be matched directly to the color of the tile.

Note that floor tile grouting compounds are not suitable, since they are based on sand and cement, which does not allow you to choose the desired color.

The grouting solution itself is diluted with water in a shallow container, after which it is applied with a rubber spatula. Then it is pressed against the seam, since it is necessary to ensure the maximum level of penetration, which will determine the reliability of the fixation. Then the excess material is removed with a damp sponge.

Two hours after the lining, or rather its completion, the tiles are washed in order to remove grout residues. It is carried out with the help of warm water and a rag. We also invite you to see how the walls are tiled with ceramic tiles in the video: