Are you planning to set your own tiles? In this blog, you will find out what you need to do so. With our step-by-step plan, installing your wall tiles will be easier than ever.
After buying yourfavourite tiles, you are all set to tile your bathroom, kitchen, living room, hall or toilet. For this, you can hire a tiler, or opt for the budget-proof alternative: laying the wall tiles yourself. In this blog, you will discover what you need for this and find a comprehensive step-by-step plan for tiling. This article consists of:
Once you have your wall tiles, you will want to start laying them as soon as possible. To get started, however, you will also need glue and grout, for example. With the following supplies, the installation of the tiles will run smoothly.
In wet rooms like the bathroom, and especially in the shower area, a waterproofing set is necessary. This consists of a kim tape and coating. Kim tape is used to seal joint corners and joints. But how do you start? First apply a coating and place the kim tape over it before you start laying tiles. Then apply another layer of coating so that the seams are completely watertight. This prevents moisture from getting behind the tiles and prevents cracking and mould.
There are two types of primer: for absorbent and non-absorbent substrates. Both primers need 2-3 hours to soak in properly.
Absorbent substrates:
By priming these materials, you reduce the suction of the substrate. If you do not do this? Then the substrate may absorb the moisture in the adhesive too quickly. As a result, the adhesive will not have time to bond to the substrate and tile. Thus, the tiles may come loose from the wall.
Non-absorbent substrates:
With the primer, you apply a layer that allows the adhesive to adhere. For optimal performance, it is important to degrease the substrate first. Tile degreasers are available in DIY stores. If you do not treat the substrate, there is a risk that the adhesive will not bond. As a result, the tiles will not adhere properly.
You can glue the wall tiles using ready-to-use paste adhesive or one of the two types of powder adhesive from our range. These are supplied in bags. You simply prepare the adhesive by adding water to the powder. The correct mixing ratio can be found on the packaging. Exactly which type you need depends on the type of tiles you are going to install.
Paste adhesive
Ready-to-use paste adhesive can be applied directly and is only used for wall tiles. This adhesive is not suitable for floor tiles laid against the wall.
Power adhesive (grey)
Power adhesive is suitable for floor and wall tiles. It has a high holding power and ensures that the tiles remain in place. It is not recommended for mosaic tiles. This is because you will clearly see the grey glue underneath the transparent mosaic, causing it to lose its appearance.
Instant adhesive (white)
Quick glue is used for floor and wall tiles. The advantage of the adhesive is that it dries quickly. After three hours, instant adhesive is ready for jointing. This is extremely handy when, for example, you want to install and joint in one day. The colour is another reason to choose this adhesive. The white is not visible through natural stone or mosaic, nor in the joints.
When setting tiles, tile clips and chocks are indispensable. They ensure that you place the tiles at the same height, that the joints are at the same distance and that the tiles stay in place during the drying process. Their use is extremely simple: slide the chock into the opening of the clip so that it pushes the tiles to the same height. Remove the chocks after drying and break off the clips. You can reuse the chocks, but the clips remain under the tiles. You will not see any of this after jointing.
Tip: tile clips and chocks can also be used when laying tiles.
Once the adhesive has dried for 24 hours, you can start jointing the tiles.Groutis available in a variety of colours, so you are sure to find a colour that matches the tiles and your personal preference. Usually, the grout colour is lighter than the tile colour. Forwhite tiles, we recommend silver-grey joints. White joints discolour over time, making them look unclean. In addition, grout is the first water barrier and prevents moisture from getting under the tiles.
Cement residue is a layer that covers tiles after jointing. It is easily removed withtile cleaner. Do this immediately after the joints have hardened, about 24 hours after grouting. The longer you wait, the less easily you will remove the cement residue.
When you have finished setting and jointing the tiles, it is time to seal the seams. Seams form the connection between the wall and floor, wall and ceiling and walls themselves. By sealing these, dirt and moisture cannot get behind them. In addition, the sealant absorbs movement between surfaces to some extent.
Now that you have the tiles and accessories to hand, it is time to start tiling. Follow these 8 steps for a beautiful end result.
When you start tiling the bathroom, make sure the surface is waterproof. To do this, use a waterproofing kit with kim tape and a coating. Then make sure the surface is level before you start placing the tiles. Levelling it prevents the wall from looking crooked and unkempt. Is the surface smooth and waterproof? Then clean it with a tile cleaner to remove dirt.
It is important to treat the wall with the right primer. Will you be tiling over existing tiles? Then treat them with a special tile-over-tile primer. This primer makes the surface rougher and the glue adheres better. Before applying the primer, degrease the existing tiling with a degreasing agent.
First apply tile adhesive for the first row of tiles. To do this, apply the buttering-floating method in the case of heavy-duty tiling, thin tiles or tiles larger than 40x40 cm. With this method, you apply adhesive to the entire underside of the tile as well as to the substrate. The double bonding ensures optimal adhesion of the tile to the substrate. Spread the adhesive evenly using a glue comb. This is available in different sizes (also called glue comb serration) at hardware stores. We use the sizes 8, 10, 12 and 15 mm. The size of the tile determines the size. Our advice:
You should slide the chock into the opening of the clip so that the chock pushes the tile to the same height. The clip ensures that the joint is the same distance everywhere. This gives you a neat end result.
Place the next tile tightly against the clips and chocks of the previous one. Mix tiles from different boxes so that any small colour differences do not stand out. Using a tile cutter, cut wall tiles that are in corners or along edges to size.
Jointing the tiles prevents moisture from getting underneath. Only do this when the tile adhesive is dry and cured. We recommend allowing power adhesive to harden for 24 hours. Quick adhesive hardens after only three hours. Smooth the grout over the joints. Scratch open the corner joints so that you can seal here later. Then let the grout dry until it hardly runs.
As mentioned earlier in this blog, you should thoroughly clean the tiles. You do this once they have been placed and grouted, and the adhesive and grout have had sufficient drying time. To remove cement residue from the tiles, we recommend using tile cleaner. Use tile cleaner for other maintenance of your tile wall as well.
Your tiles have been set, grouted and cleaned. Now it is time to finish them with a waterproof sealant layer. This way, you will prevent defects and damage caused by moisture.
In this blog, we have shown you what you need when setting wall tiles. Do you already have all the supplies you need? Then use our handy step-by-step plan and install your tiles yourself. If you have any questions about wall tiles and jointing, you can always contact our expert sales staff.
Do you not yet have all the necessary equipment?Then read what to look out for when buying tiles.
