Bathroom Tiles.
How to tile your bathroom.
Preparation
You first of all need to make sure you have all the tools and equipment you need and to hand. You need to check that the surface you will be working on is flat, clean and dry. Make sure any holes or gaps are filled in, once filled in do not tile until the filler is dry and smoothed down. Here is a check list of tools you will need:
• Tile cutter
• Tile saw
• Grout spreader
• Spirit level
• Tile nibblers
• Adhesive spreader
• Tile cutting jig
• Homemade gauge stick
Setting out the tiles
It depends on the size of the bathroom as to how to set the tiles out. This is an important part of tiling a bathroom. When setting out the tiles on the wall, it is practical to choose a starting point which allows equal-sized tiles to be positioned evenly all over the target area. This can be achieved by temporarily nailing a guide batten along the mark where you plan to set out the tiles. A spirit level is used to ensure that the battens are not askew. If you have to tile around other distinct features in the bathroom such as windows, start off from the window to ensure that the surrounding tiles will be of equal size. Cut tiles should be used to fill the space behind the window. Be sure to smooth off the edges of the border tiles with a tile sander to make your newly tiled wall look more polished.
Adhesive and Grouting
Spread the tile adhesive with a notched spreader, evenly covering approximately 1 square metre at a time. Don’t dot the corners of a tile, this may cause crazing or cracking of the tile when the adhesive shrinks to pull the tile to the surface. It is essential to use waterproof grout for any bath or shower surrounds. Grout comes in a pre-mixed paste grey, white or brown paste. When it has dried, use a dry cloth to polish the face of the tiles and leave for about a week before using.
You should use sealant or silicone to seal between the bath and tiles to ensure no leaking. The sealants are again available in a choice of colours to match your choice of tile. Trim the end of the nozzle and press the tip into the joint at an angle of 45 degrees. When applying the sealant to bathtubs, it’s best to stand in the bath since the join will accommodate your body weight. When you have finished, smooth over any ripples with a wetted rounded edge tool.
Louise Boniface is a senior content writer for Victorian Plumbing, suppliers of a wide selection of Designer Bathroom Tiles.