How to Tile Bathroom Walls

You can install tile on bathroom walls to enhance the aesthetics of your bathroom. Keep in mind that whenever you perform a tiling project, it will last for several years if you install the tiles on the wall properly. If you do not prepare appropriately beforehand and you handle the tiles incorrectly, the bathroom may have an uneven appearance and some tiles can get dislodged and end up falling from the wall. Here is the proper way to tile your bathroom walls.

Step 1 – Preparing the Wall

Get the surface of your bathroom wall prepared for the tile installation. If you notice any holes or imperfect areas, hide them with patching. Find the location of the wall studs when you repair and clean your bathroom wall. Take the measurements of the area that you want to tile and use these measurements to cut the backerboard. Make holes into the backerboard with the drill so that you will know where the wall studs will be located.

Step 2 – Applying the Adhesive

Cover the area with adhesive and make sure that you apply it with a paintbrush or trowel. Fix the backerboard against the wall with galvanized screws. Allow the tile adhesive to dry before you continue. Choose a piece of cardboard or wood and use it as a layout tool. Mark the top and the bottom of the tiles on your thin wooden piece so that at the end it will look somewhat like a ruler. The piece of cardboard or wood will help you see how much space each tile should occupy once it is fixed onto the bathroom wall.

Step 3 – Marking the Backerboard

Locate the middle of the backerboard and use the layout tool to mark the position of each tile on the backerboard. When you finish marking each tile position you will have a design which looks like a checkerboard. It will show exactly where you need to place the tiles on the bathroom wall.

Use a trowel or paintbrush to cover the backerboard with tile adhesive. Apply the tile adhesive upwards and twist the tiles when you press them onto the adhesive. Install the tiles by following the markings on the backerboard.

Make sure that the tiles are fixed firmly in place by tapping them with a small wooden block. If the tiles do not fit, use a tile cutter to cut them to size. Leave the adhesive to dry thoroughly.

Step 4 – Applying the Grout

Follow the instructions of the manufacturer to get the grout prepared. Apply it over the tiles and wait for five minutes. Now remove the grout from the surface of the tiles with a wet cloth. Make sure that you work gently to remove grout from the gap between the tiles. Let the grout dry completely and then finish with a grout sealer.