North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Marking Out

Measure the height of your wall and calculate where the last full tile will be fixed on the bottom. Here you fix a wooden batten and make sure it is level. Repeat the process for the vertical until you find the position of the last full tile and attach a batten going upwards.

When planning the layout take into account the position of windows, work surfaces and taps or pipes.

Laying Tiles

Once you have established your base line spread an area of about one metre square with adhesive and score it with a notched trowel. This will allow you to level off the tiles once they are placed.

Place the first tile in the corner of the two battens and push down firmly, then place the second tile along the base allowing space for the grouting. Some tiles come with their own spacers built in; otherwise you can use a matchstick or easily available plastic spacers. Continue fixing the tiles making sure they are flat and level with the previous ones and proceed with the next level once you have completed the first row.

Leave the batten in place until the adhesive is set. When fixing tiles above windows or sinks, attach a temporary batten to support the last row of full tiles as this will make cutting the others easier.

After you have fixed all the tiles you should leave the adhesive to set before applying the grout. The grout is applied with a squeegee and should be worked in small areas to avoid drying before you have finished. Work the paste into the joints and smooth off, cleaning all tiles before the grout sets.