Installing tiling on your wall is a wonderful way to make a statement which reflects your individual tastes. Although tiling has traditionally been thought of as a complex DIY task, it’s perfectly possible to achieve a professional finish with thorough planning and by carefully working your way through the steps we provide in this guide.
Tiles are durable and easy to clean, meaning that in the long-term they’re very cost-effective to install. Other than regular cleaning and occasional replacement of sealant or grouting, bathroom tiles are also low maintenance.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the whole process of fitting wall tiles, from planning to cutting and laying tiles, and finishing off with sealant and grouting.
What do I need to consider for my wall tiling project?
Thorough preparation is crucial if you want your tiles to be laid properly and last a long time. Before you start laying tiles your wall needs to be absolutely clean, dry and free of dust and grease.
Natural stone and some porcelain tiles may need to be sealed after application. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and seal before and after grouting. This helps protect the tiles from staining.
How many wall tiles will I need?
To establish how many packs of tiles you will need, calculate your surface area in m2 (length x width), and check against the coverage of the pack. For irregular shaped rooms, divide the wall area up into segments and add together for a total. Don’t forget to add at least 10% for inevitable wastage and offcuts.
Tiles are usually given batch numbers, so to ensure proper colour matching try to buy all your required tiles from the same batch.
Where do I start when tiling a bathroom wall?
Starting at the correct position is crucial when laying your tiles as it determines whether the finished wall looks right. The object of planning your layout is to create a ‘central’ area to lay down whole tiles, then to lay edge tiles around this area. It usually helps to sketch out a plan beforehand – remember when planning and measuring to allow 3mm for grout gaps.
As with bathroom floor tiles, try to avoid smaller or thinner edge tiles. If each edge has roughly the same-sized tiles, your wall will look much better when finished. If you’re using patterned tiles you’ll have to factor in the design when deciding how to set them out and where your starting point will be.
Preparing your bathroom wall for tiling
Step 1: install plasterboard or tile backer boards
You’ll need to install tile backer boards or aqua panels that are suitable for use in wet and humid areas onto your wall before you start tiling. New changes to British standards don’t allow tiles to be installed directly onto plywood, and these provide a safer, water-resistant, and more stable alternative.
Cut your panels to size and screw them into the wall with a drill and specialised corrosion-protected screws, such as stainless steel.
Step 2: seal the wall
Make sure to seal your wall using a primer to reduce porosity levels before you start tiling
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: preparing the tile layout
During the planning stage, it’s very helpful to know how big your wall is so you can work out your final layout. To find your starting position, measure the width and hieght of your wall and mark the centre point on the wall with a pencil.
Then measure your tiles' width and height, being sure to account for tile spacers between each tile. Because a thinner edge will look untidy once laid, it’s important to ensure your edge tile is at least half the width of a whole tile. When planning your layout, if the gap between the last whole tile and the adjacent wall is less than half the width of a whole tile, then consider rearranging your tile layout to be more suited to the half-width "rule". This ultimately ensures a larger and better-looking edge tile.
Once the gap is more than half a tile’s width, mark the position of the last whole tile on the wall. This will be a starting mark for the fitting line.
Step 2: cutting your tiles
For your edge tiles, you may need to cut your tiles to size. Measure the width between the fitting line and the wall, then transfer these measurements onto your tiles, making sure you’re subtracting the gaps between the tiles. When tiling around a bathroom, you may come across sections where you’ll need to cut out holes for your water pipes. Mark these instances onto the tile too.
Then trim your tiles down with a single straight cut using a manual tile cutter, or a drill with a diamond-tip hole cutter for any pipes.
Step 3: preparing the adhesive
When preparing your adhesive, check the manufacturer’s instructions for the ideal water-to-product ratio.
Then use a drill and whisk to mix the adhesive with water until you get a consistency that’s thick enough to hold its shape on the trowel, but still malleable enough to spread easily.
When you’re done, clean the whisk in a bucket of clean water to prevent the adhesive from building up.
Apply the adhesive to the wall using the notched side of your spreader. Straight, uniform lines help to avoid creating air bubbles, so you get a stronger bond.
Then you’ll need to ‘backbutter’ the tile, which means using the straight side of the spreader to cover the surface in adhesive. Apply a smooth layer and scrape any excess adhesive back into the bucket.
Step 4: laying your tiles
Starting at the bottom of the wall, place the tile onto the wall in line with your measurements, pushing down on all sides.
Put spacers in the gaps to make sure everything is evenly spaced.
Use a spirit level to ensure the tiles are flush and level. Continue this method for the entire wall, working from bottom to top.
Check your adhesive’s packaging to find out how long it needs to set. Once set, remove the spacers.
Step 5: grout the tiles
Mix your grout with clean water according to the instructions on the packaging. Then mix with a drill and whisk until you get the perfect consistency. It should be thick enough to hold its shape on the trowel, but still malleable enough to fill the grooves between your tiles.
Place the grout over the joins and gently work it into the gaps with a grout float, making sure it’s flush with the tiles.
Leave it to partially dry and wipe off any excess with a damp sponge. Be careful not to apply too much pressure at this stage so you don’t pull any grout out of the wall. It’s also a good idea to wipe across the joins rather than along them for the same reason.
Once the grout has fully set, you officially have a newly tiled bathroom wall. You can then continue tiling the rest of your bathroom, including a bath/shower splashback or even a bath panel.
