Installation of tiles. How to lay tiles on a wall: laying tiles with your own hands with photo instructions

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Laying tiles yourself is not an easy task, and therefore many people trust it to professionals. But such a solution is quite expensive, and therefore doing the work yourself is far from uncommon. This is where step-by-step tile laying helps.

An important factor in in this case there is strict adherence to work technology. In total, the entire process can be divided into 7 stages. More specifically, laying ceramic tiles on the floor is carried out in the following sequence:

First of all, materials are calculated, purchased and tools are prepared.
Next, you need to prepare the surface; in this case, the base is leveled and primed.
The next step is marking, which involves rough laying out the tiles and making marks, in some cases, support stops.
The next step begins laying, in particular the first row.
Next, the entire area is laid with solid tiles.
The next step is cutting the tiles and laying them.
And finally the joints are grouted.

Thus, for correct execution laying tiles on the floor with your own hands detailed instructions simply necessary. And then we will look in more detail at each of the stages of work.

Preparation of tools and materials

If you are laying tiles yourself, you will need the following tool:

Master OK.
Several spatulas, in particular, serrated, regular and rubber.
You should also arm yourself with several levels, small, up to 50 centimeters in size, and medium, up to 1 meter.
Next up is a rubber mallet.
One more necessary tool becomes a grinder or, since in most cases it is simply necessary to cut tiles. Here you can also note additional devices, such as wire cutters, sandpaper and a needle file.
And the last device will be a container for the glue mixture.

We've sorted out the tools, now we should pay attention to the materials, or more precisely to their calculation and purchase.

In particular, for a correct calculation it is not enough to simply measure the surface area; factors such as:

Tile size.
Thickness of the adhesive mixture layer.
Tile type.
Base material.
Presence of obstacles.

All these factors simply need to be taken into account. In addition, if it is necessary to cut tiles, you should also pay attention to the size of the pieces. Because if they are more than half the size of the tile, then for one such row you will need to purchase twice as many tiles.

Usually, when making calculations, 10-15% is added to the resulting number, which is mostly enough to cover cutting costs, as well as cases of defects (damage to tiles, incorrect cutting, etc.).

Speaking of the adhesive mixture, here the calculation is carried out based on the type of tile, the type of the mixture itself, the size, and the required layer thickness, which is usually indicated on the packaging.

For calculation required quantity grout and glue, you can use the calculators on our website:

This issue has been sorted out, now you can move directly to the technological process.

Preparing the surface for installation

The first issue is preparing the foundation. It is very important to ensure that the surface is as smooth as possible, otherwise ideal installation will not work. The main mistake is the myth that a slightly larger layer of glue can hide unevenness, which is not true. High-quality installation is only possible on a flat base, and nothing else.

Before laying, it is first necessary to dismantle the old coating, if any, down to the very base. The next step is to form and.

The method of leveling the floor does not play a role here. This could be either the installation of a “warm floor” system, etc. The main factor is full compliance with the technology of work.

Also, all thresholds, baseboards and other obstacles that may interfere with laying the tiles flush against the wall must be dismantled.

In some cases, it is possible to lay tiles on the floor without dismantling the old covering (in particular, provided that it is also tile).

Surface marking

And the next step is marking the floor surface, which is especially important when laying uneven tiles. It is carried out as follows:

Mark the straight line of the first row of tiles. Since the installation is carried out starting from the far corner of the room, the markings are accordingly done as well.
Next, markings for the location of the material are made. In cases where tiles are laid without seams with a pattern, a complete drawing of the arrangement of elements is necessary.
An important factor is the placement at the entrance; in this case, the marking should be carried out in such a way that solid fragments lie at the door; accordingly, it may be necessary to make an indentation from the far wall.
An important factor when marking is taking into account which also plays a role.
You can also pre-lay out the tiles on the surface for more accurate marking.

Laying tiles diagonally

Beginning of laying and filling the area with solid fragments.

After the markings are completed, you can begin laying ceramic tiles with your own hands. To begin with, we will directly analyze the arrangement of the first row and the further laying of solid fragments, after which we will move on to cutting and final laying.

So, let's look at how tiles are laid; step-by-step instructions in this case will be the best assistant:

First of all, you need to prepare the adhesive mixture. There shouldn't be any difficulties here. We do everything according to the instructions on the package. In this case, the amount of kneading should not exceed that required for an area of 1 square meter.
Now, armed with a notched trowel, apply a layer of glue to the floor surface. For greater reliability, you can also apply a layer to the tile itself; in this case, the grooves of the mixture on the surfaces should be perpendicular to each other.
We place the first tile on the glue, and then press it down, lowering it to the required level. Next, you need to level it to an ideal horizontal position, which is checked using a building level.
For leveling, a rubber hammer is used, with the help of which, with light tapping, the tile is pressed more tightly to the surface.
It is important to do everything quickly and carefully. After installation, it is highly undesirable to remove the tiles from the surface.
So, the first tile is laid and leveled. Now you can start laying the next ones.
In the same way as in the first case, glue is applied and the tiles are laid on the floor. Next, alignment is carried out at the level of the first element. If necessary, you can add a little glue.
After the final shrinkage of the tiles, the excess mixture is removed.
It is important not to forget about or special ones to form identical seams over the entire surface.
It should be placed either in the corners, at the intersection, or with an indentation of 2-3 centimeters from the edge of the tile.
All gaps between the tiles should be immediately cleaned of excess adhesive, since once it dries, cleaning will be almost impossible.
Large tiles are laid in the same way.
Next, the base area is completely covered with whole fragments.

At this point, this phase is completed, and you can move on. Before that, you need to let the glue set and harden to such an extent that you can walk on the coating. It is advisable to leave the masonry for a day, and then continue working.

Cutting tiles and laying the remaining fragments

The next step is to cut the missing pieces of the coating. Several tools can be used to cut tiles, depending on the type and thickness of the tile. In some cases, it is permissible to use a glass cutter, in others you can only cope with it using a grinder. And for porcelain tiles you will need already.

Having chosen a tool, you must first take all the necessary measurements and make marks on the tile. All marks are drawn from the back. Having marked the tiles, you can start cutting. Since the process is quite dusty, it is advisable to carry it out outdoors.

If it is necessary to cut uneven fragments, for example, arched ones, use a machine with a diamond wheel or a special tile cutter-nippers.

The cutting process itself is carried out as follows:

The tile must be firmly fixed so that it does not wobble or vibrate when cutting.
After which, following the applied marks, cutting is performed.

In the case of using a special tile cutter, it includes a special platform for fixation and limiters, with the help of which you can indicate the direction of cutting.

Grouting tiles

And the last stage is grouting the joints. It cannot be carried out only in the case of seamless laying of tiles.

To start, you need to wait until the adhesive mixture has completely dried, and then completely remove the crosses and other auxiliary materials, if any, from the surface.

Before we begin, we thoroughly clean the surface, which can be done with a vacuum cleaner, and then proceed. The process itself is carried out as follows:

Cover the edges of the tiles with masking tape. This is done if the tiles are matte and the pores are large and to avoid contamination and reduce the amount of work required to clean the tiles when using epoxy grout.
The next step is to dilute the grout and apply it using a rubber spatula.
Movements are performed perpendicular to the seam, with pressure in order to completely fill the seam with the composition.
After which the excess mortar is removed, the seam at the same time is slightly deepened and leveled.
After complete drying, the tape is removed and the surface of the tile is wiped with a damp sponge.

There is nothing complicated in such a process as the technology of laying tiles on a wall; there are simply a couple of subtleties that every novice master should know. That's exactly what we'll talk about.

Tiling the bathroom

Surface preparation

Tools for preparatory work:

Chisel;
Hammer (for removing tiles);
Sponge (for removing wallpaper);
Primer;
Brush;
Beam;
Nozzle – whisk;
Glue container;
Glue mixture;
Level.

In order to begin the main stage of work, you should take care of intermediate, preparatory matters, which are also included in the technology of laying ceramic tiles on the wall.

To do this, you must first remove all the old finishing, be it wallpaper, panels, etc.

Regarding the tiles: be sure to remove all trim from the wall! There are tips on the Internet that say that you can beat off the top covering, and then the technology of the wall will not be broken, but this recommendation is relevant ONLY for the floor.

When installing, be sure to use crosses

What needs to be determined is the magnitude of these particular shortcomings. If they are more than 1 cm, then you should start leveling the walls, since otherwise the adjustment will be due to a greater application of the mixture.

So, if the wall is more or less even, . These actions, in principle, are not mandatory, but are still recommended, since as a result you will improve the adhesion between the mortar and the wall, which will automatically increase the quality of the masonry.

While the primed wall dries, you can attach the beam to the wall, since the technology of laying tiles on the wall is based mainly not on the floor line, which may be uneven, but on the beam, which, of course, is installed at the level of the second tile from the bottom.

Now that the preparatory work included in the technology of laying ceramic tiles on the wall is completed, we can mix the adhesive mixture.

It is best, of course, to use a special attachment - a mixer, because you still won’t be able to mix the mixture uniformly by hand.

Laying tiles

Installation of tiles on the wall

To lay tiles on walls you need to prepare the following tools:

Master OK;
Notched trowel;
Level;
Rubber hammer;
The tile itself;
Plastic limiters - crosses.

Proper technology for laying ceramic tiles on a wall involves applying the mixture to the wall, and not to the tile.

It is allowed to apply glue to the tiles only if the wall has unevenness, which you can correct with more mixture.

So, apply the mixture to the wall (on a part, about two rows of tiles; of course, you shouldn’t cover the entire surface), level it with a notched trowel and take hold of the tile.

They put it against the wall and pressed. However, try to do this without excessive enthusiasm; don’t put too much pressure.

The correct technology for laying tiles on a wall involves constantly using a level to correct the installation of the tiles themselves. To do this, as soon as you lay the tiles on the wall, take the above tool in your hands and check the resulting surface for horizontalness. If the edge protrudes, you need to gently tap it with a rubber mallet, but if the tile is “recessed,” you need to dismantle it and reinstall it.

So, moving behind the tiles, you lay out 2-3 rows. Now stop and take a breather. It is needed to give the solution time to set, because otherwise the laying of tiles on the wall may simply not withstand the pressure of the upper rows and collapse.

To regulate the thickness of the seams, be sure to use special regulators when laying ceramic tiles, only then will the seams be even and even.

While you are waiting for the setting time of the solution indicated on the packaging according to the technology of laying ceramic tiles on the wall, it makes sense to start trimming the tiles.

Cutting tiles at home

Ceramic tiles can be cut using several tools:

Manual tile cutter;
Electric tile cutter;
Glass cutter;
Bulgarian;
Wire cutters.

Most best option for you – a manual tile cutter. The electric analogue is in no way worse, even better, but its cost is one level higher.

A glass cutter and nippers are also a good choice, however, unfortunately, not every tile can now be cut with a glass cutter, since the quality of the material is sometimes much better than you expect.

But the grinder is a rather complex tool, and even dangerous, which is why it is not advisable for you to get involved with it if you do not know how to use it.

It is recommended to cut tiles for walls and floors during the process of laying ceramic tiles, since often craftsmen do not take into account that there will definitely be seams during laying, and as a result, the tiles have to be cut, and it will be much more difficult to carefully cut the tiles into a small piece, believe me .

The final stage included in the technology of laying tiles on the wall is grouting the joints.

Grouting tile joints

You will need the following materials:

Fugue;
Dilution container;
Rubber spatula;
A piece of cable for jointing;
Water;
Sponge.

There is nothing complicated in grouting tiles, you just need to remember that you should start this process only at least a day after laying it on the floor, walls or any other surface.

Important! Dilute the mixture in small portions; you should not dilute the entire package at once, the solution sets quickly enough, and it will not be possible to use it half-hardened and with lumps.

The fugue is applied to the seams with a rubber spatula and carefully embroidered with a suitable piece of cable. We have a number of materials that will definitely help you understand this in more detail.

So, in principle, that’s all you need to clearly understand the technology of laying tiles on the wall, and we’re sure you’ve figured out this issue!

What mistakes are made when laying

Incorrectly selected tiles

When shopping for tiles, people are often guided by two factors that influence the final choice - design and pricing policy. But having decided on a purchase, they do not check the tiles for identity. This is a serious mistake that can result in uneven joints between tiles, tiles of different sizes and shades. Before purchasing, you need to check the dimensions of the tiles. It is better to take several tiles from one batch from different boxes and compare them with each other. The ceramic material must be the same around the perimeter and height of the product.

Buying glazed ceramics

The bathroom is a place where there should be increased safety. When coming out after a shower, a person should not slide on the floor, like on an ice skating rink. Therefore, glazed tiles will not work; you should buy unglazed material. Safety must be paramount, as falling onto a ceramic floor can result in serious injury to a person.

Choosing the wrong mixture for laying tiles

Laying tiles on a bathroom floor requires correct selection mixtures for fixing tiles. With the current choice of materials, the need for cement mortar for laying is missing, manufacturers offer good mixtures that will facilitate the process of laying tiles on the floor. For the bathroom and toilet, they buy primer, glue and grout exclusively for floor coverings. The base of the bathroom and toilet is constantly subjected to heavy loads, therefore it is necessary to lay the tiles with an adhesive of increased fixation.

Particular attention is paid to preparing the mixture. You must not deviate from the instructions on the packaging of the mixture; the proportions must be strictly observed when preparing the adhesive emulsion

To do this, you need to carefully study all the recommendations of the manufacturers. The glue should be uniform, without lumps.

Poorly prepared base.

How to lay tiles if the original base is uneven? Many people try to solve the problem with more glue. This is a fatal mistake that guarantees a crooked floor with height differences. The fact is that leveling the surface by laying tiles with a large amount of glue will lead to landslides adhesive base and the probability that the tile will simply “float” reaches almost 100%.

Therefore, before installation, you need to pay attention to leveling the surface. Correctly laying tiles on the bathroom floor can only be done on a well-prepared surface.

There was an error in measurements

Trying to lay tiles without careful measurements means setting the whole job up for failure. Without a corner, a rubber mallet and water, or better laser level It is impossible to lay a tile floor evenly.

The laid row of tiles must be checked using a level; defects are leveled using a rubber hammer. Why a rubber mallet and not an ordinary one? The ceramic coating can simply burst or chip when using an ordinary hammer, so a rubber hammer should always be at hand.

Leveling tiles with a rubber hammer

Bathroom tiling basics

In order for the tiles to last as long as possible, it is necessary to follow a certain order of laying the tiles in the bathroom. It is easier to lay tiles on the floor. Therefore, if you have little experience, it is better to start with the floor.

If you plan to lay it parallel to the walls, then it is better to start it from a visible corner for more decorative qualities. finished surface. Laying diagonally is usually done from the middle of the room.

Particular attention should be paid to the seams between the tiles, since their size determines decorative properties surfaces

The size of the seams is adjusted using plastic crosses. It is necessary to ensure that air does not form under the tiles, which can lead to destruction of the material. The level must be checked. Tile cutting is done using a tile cutter or grinder.

Let's look at the sequence of laying tiles on the walls in the bathroom. Here the situation is more complicated, since you have to work on a vertical surface. In this case, there are also certain rules for laying tiles in the bathroom.

Firstly, you need to start laying from a visible corner. Secondly, installation is carried out from a profile nailed to the wall and aligned horizontally. It is fastened at such a height from the floor that only whole tiles are laid under the ceiling.

After the glue has dried, the bottom row is laid out. To apply the glue here, you can use a notched spatula, which will allow you to adjust the layer. Too much adhesive may cause the tiles to slip or fall off.

Sometimes you have to make slopes from tiles in the bathroom, for example, for niches for sewer pipes. In this case, you should come up with spacers, since when gluing the tiles to the upper slope, they may fall off. To decorate the joints, external and internal corners for tiles in the bathroom are used.

The final step is to grout the joints with a mixture of the appropriate color. The excess mixture is removed with a sponge, and then the entire tile is wiped clean.

Thus, it is clear that the technology for laying tiles in the bathroom is quite complex. But with a certain amount of diligence, it is quite feasible on your own.

It is very important to strictly follow the installation rules and use only high-quality building materials

Additional Information:

Reasons for deformation of bathroom tiles on walls and floors

Putting tile joints in order when laying tiles on the floor

How to veneer aerated concrete with clinker tiles

How to choose the optimal layout

Before choosing a tile, it is worth drawing a sketch by hand to decide on the type of cladding. To do this you need to draw detailed plan rooms with all sizes and furnishings:

carefully take measurements of the floor and walls, openings, and indicate the parameters on paper;
draw up a drawing of the bathroom and be sure to show the location of the doorway, window (if any), all niches and ledges;
indicate the location of plumbing fixtures, sockets, switches, and pipeline outlets.

Now that the plan is ready, you can choose the optimal layout scheme using sketches with colored pencils. This sketch will help determine the best location. decorative elements, places for cutting tiles, problem areas. Be sure to consider the degree of complexity of the work if you plan to do the cladding yourself.

Diagonal method

The most complex and time-consuming.

This method has a number of advantages:

visually expands the area;
if there are mistakes in the layout and the walls are not perpendicular or non-parallel, it hides this flaw;
gives a beautiful and original drawing.

And also the disadvantages:

Even minor deviations in the size of the tiles are not allowed;
more waste.

With the “diagonal” method, the first row begins to be laid with cut tiles diagonally, which increases the percentage of waste.

The tile joints are located perpendicular to each other and at an angle of 45 degrees to the walls. Checking the accuracy of laying tiles in the bathroom is carried out with a level and a square.

The following options for laying tiles in the bathroom are a two-color combination of already known methods.

Methods for laying ceramic tiles: advantages and disadvantages

Laying tiles in the bathroom is done according to various schemes, each of which can emphasize the advantages of a ceramic coating and will allow you to use the features of the geometry of the room with maximum benefit. Below are the most popular styling models with an assessment of their practicality.

Direct method

The easiest to implement and cost-effective. The tiles are laid in even strips parallel to the plane of the floor and walls. Both square and rectangular tiles are suitable. The second option, depending on the location, can help to visually increase the space.

This procedure for laying tiles in the bathroom is often used among beginners in this field.

Running

This laying scheme is similar to the installation of brickwork, when the tiles are laid in a checkerboard pattern with subsequent rows shifted in relation to the previous ones by 1/2 of the length. This option looks especially advantageous when laying tiles in the shape of a rectangle, the sides of which are in a ratio of 2 to 1. The advantages are similar to the direct laying method, with the difference that there will be more waste.

Staggered laying is ideal for rectangular tiles called "hogs" because the result is a surface that imitates real brickwork.

Diagonally

This installation method is characterized by the location of the fragments at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the line where the floor and walls meet. This technique looks very impressive, especially on large-scale surfaces, but is more difficult to work with. An expanded panorama with lines intersecting diagonally appears before your eyes. For limited space This method is not suitable, as it will optically reduce the area of the room. Disadvantages include the increased complexity of the work and significant labor costs associated with the need to trim tiles. Diagonal laying is associated with a large level of waste, and therefore is quite expensive.

Carrying out diagonal laying work will require a sufficient level of skill from the worker. For novice finishers, such a scheme may be too complicated.

Modular

The modular design was invented to create unusual styling. Drawings that are original and modern design, can be obtained through the use of tiles different sizes, but with multiple faces. The main difficulty lies in correctly calculating the required amount of finishing material. For this purpose, a schematic layout plan to scale is created. It is imperative to take into account the level of thickness of the seams.

The modular scheme is in many ways similar to the staggered laying method, but the calculations for its creation must be as accurate as possible.

How to lay tiles in the bathroom

To properly lay the tiles, you will need to follow a number of recommendations:

It is necessary to start laying tiles on the wall from the second row, counting from the floor. The first row of tiles on initial stage remains empty, during installation you should follow the markings.
The glue is applied to the base, not to the tiles. For convenience, use a notched spatula; it will create the desired texture.
Do not press too hard on the tiles during installation; if you overdo it, the ceramics may not hold up and crack or break.
Excess glue is removed using a foam sponge.
To ensure that the seams between the tiles in the bathroom are the same width, use special crosses. The optimal width is a few millimeters.
Check each new row for horizontalness. Even the slightest deviation can later lead to distortions in the masonry. This may happen due to slightly different sizes of tiles, which periodically happens with domestic ceramics.
When tiling corners and ledges in the bathroom, you will need to cut the tiles using a grinder or tile cutter.
If you need to make recesses, you can simply carefully break them out with pliers until you get a hole of the required size.

You can see more details on how to lay tiles on bathroom walls with your own hands in the training video.

Seam processing

Having figured out how to properly lay tiles in the bathroom, you can move on to the next most important step - grouting the tile joints. How to process ceramic products yourself? The grouting process should begin one day after laying the last tile.

Use a sponge to remove any remaining adhesive from the tiles. The grout solution is prepared in accordance with the instructions. Apply it inside the seams with a rubber spatula. The mortar between the tiles hardens within half an hour. Next, wipe it with a damp sponge.

Processing seams on tiles

To avoid the formation of mold and mildew in the future, finished seams are treated with a special mixture. Wide seams are rubbed with a mixture of sand, to which it is recommended to add latex. Latex will protect the seams from cracking, eliminating the need to replace tiles. It also performs a decorative function in the bathroom, the design of which will become unique.

The use of latex does not require diluting the dry mixture with water. Just mix them and leave for a while. The finished grout is applied with a brush or cloth. After drying, the seams are washed again with a dampened sponge.

Preparing the walls

Preparing the walls comes down to plastering and leveling them. The tiles must be laid absolutely level with the wall. If the seams between the bricks are deep, they are sealed with mortar. First you need to decide on the verticality of the walls. If the wall has a deviation from the vertical of more than four centimeters, there is no point in leveling it with plaster. Such walls are sheathed with plasterboard sheets.

Plaster leveling

First you need to remove the plaster that has fallen off the wall and plaster all the cracks. The only tool that can cope with this job and smooth out all the flaws is a rule that is at least two meters long. It is the rule that all excess solution is cut off. If there is no rule, then you can use a flat metal corner or a square pipe of suitable length instead. The applied solution must be removed without sparing.

Proper preparation of the base

The success of the event depends not only on the quality of the purchased materials, but also on how thoroughly the preparatory work was carried out. Installation should be done on a wall that has been cleared of old coating. Walls and floors must have a perfectly clean and smooth surface. Otherwise, over time, the tile will swell, crack, and then completely fall off.

Old tiles are knocked out using a chisel and hammer. You can use a hammer drill, but it makes a lot of noise. The paint is removed with a spatula or drill.

The floor is leveled in two ways:

concrete mixture;
leveling mixture.

Leveling the floor under tiles in the bathroom

The latter option is more expensive, easier to implement and allows you to get a perfectly flat surface.

If there are significant unevenness on the walls, they are eliminated with concrete mixture or putty. However, it is easier to cover them with moisture-resistant plasterboard

When using it, you will have to pay special attention to sealing the seams. To prevent moisture from penetrating inside, they are additionally coated with varnish.

A primer helps improve the moisture-resistant qualities of the material and increase adhesion. It is recommended to cover not only drywall, but also concrete or brick bases.

Joining materials

Technological joining of laminate and ceramics can be done using the following products:

the use of a flexible PVC profile allows you to connect curved bends;
a flexible metal profile is used to connect curved zones and straight seams;
an aluminum threshold is used to process the joining surfaces under the door leaf;
the use of a box threshold increases sound insulation and seals joints;
using a transitional PVC profile, coatings with a large difference in height are finished;
when using a cork expansion joint, a smooth joining surface is obtained between the laminate and the tile;
Using a T-shaped profile from solid wood, straight seams are made.

T-profile

Types of layouts

There are many types of laying tiles on the floor and walls of the bathroom, from the simplest to the incredibly complex. Each option has its own advantages and features. Let's look at the most popular types of tile laying.

Straight

The simplest and most popular option for laying tiles in the bathroom. The tiles are located strictly parallel to the floor and walls, side by side. For such a layout, a simple rectangular or square shape is suitable.

Running

Otherwise, such a design is called brick or stone masonry. In order for such decor to look harmonious, it is worth choosing the right proportions of the tiles. The ideal ratio of width to length is 1 to 2. How beautifully you can lay out tiles in the bathroom, imitating brickwork, is shown in the photo below.

Diagonal

One of the most complicated ways laying tiles in the bathroom, requiring experience. When choosing such masonry, it is necessary to take into account that due to the constant cutting of tiles, the material consumption will be much greater compared to other options. However, the effort and money spent will be worth it, since diagonal laying of tiles is also one of the most impressive.

Despite its effectiveness, diagonal design is not suitable for every bathroom. If the area is small, it is better to use more simple options, since the diagonal will only make all the shortcomings of the room visible. It is better to choose a similar layout for a spacious room, but you should pay attention to the curvature of the walls - they should be perfectly smooth without deviations from the perpendicular axis. You can see in the photo how to use tiles laid diagonally in bathroom design.

Modular

An eye-catching choice for bathroom design. In this case, tiles of different sizes are used; they can be laid out in any combination, which gives room for imagination. Combination options different tiles There are a huge variety in the bathroom, the most interesting ones can be found in the photo.

Horizontal

Clear lines can significantly change the proportions of a room. The horizontal layout of the tiles most often consists of a dark bottom combined with a light top. There may also be an option with several horizontal stripes different colors. With this design, plain tiles are most often used.

If you choose a finish with patterns, it is better to separate parts of the masonry with a plain border. To make the design more harmonious, the border is used not only at the bottom of the walls, but also under the ceiling. You can see what the horizontal tile layout in the bathroom will look like in the photo below.

Vertical

At vertical version The layout of the tiles in the bathroom clearly highlights brighter stripes on a plain background. The width of the stripes can be different, the same or alternate. However, it is worth considering that too many stripes look too bright and are not suitable for decorating all the walls of the bathroom. In this way, it is better to highlight only one wall, a separate area or niche.

Vertical stripes visually stretch the room upward, while at the same time narrowing it slightly. This looks good on long longitudinal walls, but not on the ends in narrow rooms. Using stripes, you can highlight different areas of the bathroom, if it is combined with a toilet, as well as the most significant design elements.

Mosaic layout

The combination of regular tiles and mosaics in the bathroom looks very impressive. A real mosaic is more difficult to install, since it requires laying out hundreds of small elements exactly according to the diagram, without ever making a mistake.

However, there are simpler options - ready-made mosaics on a grid or imitation. Mosaics can be used in different ways:

Wall decor. The mosaic pattern can be made in one color or with a full pattern. The choice of ornaments, colors or subject of images depends on the style of the interior and the personal wishes of the household.
Flooring. If the bathroom is small, colorful mosaics on the walls may look too bright, but similar decor on the floor will look good even in a small area.
Zoning of space. Using mosaics, you can divide the bathroom into zones. This type of finish is especially popular in the shower area or on the wall along the bathtub.
To attract attention. Mosaics can be used to highlight specific details, such as a sink or bath towel hooks.
Decoration. Mosaic does not have to occupy the entire bathroom; it can be a border, individual stripes or patterns.
Hard to reach places. The tiny details of the mosaic allow it to be used for finishing the most complex surfaces.

How beautifully to combine tiles with mosaics in the bathroom can be seen in the photo.

Tile grouting and processing

Grouting of the tiles is done after the entire room has been lined with this material. If, when laying tiles on the walls, gaps were left for subsequent grouting, then grouting without sand in the composition will be required. Sanded grout is used for floor tiles, which are also laid at wide intervals. To increase the beneficial properties of grout, some craftsmen add latex to it, a solution of which is sold in specialized stores. You should not try to save money on this solution, since its beneficial properties noticeably decrease along with a decrease in its concentration. The latex solution increases the elasticity of the grout and the quality of its adhesion.

Grouting seams in the bathroom

DIY bathroom tiling

It is convenient to distribute the solution over the surface using a rubber trowel, which must be carefully moved diagonally across the laid tiles, holding it at a slight angle. Proper grouting allows you to fill every single seam with grout, but it is better to check this after the process is completed

It is recommended to start grouting from the wall near which the bathtub is located, and when it is finished, you can clean the place from which the repair began. After grouting, the ceramic tiles are treated with a sealant to protect them from harmful influences, which is applied using a paint roller, but if only the seams will be treated, you can also use a regular brush. To ensure that the tiles last as long as possible, they are treated with sealant at least once a year.

A little about the choice of material

As we have already said, ceramic tiles for the bathroom are the most popular type of finishing material. There are certain requirements for this room; accordingly, the materials for its finishing should be chosen correctly, namely, taking into account their technical characteristics:

minimal moisture absorption;
increased resistance to cleaning chemicals;
resistance to mechanical stress;
resistance to high temperatures and steam;
bathroom floor tiles must be abrasion resistant; resist bending and abrasive substances.

When choosing a material, you should proceed from the quality of the ceramics. Tile that meets European standards can be of three grades, each of which is marked with a specific color. The first grade is a tile with red markings, different high quality and strength. The second grade is a material that may have approximately 5% defects; this series is marked with blue or light blue markings. The lowest grade is marked in green.

Ceramic tiles are distinguished by their resistance class, of which there are five, they are marked with Roman numerals. In a residential area, it is advisable to use a material no higher than wear resistance class III, but for a bathroom, class I is sufficient. Since laying tiles in the bathroom is not easy, you should correctly calculate the amount of tiles - ideally, you should take the material with a margin of about 15% to take into account the fit. Well, the design of the material plays an important role in the choice - after all, everyone wants the bathroom to be not only functional and comfortable, but also beautiful. And the variety of tiles is a guarantee that you can easily find your own finishing method.

Where to start

The first thing you need to think about is not how to arrange the decor of the tiles in the bathroom; first you need a floor plan with the location of the main interior details - plumbing fixtures and furniture

What you need to pay attention to when creating a diagram:

When thinking over the drawing, observe all the proportions and scales of the bathroom, but do not make the drawing too small. The diagram should be large enough to place all the elements on it and clearly indicate the dimensions.
To correctly lay out tiles in the bathroom you need to know exact dimensions, so measure all the walls of the room, taking into account the doorway, ledges and niches. Label the obtained values on the diagram.
Mark the location of plumbing fixtures and furniture on the drawing.
Be sure to indicate the location of the ventilation shaft, sockets, switches, etc.
It is not necessary to indicate the interior details that are attached on top of the trim on the diagram - they do not affect the layout in any way.
Do a control check - compare the real bathroom with the resulting diagram, make sure everything is correct.

This is what a bathroom should look like correct layout tiles

An accurate diagram is needed to correctly calculate the amount of material, the size of the tiles and the ornament itself. If you make even a small miscalculation, it may turn out that the most beautiful elements of the layout end up behind the plumbing fixtures or in the corners, otherwise the effect that was intended for such decor will be completely lost. Design examples that you can see for laying tiles in the bathroom are presented in the photo below.

Sketch of tile layout in the bathroom

Tile laying process

Having carefully examined the various options for finishing bathroom tiles, let’s move on to studying the installation process itself using the example of tiling a bathroom floor.

To do this, let’s imagine that the tiles have already been selected, all materials have been purchased, and the necessary measurements have been made.

We clean the surface: we remove the old covering from the floors: linoleum, parquet, tiles along with glue or mortar. After tapping the surface and hearing a dull sound, remove and old screed(this means that there are cavities underneath and the base is not strong).
Next, we prepare the surface for laying the tiles.

If there are big differences relative to the horizon, it is necessary to level the surface. We do this with cement-sand mortar.
After the screed has dried, prime the surface and dry it.
We arrange waterproofing using bitumen pastes or a special mixture for plaster waterproofing.

We prime again to increase the adhesion of the base to the future coating.
If the differences in the horizontal floor level are small, you can use a special self-leveling mixture (leveling mass), which can remove the difference from 3 to 15 mm. When using leveling compound, surface priming is not necessary.

The base of the floor is now ready.

The options for bathroom decoration with tiles were discussed above and you have already chosen suitable way styling

We begin laying the tiles in the direction from the far wall to the doors. We also determine which wall the bathtub, shower stall, washing machine or furniture, under which the cut edges of the tiles will hide. We carry out the work from the direction of the open corner (whole tile) to the wall with plumbing (cut tiles).

For this:

We place two tiles in the corners at the required height and attach them to alabaster (it dries quickly and can be easily removed in the future);
Wet the underside of the tile well with water (you can dip it in a container of water);
Using a special (notched) spatula, apply diluted glue to the entire surface of the tile;

we lay it in place, joining it with the lighthouse tiles, and leaving a gap between them using special identical crosses;
we put the laid tiles in place, tapping them with the handle of a trowel;
we check the correctness of the draft using a rule, a lath or a nylon thread, placing it on top of the lighthouse tiles, or we check the horizon with a short level;

remove excess glue that appears after settling with a trowel;
use a spatula to clean the seam between the tiles;
we check the horizon again;
We repeat the entire cycle until the end of the row, then remove the beacons and install them with glue.

After all the tiles have been laid and the glue has dried, we begin grouting the joints:

Use a dry cloth to remove any remaining adhesive from the surface of the tiles;
Using a rubber spatula, fill the seams with diluted grout;
let dry and remove excess.

As you already understood, the installation process is not complicated, but it requires care and attention. A well-chosen technology will ensure a long service life of the tile covering. Good luck!

Choosing tiles and laying them

In order to correctly calculate the amount of facing material, it is necessary to measure the surface area on which it will lie, and also determine the size of the tile itself. Tile sizes range from 100x100 mm to 600x600 mm and are sold per square meter. You need to buy it with a reserve, since when laying about 5% can go to waste. Also, the quantity of tiles purchased is influenced by the method of their installation. There are several such methods:

Direct laying. This is the simplest and most common method.
Diagonal laying. It looks more impressive, is suitable for square rooms, and will help hide slanting walls.
Laying in a checkerboard pattern. The best way to lay tiles of two or more colors.
Offset installation. In this case, the tiles of the next row are placed offset to the tiles of the previous row. This option is more suitable for rectangular rooms.
Mosaic. This method is made from facing materials of different sizes and colors, thereby creating a specific pattern or design.

Once the choice and installation method have been made, you can begin preparing the walls.

Before starting repairs

Before laying tiles in the bathroom with your own hands, you will need to check whether there is a slope on the walls. This is easily done using a level; the walls should be strictly at an angle of 90 degrees. If there is a deviation upward or downward, you will need to first level the surface with plaster. You can see how this is done in the video; without leveling it will not be possible to properly lay tiles in the bathroom - such repairs run the risk of not lasting long.

If the angle between the wall and the floor deviates from the norm of 90 degrees, unsightly gaps in the masonry between the tiles may appear, difficulties with installing the bathtub or shower tray(the appearance of large cracks that will have to be sealed with sealant), etc.

A kitchen with tiles is so commonplace that when the interior kitchen area does not turn on the tiles, then at first it feels like something is missing. However, at least tile and is used everywhere, not everyone knows how to lay tiles correctly, since there are many subtleties and features in this matter.

How to lay tiles: subtleties and features

Ceramic tiles are used on different surfaces. But when performing general tiling, you need to remember that this process is divided into separate operations and there is nothing strange about that.

Work area - a space with a stove, sink, refrigerator and other household appliances;
The “apron” zone – stands out from the general design with color;
Floor zone - it plays the role of a kind of zone separator;
Remaining space.

How to designate zones when laying tiles

Following the rules described above, individual areas of the room are finished with different tiles. In the picture below, you can see an example of dividing a room into zones.

As shown in the photo, each area is finished with a different type of tile. But, you can delimit zones using tiles of the same color, simply by laying them in a different way. You can see this method of dividing zones in the picture below.

How to choose tiles?

This is an important point, because it depends on the choice of tiles important indicators comfort and durability. The tile itself has many different characteristics. There are compacted, strengthened and more wear-resistant models. More durable tiles are most often used to cover the floor surface.

Very important nuance is the surface of such a tile. For laying on the floor, it is better to use tiles with a matte surface. It is not as slippery, and this minimizes the chance of slipping and injury. In addition, such tiles are more waterproof and more resistant to the destructive effects of detergents.

The size of the tile is also very important. Large tiles will not look good in a small room.
For this reason, according to expert advice, for a small room it is better to take 15 by 15 cm tiles or even use mosaics. Of course, the installation process in this case will take longer, however, the final result will be more harmonious.

About tile installation technology

One of the most important points is to prepare the surface for the tiles. The base should be dry and smooth. The walls are leveled using plaster or drywall (if they are very crooked). Floors are prepared with self-leveling mixtures.
Leveling is followed by the priming process. After the soil has dried, you can apply tile adhesive to the surface and proceed directly to laying the tiles. This is done like this:

1. The glue is applied to the surface and leveled using a notched trowel. Applying the adhesive is done in a small area to lay the tiles before the adhesive sets;
2. The tile is placed on a layer of glue and leveled using a level and plumb line. If there is a need, then correct location The tile is achieved by tapping on it, simultaneously with movement. To ensure equal gaps between the tiles, use special crosses inserted between the tiles;
3. After the glue has dried, the seams are sealed with grout.

An example of correctly laid tiles is in the photo below.

How to lay tiles on a wall

Let's say you decide to decorate your bathroom or kitchen with tiles, but you don't know how to lay the tiles on the wall. It's okay, after reading what is written below, you will learn everything you need to perform this operation.

The first step is to decide on the required materials. To lay tiles on the walls, you need the following materials:

Primer. It is applied using a roller or brush before laying the tiles. The construction material used to treat poorly absorbent, porous or wooden surfaces to create a special layer on the base. Improves the adhesion of tiles to the base
Additive. This component is mixed with glue to enhance its properties such as adhesiveness and plasticity. With its help, they will compensate for unevenness of the base.
Putty. She is used to level the walls. It is a dry substance mixed with water.
Grout for seams. Serves to fill the space between tiles. Apply this material using a soft rubber spatula.
Tile adhesive. Often sold ready-made, packaged in buckets. Apply using a special grooved spatula.

Preparatory work for the base for laying tiles on the walls

One way or another, the surface must be flat, durable and dry.

1. For a porous base, use a primer.
2. If the base is smooth, it should be chipped or scratched with a grinder, and then primed.
3. If the surface of the base has unevenness or large cracks, they must be leveled with putty.

Layout markings

1. Using a level and a marking cord, you need to draw a horizontal strip that corresponds to one tile in height from the floor level.
2. Now this line should be corrected so that the top row of tiles does not have to be cut (the seams are taken into account in the calculation). Test laying will help you adjust the dimensions. If the floor surface is at an angle to the horizontal, then the tiles of the bottom row are cut in accordance with this angle.
3. Vertical lines are drawn using a plumb line.

Laying tiles on walls

1. Using a trowel, apply glue on top small area base (approximately 0.5 m). Next, the glue is leveled using a notched trowel.
2. Now you need to glue the first piece of tile along the rail. Next, the first horizontal row of tiles is glued, then the second, and so on until the entire wall is laid out.
3. You should also remember about the plastic crosses in order to maintain the same distance between the tiles. During work, you should clean the surface of the tile from excess glue.
4. The tiles must be laid evenly. If it protrudes, it should be leveled with a rubber hammer and a wooden block. During use wooden block, it must be laid on top of several tiles at once.
5. Continue each row of tiles, making sure they are horizontal and vertical.
6. The cladding ends by laying down the missing pieces at the bottom, and it is not necessary to use a ruler or strip for this. The plastic crosses must be removed before the glue hardens.

Sealing seams

1. A day after laying the tiles, you should start applying grout. It is applied over the seams using a rubber spatula.
2. Remains of grout and adhesive from the tiles are removed with a damp sponge and cloth.

Advice
To lay tiles in the bathroom, use a special, waterproof grout.

Tile grout: which is better

Even perfectly laid tiles look unfinished if tile grout is not used at the end of the job. Which grout is better, and by what criteria should you choose it? It is these questions that we will try to illuminate further.

The composition of the grout can be cement or epoxy.

Cement grout

This is the simplest option, which does not require high skill in application and preparation, but, nevertheless, looks great. Cement grout consists of fine cement, plasticizers, various additives and pigments. Before use, this type of grout is mixed with water and then applied to the seams.

The consistency of cement grout resembles putty and is therefore easy to use.
Depending on the composition and purpose, cement grout can be:

for narrow seams (up to 5 mm)
for wide seams (more than 5 mm).

The second type of grout uses a mandatory additional component – sand. Sand will prevent cracking cement composition and will not let it crumble. At the same time, the size of the sand grains varies depending on the thickness of the seam.
Cement grout is packaged as follows:

ready-made composition (in a bucket);
dry powder (in a bag).

The finished grout can be applied instantly.

Ready-made cement grout is sold in different portions.
As for dry grout, before starting work it must be diluted with water to the required condition. Dry mix is more convenient if the workload is not large, since you can make only as much mixture as you need. But you need to store it dry.
Advantages of cement grout:

easy to use;
universal;
has a wide selection of shades;
durable;
cheap.

susceptible to contamination;
destroyed by household chemicals.

Epoxy grout

Used in rooms with high humidity.

Epoxy grout has a fairly viscous consistency. For this reason, its application requires care and a professional approach.
Any epoxy grout contains the following components:

epoxy resin, which contains special additives and fillers;
hardener.

To obtain a working mixture, these components are mixed (when purchased, they are packaged in different containers). As a result, a fairly dense but elastic mass is obtained. Working with this mass is not an easy task, since the composition has a high viscosity, for this reason even professionals work with it for a long time and tediously. But, after the work is completed, a significant advantage awaits you: the resulting seams will retain their appearance for at least 40 years. This is the main reason why professionals give this grout the highest rating.

Epoxy grout can be thinned with shiny components to improve the visual effect.
Advantages of epoxy grout:

durable;
durable;
resistant to dirt, fungi and mold;
resistant to chemicals and cleaning agents;
waterproof;
has high decorative capabilities.

expensive;
difficult to operate.

Silicone sealant is sometimes used as grout. But it is used for other purposes - to insulate cladding and other materials, for example, in the place where tile cladding borders a bathtub, sink or toilet. Use silicone sealant to completely fill the joints is expensive and does not provide the opportunities that grouting offers.

How to lay tiles in the bathroom correctly

What is required to renovate a bathroom? Change the plumbing, bathtub, sink... but the main thing is to lay the tiles. Have you decided to do the repairs yourself? A completely rational and economical solution. But before you start, make sure you know everything about how to properly lay tiles in a bathroom.

Before you begin directly laying tiles in the bathroom, you should do the following preparatory work:

To begin with, there should be no traces of the old finish on the walls. This affects how firmly the tile will stick to the base.
After this, you need to check the curvature of the walls with a level (length of at least a meter). If the wall is inclined by more than 4-5 mm, it must be leveled with plaster.
Before plastering the wall, a primer is applied to its surface (and if not plastered, then too). Thanks to the primer, materials applied to the wall will hold up better.

After plastering the walls, you need to let them dry completely before laying tiles on top. This process may take two weeks. If you lay tiles on wet plaster, then in the future you cannot avoid the fact that the tiles will simply come off.

How are tiles laid in the bathroom?

To lay tiles, use tile adhesive.
It is a dry powder, which is diluted with water according to the instructions and mixed electric drill with a special nozzle. As a result, you should get a mass that does not flow along the wall and does not fall off.

Preparatory work:

A control horizontal line is drawn along the wall along which the tiles are laid. The line is laid using a level, exactly with the horizon line, so that the masonry is straight and even.
Laying tiles in the bathroom begins on top of the bathtub if it is located close to the wall. And if not, then you should start laying tiles from the second row. Therefore, the horizontal line must be drawn taking into account one row of tiles and the seam.
Along the line, in ideal, stoppers must be secured to protect the tiles from moving downwards.

Laying tiles:

If the walls are smooth, glue is applied on top of them. Using a notched trowel, spread the glue over the wall. The tile is laid on top, but not pressed down excessively to avoid damage.
The distance between the tiles should not exceed a couple of millimeters. To achieve this, they use special “crosses”.
Please also note that the tiles may not be equal pieces. It happens that the difference reaches a millimeter.
For this reason, after you have laid a row of tiles, check to see if the row line has moved. If it has moved, then you need to correct it due to the width of the seam.

Naturally, not all tiles are laid intact. For example, to neatly and accurately lay tiles in the corners, they will need to be cut. This operation is performed with a tile cutter.

Grouting joints

After installation is complete, you need to clean the surface of the tile from any remaining adhesive. If the glue remains in the seams, they will not be attractive. After removing the glue, you can start grouting the joints.

This is done with a special mixture, which is called tile grout (in common parlance - fugue). It is used for waterproofing and decoration. Professionals use it to apply grout rubber spatula, and the seams are cleaned using a cable (6-7 mm in diameter), a screw head or something else, after which a neat notch will remain in the seam.
After the tiles have dried, you should wipe them with a dry sponge, then rinse with water, but so that the seams do not soften.

How to lay tiles correctly. Video lesson

If, despite a lot of printed information, it is still not entirely clear to you how to lay tiles correctly, a video clip should dot the i’s and bring final clarity to this process. So, what will be described in this story?

To begin with, immediately before the installation process, the process of preparing the base follows. Here's what happens during it:

cleaning the base from old finishes;
removing dust and checking the evenness of the base;
leveling walls;
a two-week break to dry the base;
applying a moisture-resistant primer coating to the base.

After the preparatory work is completed, you can proceed directly to the process shown in the video, namely laying the tiles. Here's what it includes:

The first step is to lay out a row of tiles at the bottom, but do not glue them. This is necessary to produce correct scheme styling For example, there is 4 cm left from the ceiling to the last row. It is much easier to take this into account from below than to cut pieces to fit the ceiling.
After this, we place marks on the wall corresponding to the first and last slabs of the row.
Now we mark the vertical row using a level.
When laying tiles, the evenness of the rows is constantly controlled by a spirit level. If there are any irregularities, they must be corrected immediately.
During installation, the thickness of the seam is adjusted with plastic crosses.
Tile adhesive is applied to the wall, not the tiles. The glue must be applied evenly.
The tile should be pressed as firmly as possible, but so as not to damage it.
And on last stage grouting of joints is carried out.

Despite the labor intensity and required care in the process of laying tiles, anyone can do it. By carefully studying the process, you will do a great job!

Ceramic tiles are one of the best materials for finishing rooms with special conditions operation. Such cladding is not afraid of exposure to high humidity, temperature changes, abrasive loads, and is itself very attractive in appearance and easy to clean. In a word, for kitchens, bathrooms, bathrooms – you can’t find anything better. And what’s also important is that you can handle the installation process yourself.

Why does it make sense to try doing the cladding yourself? It’s just that even if the surfaces to be laid are perfectly flat, you will have to pay about the same amount for the services of a specialist as the material itself costs, and this is even in the best case. Such expenses can be completely avoided. Having become acquainted with our article-instruction how to lay tiles on a wall, the reader will get a clear understanding of all stages of the work, from preparing surfaces and choosing tiles to sealing joints. And you will certainly be convinced that there is nothing supernaturally difficult in performing such finishing.

Preliminary stages

Preparing surfaces for finishing

It's completely pointless to start facing works on a wall unprepared for this. Some novice home craftsmen naively believe that a layer of ceramic tiles will reliably hide all the “ugliness” of the surface, and the result will be a straight, beautiful wall. They are sorely mistaken!

What does the preparation process include?

It is imperative to get rid of the old wall decoration. It will not, for example, hold adhesive tiles on a painted surface. Completely excluded or even small fragments thereof. If there was previously a tile on the wall, then after dismantling it, all sagging and drops of hardened glue should be removed.

The quality of the plaster layer, if any, must be checked. All problematic, crumbling areas are removed immediately. It is necessary to tap the entire area and identify areas of instability that must also be removed. And most often it happens that if a peeling area is found in one area, then everything else will be pulled from it, that is, the plaster has to be knocked down completely.

In no case should it be ignored if traces of biological damage are found on the walls - mold stains, fungal colonies, etc. Antiseptic priming is carried out on all surfaces without exception, but if this microflora has already settled, then a preliminary “treatment” of the wall will have to be carried out

There should be no gaps or cracks on the surfaces. If they are identified, appropriate repair work is carried out to properly seal them.

The wall must be flat, that is, it must be a plane, and not a twisted, piled-up, protruding or concave surface. The tiles can be laid on leveled walls without any problems. Yes, there are methods for leveling walls by installing ceramic cladding. But, believe me, not even all experienced craftsmen they love to do this, since this task is extremely difficult. And if a newcomer has to “debut”, there’s no need to even think about it. It will be much easier to carry out leveling - and the finish will definitely be of high quality.

There are many ways to level, and some of them, for example, use moisture-resistant plasterboard or gypsum fiber slabs are not so complicated and will not require much time.

Prices for moisture-resistant drywall

moisture resistant drywall

How to level the walls yourself for finishing?

Don't be intimidated by this task in advance. There are many available technologies that even beginners can quickly master. Moreover, laying tiles does not require a perfectly smooth surface - the correct geometry is sufficient. are discussed in detail in a special publication on our portal.

Ceramic tiles are most often installed in rooms with high humidity, so it is worth thinking about reliable waterproofing. This applies to a greater extent, of course, to the floor, but it also makes sense to provide on the walls waterproofed“belt” at least 100÷200 mm high from the floor along the entire perimeter. In addition, it is advisable to reinforce with waterproofing the areas of passage through the walls of water supply and sewer pipes, areas around water outlets.

And in frankly “wet” areas of the wall, for example, around a bathtub, washbasin, shower stall, etc., it is generally better to carry out continuous waterproofing. Approximate size standards for these areas are shown in the illustration:

Finally, the wall must be carefully primed with a deep penetration compound. This measure will completely remove dust from the surface and eliminate the phenomenon of moisture absorption. That is, the wall material will not take water from the tile adhesive, allowing it to harden in optimal conditions. The best adhesion performance is achieved. In addition, many primers also have antiseptic qualities, and such preventative treatment will never become redundant.

If the absorbent qualities of the material are high, then the primer treatment is performed twice, always waiting until the first layer has completely dried. As a rule, the primer is applied immediately after completion of the preparatory work. But if for some reason there is a significant time gap between this stage and finishing, then it would be advisable to apply the primer again - a day before the start of installation of the tiles. This way, a high-quality result will be guaranteed.

Prices for primer for walls

primer for walls

Drawing up a project and selecting the required tiles

It is clear that these two issues are closely intertwined. In this publication, we will not analyze design approaches to choosing the interior of a room - we will only focus on some practical aspects.

Planning the placement of tiles on the walls

Of course, the owners should already have an idea of what they want to see in the end. You've probably gotten acquainted with the approximate range of tiles presented in the store. That is, they just have to “fit” the selected collection into the specific dimensions of their room.

Here you should not rely on your eyes. The best option– compilation graphic diagram for each wall separately. Moreover, if it is not intended to be continuous cladding with one type of tile, but with decorative inserts or friezes, or divided into sections. Some material manufacturers offer online programs on their official websites that allow you to optimally place tiles on the walls. If this is not possible, you will have to sit on your own either in a graphic editor, or simply on paper diagrams.

In horizontal rows, you can start with a whole tile from one of the corners, that is, the cut edge will be on the opposite side of the wall. Naturally, in this case the least noticeable angle is chosen. But you should immediately figure out which fragment will remain in the corner? If it is too narrow, then it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to remove this area accurately. And on the front side of the room, that is, attracting the gaze of those entering, such placement will also look very ugly. Therefore, it often makes sense to choose a location such that you start from the center of the wall - AThenfrom It is laid to the edges with equal trimming on both sides.

It all depends, of course, on the size of the wall and tile. It often happens that the optimal layout seems to be when the vertical axis of the wall coincides with the center of the tile, and then the layout goes to the sides with, again, symmetrical trimming along the edges.

The cut edges can be easily hidden by laying solid tiles from the corner on the adjacent wall. If two cut edges meet in the inner corner, then this too can be solved by grinding one of them. On external corners A decorative corner copes well with this task. More details will be discussed later.

Show the necessary “creativity” when planning vertical rows. So, the installation, which ends in a narrow section under the ceiling, does not look particularly advantageous. It is better to plan a solid tile for this place, especially since its upper edge is very often covered by a suspended or suspended ceiling.

But the narrow section can be removed first from the floor - there it is hardly noticeable, and the cut edge of the tile will become completely unnoticeable visible in the corner between the floor and the wall. More precisely, it is generally recommended to lay out this bottom row last, so no problems with precise trimming are expected. All this will be shown below.

However, other circumstances may also influence the choice of the starting horizontal line. These may also be features design project(for example, the use of contrasting rows or friezes), and the placement of plumbing fixtures. For example, it is always recommended to place tiles near the bathtub so that horizontal seam was hidden below the side by 20÷30 mm. This will not disturb the aesthetics of the installation, and will remove the vulnerable seam from the “wet” area.

When planning the placement of rows, vertical and horizontal, do not forget about the thickness of the tile joints. Let this not seem like a trifle: when using not very large tiles, but on a large wall, the difference is considerable.

When laying on a wall, too thick joints are most often not required. Usually limited to gaps of 1.5 ÷ 2 mm. Moreover, after grouting the joints with a fugue, the visual effect of the thickness will change somewhat - the gaps will appear wider.

It is clear that when drawing up diagrams, the number, size and location of inserts - friezes, borders and other decorative elements - are taken into account. If a fully developed plan for each wall is always at hand, then during the installation process there is much less chance of making a mistake.

Some nuances of choosing ceramic tiles for walls

Tiles designed for walls are much easier than floor tiles. Indicators of its strength, abrasive resistance, roughness, etc. fade into the background, since they do not play a decisive role here. You can concentrate on decorativeness and, of course, the quality of the material.

We will not talk in detail about all the intricacies of the choice - this is a separate topic. But several important points still worth emphasizing.

Prices for ceramic tiles

ceramic tile

There is a very wide variety of formats on sale. But you shouldn’t immediately chase the tiles large sizes. Firstly, it doesn’t look appropriate everywhere. Secondly, when laying it there can be a lot of waste, and since it is usually not cheap, it turns out to be expensive. And thirdly, installation of such cladding requires some experience, and a novice master may not be able to cope with the task - any mistake will be visible.

If you are planning to lay the tiles yourself for the first time, then it is better to proceed from its average size, for example, up to 300÷400 mm on the long side.

should have a water absorption of no more than 3% - this is usually indicated on its packaging.
If you plan to cladding walls in unheated rooms or even on the street, you should look for material marked with a snowflake icon - it is not afraid of freezing.
It is mandatory that all purchased packages of tiles of the same type are checked for batch matching. The fact is that the same article, but released on different shifts, may differ slightly in color tone. This is most often not noticed visually in the store. But after laying on the surface, even a small difference can spoil the overall appearance.

Of course, they try to purchase as many tiles as possible. high grade. Even at factories, products are sorted, and products with distorted shapes go on sale as second- or even third-rate. You can be exhausted when styling them.
Manufacturers also sort tiles by caliber. It is clear that they always try to approximate the sizes finished products to the stated standard. However, the specifics of ceramic production do not yet allow us to achieve a unique match in the sizes of all tiles without exception. The packaging of the tile may indicate its caliber - alphabetic or numerical designation, and attach a plate with its decoding.

It is clear that tiles of the most accurate caliber have a higher price. But all preference should be given to it, since unjustified savings can lead to unsuccessful finishing, and in in the end the total costs will be clearly “minus”.

In any case, it will not be possible to do without tile waste. And sometimes it becomes impossible to purchase the missing quantity - the required batch may not remain on sale. That is, the stock is made in advance. Usually they start from 10% - with proper layout and high-quality cutting of the material, this is enough. If a diagonal layout is assumed, then the margin can be increased to 15% - there will be more waste in any case. But let us immediately note that getting involved with diagonal installation without good experience work - not recommended. Therefore, in this article, intended more for beginners, it will not be considered.
Do not hesitate to ask the store to check all purchased tiles - there is no guarantee that they will not be damaged during transportation. Yes, and obvious defects sometimes come across.

Even first-class tiles from the same batch and the most precise caliber should still be carefully sorted into several groups at home. The highest quality, with perfectly matching dimensions, is best set aside for lining the most visible critical areas. The tile is a little worse - pushed “to the periphery”. And those with the most significant dimensional distortions or with minor defects should be used for cutting to fill areas along corners or the floor.
The quantity of tiles is usually calculated individually. This can be done if a high-quality scheme is drawn up. And even more so, you will have to do this when you plan to use several varieties to create a special decorative interior.

But in the case when it is intended to cover the entire area with one type of material, you can also use the calculator, which is located below. There you will need to indicate the finishing area, the dimensions of the tiles and the width of the tile joint. The reserve 10 or 15 percent will be taken into account when choosing the layout principle.

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