How to lay tiles on the wall. Leveling and marking the wall, laying tiles and how to correct possible mistakes? Preparing surfaces for finishing

When laying tiles, control two points: the parallel arrangement of the rows (their curvature along the perimeter of the floor is unacceptable) and the overall smoothness of the floor - this means that each tiled element will be located in the same plane as the others. Check this with a level.

Calculation of required materials

Let's calculate the amount of required materials using an example standard bath. The room has a rectangular configuration, its area is 2.5x4 meters, and the ceilings reach a height of 2.9 meters.

A bathtub will be installed in this room, the length of which is 1.9 meters, height - 80 cm, width 90 cm.

Note that you can calculate the number of tiles required for finishing using a special calculator. But keep in mind that you can calculate it manually various options, but only approximate calculations are possible with a calculator.

If you wish, you can complicate the task and calculate the density of the seams, but this is pointless. The final result will take into account the 10-15% break that will occur when cutting and delivering the material.

The total area of ​​the walls is 37.7 square meters. meters. But it should be taken into account that the place under the font will be masked by small walls, so the area of ​​two walls located on the sides is taken into account. The total area will be 39.5 square meters. m. You should also take into account the area under the bathroom, which is hidden behind the walls. The area will be 7.9 square meters.

To decorate the walls, 0.25x0.4 tiles, 8 pcs each, will be used. in one package. Considering total area wall surfaces, approximately 50 packs will be required for finishing, but a supply of 1 pack is required. There are 51 packs in total. For the floor you need 30x30 cm tiles, 10 units per pack. In total you will need 9 packs.

Read about what kind exists, what it is used for, how it is attached to the walls - all the details of mesh plaster.

You can learn more about the features of applying bark beetle plaster in the article.

The glue consumption depends on the density of the adhesive layer and the size of the spatula used; the angle of inclination and the degree of pressure during the application of the mixture are also important. The approximate consumption of the primer mixture is from 100 to 250 ml per 1 square. meter. The required volume of grout can be found out by taking into account the dimensions of the room, the area of ​​the wall surfaces and the floor; in total you will need 13.28 kg of grout mixture.

The floor is leveled by pouring screed with self-leveling properties with a density of 10 mm. Taking into account the area of ​​the room, you will need 6 packages of 25 kg each.

In this example, budget tiles were used; its price is a key factor in the final cost of repair work. When using tiles with a pattern or creating diagonal masonry, repairs will cost more.

IN budget option repair costs will be approximately 22 thousand rubles. By purchasing materials for this amount, you can beautifully decorate the interior of your bathroom.

Cost of work

How much does it cost to lay tiles in a bathroom per 1 sq. meter? Prices for third-party services and rates in construction companies depend on the region of residence. average cost in Russia it ranges from 800 to 1100 rubles. for 1 sq. m when laying regular tiles.

Porcelain tiles are laid at a price of 800-1400 rubles per 1 square meter, but the most expensive are works on marble tiles: laying 1 m2 of such material costs 1400-2000 rubles.

Video

Ceramic tiles are one of the most successful and inexpensive materials for finishing walls and floors in the bathroom. You can install it yourself, and the detailed information given in this article step by step instructions and videos with tips and rules self-installation bathroom tiles on drywall will help you cope with this task without errors:

Ceramic tiles are very popular as facing material. There are many reasons for this, because the material has excellent technical characteristics.

The tile itself has a lot of advantages, but if it goes against the technology, it will not fulfill its main purpose. In this article, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the technology of how to glue tiles.

After familiarizing yourself with the material, laying ceramic tiles with your own hands will not cause you any serious difficulties. The main requirement is adherence to technology.

Step-by-step instruction

The entire process of laying ceramic tiles comes down to the following steps:

• Surface preparation.
• Marking.
• Preparation of tile adhesive.
• Laying.
• Grouting joints.

We will look at all the subtleties point by point. It is worth adding that tiles often need to be cut to the required size before laying. We will also answer this question.

First of all, you need to prepare tools and materials. Among other things, you may need the following list of tools and materials.

Tools:

• A spatula with teeth.
• Construction water level or laser level.
• Wooden block.
• Rubber hammer.
• Electric drill.
• Nozzle for stirring glue.
• Manual or electric tile cutter.
• Roulette.
• Marker or pencil.
• Container for tile adhesive.
• Bulgarian.
• Rubber spatula.
• Crosses for forming a seam when laying ceramic tiles.
• Water.
• Rags and sponge.

Materials:

• Ceramic tile.
• Adhesive composition.
• Grout.
• Guide strip for the first row (necessary when laying tiles on the wall).

We have provided a basic list of items and materials needed to complete the work. Other accessories may be used during the process.

Preparation is the key to success

Before gluing the tiles, the surface of the floor or wall is put in order. First of all, they should be free of cracks and large irregularities. It should also be dry.

The principle of preparatory work before laying ceramic tiles boils down to this:

1. The old finishing coating is completely removed from the wall and floor.
2. All construction debris must be removed from the premises.
3. The level checks the evenness of the walls/floor. If a large difference is noticeable, then plastering or screeding is performed.
4. An old screed can be checked for strength by tapping it on its surface; if the sound is dull, then it holds well; if it is empty, then it must be dismantled and a new one poured in. This principle also applies to checking the plaster on the wall.
5. Small cracks, potholes and irregularities can be removed with special plaster compounds.
6. The finished and leveled surface must be carefully primed immediately before laying the ceramic tiles.

If the renovation is carried out in the bathroom, be sure to lay a waterproofing layer. Moreover, at the preparation stage it is necessary to complete the work on sewerage, electricity and water supply. All these communications take place in the body of the wall.

Regarding wall leveling work, it is important to understand the following; all of them are relevant if you strive to achieve the ideal level and angles in the room. If this is not important, then the technology of laying tiles implies visual leveling of the surface.

Marking

After preparing the surface, before gluing the tiles, it is also necessary to mark. Everything is calculated down to the smallest detail. For example, areas of the walls that are most often visible to the eye should be covered with entire tiles. The tile that is being trimmed should not be in a visible place.

Using markings, you can determine in advance how many whole tiles will lie on one row. The reference point must be kept on the floor. For example, if you have calculated that there will be, say, 15 tiles and a small section along the entire length, then think about whether it is worth cutting narrow strips near one of the walls.

It may be worth leveling one of the walls to reduce the room by just a few centimeters. Of course, if every centimeter in an apartment is valuable, then this method is irrelevant.

If you decide to lay the tiles so that one of the walls has a small trim, it should be directed to the side where attention is least likely to be drawn to it. This applies not only to guests, but also to the owners of the house. Many, after a while, regret that they decided to lay small and narrow strips of tiles. This concerns horizontal markings.

The vertical marking has one important rule– there should be a whole tile under the ceiling. All trimming is done on the first row. It is upward that the gaze is directed, not downward. Therefore, the size of the tile and the approximate size of the seam are measured.

All these calculations will help you find the lower level. As a result, it will be possible to attach a guide profile from below for laying ceramic tiles.

It is equally important when marking to determine the installation option. There are several options, including seam-to-seam, diagonally, offset by half the tile, diamond-shaped, etc. The most popular method is seam-to-seam. Here it is required that the seam be perfectly even both vertically and horizontally.

If there are small deviations, then the whole appearance will visually deteriorate. Moreover, it is important that the tiles laid in a circle on the wall in the bathroom meet at the seams.

Advice! A dye cord is used for measuring work. They beat off stripes. If you have a laser level, then the marking process is not only simplified, but also accelerated.

Preparation of glue

After marking, you need to prepare tile adhesive on which ceramic tiles will be laid on the floor and walls. The composition used can be two-component, cement-based or one-component. You need to know how to properly dilute tile adhesive.

If you purchased ready-made glue in dry form, you must follow the instructions on the proportions on the package from the manufacturer. This will allow you to achieve the desired consistency of the glue.

Tile adhesive can also be used on a cement base. It is recommended to breed it in warm water. Used for mixing electric drill and a special attachment – ​​mixer. Stir until a creamy mixture forms in the container.

Important! Tile adhesive should not be too thick or liquid. You can check this by scooping up the prepared glue on a spatula and turning it over. If the glue flows, then it is liquid; if it sets like a stone, then it is thick. Its consistency should allow the tile to move while adjusting it.

Laying is a critical stage

Now it's time to learn how to properly glue ceramic tiles. If the laying is done on a wall, then glue is first applied to the wall, and then to the tiles. The first row already has a level guide profile installed. Therefore, you glue the first tile according to the applied markings.

note

Many people remember old technology, which consisted in the fact that the tiles were pre-soaked. Therefore, many are tormented by the question, do I need to soak the tiles? Modern technologies eliminate this need. It may be enough to decide whether it needs to be wetted.

There is no need to press the tile itself against the wall too much. Several tiles, up to three pieces, are placed in one row at once. Afterwards a level is applied to them and it is checked that there is no belly. The vertical level is also checked. This is important, because a large layer can come out to the top. The level must be controlled when laying each element.

The tile is pressed gently. As a result, glue residue may escape through the seams. The glue must be removed. The seam should not have any glue residue. The glue can be removed from the seam using a cross or other thin object. To form a seam, it is necessary to place a cross between each tile. These elements must be the same size and thickness.

Floor tiles are also laid using this principle, the only difference is that the work will be done horizontally. You will have to tinker with floor tiles longer, since you need to strictly control the thickness of the glue and the level on all sides.

If small curvatures under the ceiling are not very noticeable, then everything on the floor will be visible. Moreover, before laying tiles on the floor, you need to make sure that the screed is even. Some people put it without focusing on it.

This results in large layers of glue. Of course, fill in a new one cement-sand screed works out cheaper than leveling a large difference tile adhesive. So, floor tiles in total cost from assembly adhesive will cost less.

So, as you can see, you don’t need to have any special equipment for laying tiles on the floor or walls. This work requires patience and a desire to pay attention to every detail.

These are the basic requirements for how to lay tiles correctly. Additionally, we invite you to watch an educational video in which you can learn many other subtleties in this work at the end of the article.

Trimming

Before installing tiles in corners or near other structures, trimming may be required. For this purpose it is used manual tile cutter or electric. If the tiles are small in size, then you can get by with a manual device.

Cutting must be done carefully and slowly. First, measurements are taken, they are transferred to the tile and a cut is made in one step.

Grouting joints

Grouting is final stage laying tiles. A special mixture is used for grouting. It can be matched to the color of the tile or played with contrast. First make sure that there are no glue residues or other contaminants in the seams.

Grouting is done using a rubber spatula. Remaining grout must be immediately removed from the tile surface. If they dry out, they will be harder to clean. When the grout has dried, all you have to do is wash the surface and wipe it dry.

Conclusion
So, here we are, looking at the basic tips for laying ceramic tiles. We hope that this material has provided you with food for thought and will help you do all the work yourself. If you are worried and not sure how to properly glue tiles to a wall or floors, then we offer you an introductory video at the end of this article.

Ten useful tips for laying ceramic tiles yourself

Laying tiles according to all rules and standards

In places such as the kitchen, toilet and bathroom, ceramic tiles are often used to decorate the walls. Tiles are one of the most popular building materials, and this is understandable. It is easy to clean and performs well in damp environments. But there is a drawback when using ceramic tiles - the cost of installation is high, and can reach (and sometimes exceed) the cost of the tile itself. There is a way out of this problem - laying tiles on the wall with your own hands. In this article we will talk about how to lay tiles on a wall, as well as all the necessary preparations.

Preparing the wall for laying tiles

Regardless of whether it's expensive or cheap tiles laid on the wall, the quality of the finished surface will largely depend on how well the rough base is prepared. With a perfectly flat base, the process of gluing tiles to walls occurs many times faster, which is why hired craftsmen often increase the price for their work if there are large irregularities on the walls. To save time and nerves, take the time to Special attention all stages preceding the installation of tiles.

So, preparing a wall for laying tiles begins with checking its evenness and, if necessary, leveling it. Long rule and the water level, the walls are checked in several places for the presence of large gaps, blockages and differences. Small unevenness on the wall surface (up to 1-2 cm) can be leveled with tile adhesive directly during installation, but you need to understand that this requires some experience. In addition, the time for tiling work with this approach increases significantly. So for a beginner the best option There will be high-quality preparation of the base, since it is much easier to do it yourself.

As a rule, leveling is carried out using plastering, but also a common method is in which the walls are leveled by erecting plasterboard structures, onto a perfectly flat surface of which tiles are installed.

We discussed the process of self-plastering a wall using beacons in, which is required reading before finishing. It is only worth noting that in wet rooms it is not recommended to use gypsum-based compounds for plastering. This is due to the ability of gypsum to absorb water, which can lead to the formation of fungus on the walls.

If the surface of the wall is sufficiently smooth and does not require plaster, it must be cleaned. To do this, use a spatula to clean the wall down to the plaster layer, completely removing the remnants of old paint, whitewash, exfoliated pieces of plaster, and repairing all chips and cracks. All these defects are covered with ordinary tile adhesive until a smooth surface is obtained. Presence of crumbling areas or areas with old paint or whitewashing significantly worsens the contact of the tile adhesive with the wall.

After leveling the wall, it is primed. The primer, absorbed into the plaster layer, improves the adhesion of the tile adhesive to the base, binds all dust, and also prevents the appearance of fungus on the wall surface. The primer is applied to the wall with a regular roller or wide brush in several layers, allowing it to be completely absorbed into the plaster.

For better contact wall tiles often use special compounds with the addition of coarse river sand or granite chips. This composition - concrete contact - creates a rough structure on the flat surface of the wall, which contributes to better adhesion of the coating to the base. If it is impossible to purchase concrete contact, it is necessary to make notches on the plaster in order to adhesive composition fits better on the wall.

Choosing ceramic tiles for walls

The selection of tiles is important stage not only from the point of view of the design approach. It so happens that the lower the price of the tile, the worse it is geometric shape, which in turn leads to difficulties when installing it. When laying tiles irregular shape It is difficult to get identical seams and a smooth surface without differences. This also leads to the fact that when using such a material it is difficult to achieve a thin seam at the joints of the tiles. Therefore, if the size of the joints is of great importance to you, choose either foreign samples or domestic tiles in the above-average price range. The photo below shows the differences in the shape of tiles from one pack:

Close attention should also be paid to the format of the tiles. Laying large-format tiles alone will be quite problematic. In addition, if you lack experience, you may encounter overuse of material, which, given the high cost of such tiles, will lead to unjustified expenses. For beginner tilers, it will be most convenient to work with small and medium format tiles.

In addition to size, the shape of the ceramic is also important. When choosing its type, you need to rely on the design project of the future room and the need for trimming. For example, when using a wide rectangular tiles in a narrow room, you may be faced with either the need to glue small fragments in the corner, or the need to double the number of tiles to finish a given wall.

All these nuances are individual for each specific room and project, so there is no universal solution for all rooms.

When choosing tiles, it often happens that the option you like is intended for laying on the floor. It is not prohibited to lay floor tiles on a wall, however, such tiles are often made of porcelain stoneware, which is many times stronger than ordinary ceramic tiles and is more difficult to cut and drill. This must be taken into account, since when laying wall tiles, much more cutting is done than when laying.

Last tip when choosing tiles is that when purchasing, you need to check the lot numbers on each pack of material and purchase tiles of only one article and lot number, as this will protect you from differences in color scheme one party or another.

Tile layout

An important point in laying any ceramic tile is its layout. IN modern renovation It is important to avoid the formation of narrow undercuts and tile residues along the edges. To do this, precise markings are made in advance and laid out either on paper or in computer program. The idea is that there should be equal parts of the tiles on all sides along the edges, and the solid elements should be in the center. This layout is considered the only correct one.

Tools and materials for laying tiles

The main device needed to work with tiles is a tile cutter. The lack of a tile cutter is a barrier for many craftsmen who want to lay tiles with their own hands. A high-quality tool is usually expensive, but today there are many services and stores offering all necessary tool for rent.

To lay tiles on the wall, you can use either a manual or electric tile cutter. An electric tile cutter is convenient because it does not require special skills to use - it works like a regular circular saw, only instead of saw blade has a diamond wheel. Dust in such a device settles in a water bath. Advantage electric tile cutter is the speed and quality of cutting even small pieces of tiles, as well as the ability to cut tiles at 45 degrees. The disadvantage is the need for maintenance, cleaning and washing after each working day.

In addition to the tile cutter, the main hand tools The tiler's tool is a notched trowel - a trowel, with which the adhesive is applied to the tiles and walls, and also distributed over its surface. The convenience lies in the fact that using the teeth on a spatula, a uniform thickness of the tile adhesive seam is achieved. There are teeth different sizes, therefore, for each specific case, a different size is selected. For convenience, we have compiled a table to help you quickly determine the size of the notched trowel for your needs:

In addition to the spatula, you will need the following tools:

Before directly laying the tiles, they are sorted to identify defects, tiles of uneven shape, differing from others in size and shades of color. This procedure is carried out for both cheap and expensive tiles. High-quality, smooth tiles are used in places that are visible. Tiles with defects or minor defects allowed for pruning, or used in hidden places.

Cutting and trimming tiles

If available on premises smooth walls And correct sizes, experienced craftsmen cut tiles for all walls at once in accordance with a pre-designed layout. This is done in order to save time and not have to cut the tiles after gluing each subsequent row.

If you are not sure that you will be able to get the dimensions, taking into account all the errors and the thickness of the seams, we recommend cutting locally to avoid mistakes.

Laying ceramic tiles on the wall

The process begins with marking the room. As for the horizontal layout, it is determined by a pre-prepared layout diagram. All you have to do is accurately cut the tiles according to the dimensions. When marking vertically, there may be several options.

As a rule, laying wall tiles begins not from the floor itself, but from the second row; this is done to obtain a perfectly even row, which is impossible to do when laying from an uneven floor. But often the layout is made so that the beginning of the tile is at the same level as the top edge of the bathtub; in this case, the starting row is measured taking into account the size of the bathtub.

There can be many options for tile layouts, so in the most simple version The marking of the second row is done as follows: a distance equal to the thickness of the floor tiles and adhesive layer is set aside from the floor (6-8 mm if there is a flat floor) and this point is taken as the level of the future finished floor. A distance equal to the sum of the heights of the wall tiles and the seam between the floor and wall tiles is set aside from the finished floor level. At the resulting point, a line is drawn around the entire perimeter of the room. It will correspond to the bottom border of the seam between the tiles of the first and second row.

The first row of tiles will be glued last after all the wall and floor tiles have been laid. In case of an error in the calculations, this row can be trimmed without damage appearance, since the joint at the bottom is filled with sealant and will be invisible.

Mounted on the wall along the border of the marked line metallic profile, on which the first working row of tiles will be installed and which will prevent them from sliding down. After the glue has hardened, the profile can be dismantled.

After marking and preparation, begin mixing the tile adhesive. Here you need to pay attention to two points - consistency and quantity. The consistency of the glue is chosen so that the ridges, after spreading with a notched trowel, do not spread, but are not too thick. The composition should be elastic and easy to apply to the wall. The amount of solution is selected in such a way that its lifetime does not end before it is used. full use. The lifetime of the solution is indicated on the packaging; after this time, the glue loses its elasticity and dries out. If you do not have much experience in laying tiles, we recommend mixing a small amount of glue first, then the required amount will come with experience.

The tiles are laid, starting from the corner of the wall, on an even layer of adhesive, which is applied to the wall with a notched trowel. If there are smooth walls, the adhesive should only be applied to the wall. If there are unevennesses, glue is applied both to the wall and to the tile itself with a regular spatula and leveled with a notched trowel. Modern technology The production of ceramic tiles does not require that they be wetted before laying. On the contrary, this can lead to a violation of its correct connection to the wall.

In order to maintain the parallelism of the planes of the tile and the wall in the horizontal direction (in the vertical this parameter is controlled bubble level) in the first row, you need to mount the so-called beacon tiles. To do this, a whole tile or any scrap is temporarily mounted on the opposite side of the wall. After this, apply to the first and beacon tiles long rule. If there are gaps between the rule and the plane of the tiles, then their position is adjusted until the gaps are completely eliminated. In parallel with this, the vertical installation of the tiles should be controlled.

After gluing the first ceramic element, the second one is mounted using the same principle, checking the correctness of its installation using the rule and level, not forgetting, in addition to parallelism, to control the horizontal level of gluing. After this, the beacon tile can be dismantled, and control can be carried out using two already installed tiles.

At the junction between two tiles, it is necessary to install plastic crosses to adjust the gap between them. Crosses must also be installed under the tiles to simulate a seam between the current row and the first row, which will be installed at the very end. In addition to the seams, crosses are installed in the crosshairs between the tiles to form correct junctions. They should be removed immediately after the tile adhesive begins to set and dry. If you wait until the glue has completely dried, removing the plastic from the seams may be a problem.

The entire further installation process is repeated in the same way. It is important at each stage to control the vertical and horizontal installation of the tiles and adjust its position if necessary.

After laying all the wall tiles and drying the glue, they proceed to cleaning the seams and filling them with grout. To do this, it is convenient to use a small spatula. The grout is rubbed into the joint cavity, distributed evenly and allowed to dry a little. After a few minutes, the grout is carefully rubbed with a moistened sponge until a smooth, even seam is formed. After this, it is left to dry completely for about a day. After a day, all excess grout is wiped off the tiles with a wet cloth. It is important not to leave the grout on the tiles for several days, as it will become more and more difficult to remove it every day.

The seam between the floor tiles and the wall is usually filled not with grout, but with sealant. To do this, choose either a white sanitary sealant or a sealant that matches the color of the grout. This is done in order to compensate for the thermal expansion of the tiles and to avoid cracking of the grout in the joints. This is especially true when present in a screed. The video below shows how easy it is to make a neat seam between the wall and the floor using sealant.

As a rule, after laying tiles with their own hands, many admit that their fears were in vain, because the whole process is not particularly difficult. A good help in this matter would be to use quality instrument and good preparation of the rough surface.

Finally, we invite you to watch a video in which the master describes in detail the process of laying ceramic wall tiles:

Often, those who decide to lay tiles themselves do not think about which side to start laying tiles on. And this is very important point.
Experienced craftsmen They know that if you start laying tiles in the bathroom or kitchen correctly, less material will be used, which means less money will be spent. The time for laying tiles will also be reduced and the design in the bathroom or toilet will look better.

By by and large The question: “Where should you start laying tiles” does not have a clear answer. But there are several points that help craftsmen determine which side to start laying tiles on.

First you need to decide on the sequence of laying tiles in the bathroom or kitchen. It is recommended to start laying tiles from the walls, and not from the floor, because... during work, the material with which the tiler is working may fall from the walls and new tiles on the floor will be damaged. Another reason why installation should start from the walls is the drying time of the tiles. For the tile adhesive to set completely, you need to wait from several days to a week. At this time we will have to stop renovation work in the bathroom or toilet, and this is extra time.

Laying scheme

Before you start laying tiles in the bathroom or toilet, you need to decide on the location of the tiles. To do this, you should draw a design on paper and make the necessary calculations.

Next, you should make even markings on the wall, moving the tiles from top to bottom without mortar. It is necessary to mark the position of each tile, thereby determining the future position of the tile. The bottom row will be correctly laid out last of the cut pieces.

How to lay tiles on walls

Tiles on the walls begin to be laid from the corner that first catches the eye when entering the room, usually this is the opposite wall from front door. On the second row marked with a thread or level on the wall, you need to attach a strip, making sure that it is level. After which you can begin laying tiles on the wall.

To avoid the tiles slipping, you can lay out no more than two rows at a time. You can lay two rows of tiles on each wall and so on in a circle. While the row is being laid on one wall, it will already dry on the other. You need to start facing with intact elements, and the lower rows can be laid from damaged ones.

If a novice tiler wants to lay one wall after another, we can safely say that nothing will work out - the tiles in the corners will not fit together, and the seams will fluctuate from 3 mm to 3 cm, which looks very unsightly.

It should also be taken into account that if there are external corners in the kitchen or bathroom, then the tiles are laid from them, since finishing the row with damaged tiles on outer corner it won't work.

The bottom row should be placed last. Most often, when laying the bottom row, the tiles have to be cut. This is done special tool- tile cutter.
Between each row of tiles in the bathroom or kitchen you need to place crosses - special accessories for working with tiles.

In case on finished work If glue accidentally spills, it should be removed from the tile immediately to avoid hardening. After the laid tiles in the toilet or bathroom are completely dry, the entire lining should be wiped first with a damp cloth and then with a dry one. After which you can start grouting the joints.

Drawing on the wall

You should also take into account that if the owner is going to lay out a certain pattern in the toilet, then you need to start laying the tiles from the center of the image. If this is not done, the drawing may end up on the side of the wall.

To determine the center of the wall in the kitchen or toilet, you need to use a cord to set the diagonals, where the diagonals will intersect, there is the center of the wall.

You should start laying tiles from the center of the image and continue the row in one direction and the other from the center. After the central row is laid out, it will become clear where to move next and the work will go faster.

Laying tiles on the floor

Where to start laying tiles on the floor in the toilet?

1. There are three options by which experienced tilers begin to lay the tiles on the floor. Laying occurs from the farthest corner opposite the door. This standard way, which is suitable for laying tiles in the kitchen, but if in the bathroom this corner is closed by a shower stall, then there is no point in using this method.
2. Laying from the threshold at the door. In this case, laying the tiles begins from the corner that is closest to the door. This method is used most often, since plumbing is usually located on the opposite side.
3. Laying from the center of the room. Four tiles are placed in the center of the room, from which the flooring continues.

There is one simple way to determine which of the three options to use. You should measure the length of the row and divide the resulting result by the width of the tile. If the resulting remainder is less than half, then you should start laying the floor with tiles from the beginning of the row. This method not only saves material, but also the layout looks neater.

Before starting work, the floor is thoroughly cleaned and leveled. Next, you should create a waterproofing trough that will protect the floor from various types of leaks. To do this, use waterproofing - liquid or roll. The insulating layer is primed on top to increase the adhesion of the tile adhesive.

Grouting joints

You can grout the seams after the cladding is completely dry. All crosses should be removed and you can begin grouting.

The grout is selected to match the color of the tile, diluted in water until smooth and applied evenly rubber spatula between the seams.

After some of the seams have been rubbed, it is necessary to wipe them with a slightly damp sponge so that the seams are smooth and beautiful.

Saving

Many people think about how to save money during renovations. The first thing you shouldn’t save on is the quality of the tiles, as in the future this savings can cost even more.

You don't have to place tiles where they won't be visible, for example, on walls where plumbing fixtures will be installed. Only in this case you need to remember that the walls will need additional protection from moisture - be sure to plaster, prime, and possibly paint.

Also, you don’t have to put tiles under the bathtub, especially if the entire space under the bathtub is covered with a screen. The floor, where there will be no tiles, should also be protected from moisture.

Surface finishing with ceramic and tiles is one of the most visually attractive options today. finishing in residential, administrative, commercial or other premises. And in addition to external beauty, this finish has a number of advantages:

• moisture resistance;
• strength;
• and durability.

Ceramic tiles have only one drawback, which makes them an inaccessible finishing option for many. This is high cost, or rather, the high cost of installation coupled with expensive prices for the material itself. The tiler will have to pay a tidy sum. And it’s not surprising - the work is painstaking, requiring concentration, certain knowledge and skills, and accuracy. The tiler not only selects tiles according to the pattern and colors during installation (plus calculates the required volume), he also maintains the planes, laying them at the required level.

However, you can save money if you have the right amount of time for self-installation and strictly follow the installation technology. And also pay attention to everyone useful tips, what professionals in this field of finishing give.

How to lay tiles with your own hands?

Even if you have never had to do anything like this, an amateur has a good chance of laying tiles on the floor or wall with high quality. It is only important to be patient, be careful and consistently carry out all the necessary technological steps.

But first you need to get the right tool:

• hydro or laser level, plumb line;
• square;
• a hammer drill with a mixer attachment;
• polystyrene foam float to “stretch” the plaster over the surface;
• trowel;
• aluminum rule;
• notched spatula;
• tile cutter;
• rubber spatula or jointing sponge.

Self-installation technology for ceramic and/or tiles:

Alignment is a mandatory procedure, since without this the corner of the cladding can simply be “filled up”. This means that there will be a large variation in the width of the seams, which both looks ugly and is bad for the quality of installation as a whole. The evenness of the corners is checked with a special tool - a square, which is installed exactly in the corner, and its edges should lie tightly against the walls.

Laying tiles on the wall with your own hands

So, the prepared walls, from which the previous finishing layer/layers were removed, must be plastered in order to level them as much as possible.

To do this, you need to purchase the appropriate dry powder in the store. plaster mixture on a cement base. And mix the composition with water in the proportions indicated on the package. To ensure a high-quality solution, you should use a special construction mixer or a special attachment for a hammer drill.

The process of plastering vertical surfaces is simple, but requires certain skills:

• first, the mortar is thrown onto the wall in small portions with a trowel;
• then using a polystyrene foam float in a circular motion, the solution is stretched over the surface;
• It is necessary to constantly monitor the evenness of the wall using a laser, hydro or conventional level.

If the wall is large in area and/or has significant unevenness, then plastering will have to be done using aluminum beacons with a T-shaped section, 5 and/or 10 mm in diameter, placed strictly vertically on the mortar layer. In this case, the size of the fin is determined depending on the size of the irregularities. The step will be 1 or 1.5 m.

As soon as the layer with the beacons has set, it will be possible to throw the solution between the slats. And remove excess with a rule thrown between the rows of beacons.

How to plaster walls according to the rules? You will learn about all the secrets by watching this video review:

Now you can start tiling the walls:

• knead the dry glue to the consistency of thick sour cream. Important: you don’t need to do much at once, otherwise the glue will cool down and lose its qualities;
• apply the adhesive mixture to each tile over the entire back surface with a special notched trowel;
• the masonry is carried out from the bottom up and its evenness is constantly monitored (in each of the rows);
• and it is necessary to maintain the same width of the seams using special plastic crosses (they are sold in different sizes).

Of course, during the installation process you cannot do without cutting the tiles. This operation is performed using special equipment - a tile cutter.

Detailed instructions for tiling walls are presented in the video review:

Laying tiles on the floor with your own hands

The floor, before laying ceramic tiles on it, will also need to be leveled. Almost by analogy with walls, but only using the screed method.

For minor unevenness of the floor surface, you will only need a self-leveling device - ready-made, dry mortar. It will need to be covered with water and laid out on the floor. And this screed will level the surface itself.

If the unevenness on the floor is serious, there are noticeable differences in level, it will be necessary to level the surface with a screed using beacons. A solution of cement-sand mixture.

With a concrete floor everything is simple and clear, but with a wooden floor it is more complicated. The fact is that it is under no circumstances recommended to lay tiles on old boards. It is necessary to lay new ones with a thickness of at least 2.5 cm. At the same time wooden surface must be cleaned and treated with special impregnations against fungus, water and rot. A waterproofing layer must be laid on top of the tree. You can take roll material, or you can use compositions for spreading on the surface. Next, the reinforcing mesh is placed, and concrete is poured after it. And you will have to wait until the screed hardens.

In general, it takes at least 4 weeks for concrete to harden (and not dry out). Only special plasticizer additives for solutions can speed up the process.

As soon as preparatory stages completed, you can begin laying tiles. How to lay tiles on the floor? Step by step, of course:

1. Prepare tile adhesive by kneading the selected dry mixture as written on its packaging. And you need to do exactly as much as you plan to spend, which is called “at a time.”
2. Apply required quantity glue on back side tiles and spread over the entire surface with a special notched trowel.
3. Glue the tiles to the floor, starting from the far corner of the room and moving towards the exit.
   The evenness of the installation is checked in each row. The width of the seams is also controlled.

Regardless of where you had to lay the tiles yourself - on the floor or on the walls, as soon as the process is completed, you need to perform another mandatory finishing operation - jointing. That is, fill the resulting seams with a special composition of a certain shade.

This is done for both practical and decorative purposes. And experts do not recommend saving on fugue, otherwise the seams will crack.

The seams are smoothed using a special spatula or a special sponge. The mixture is prepared according to the recipe printed on each package. And after the composition has dried, its excess is carefully washed off the tiles with plain water.

Brief video instructions for tiling the floor:

How to lay tiles in the bathroom with your own hands

Most often, tiles are laid, of course, in bathrooms and toilets. The cladding process is not much different from those described above. The main thing is to choose the right plaster and adhesive compositions. And also correctly calculate the required amount of tiles themselves. So as not to buy more later.

There are several tips for laying material in this particular room:

• It is better to place trim elements at the bottom and in the corners;
• it is worth using a horizontal starting rail;
• the bottom edge of the tiles in the initial (bottom) row must be installed along this wooden strip;
• Check the evenness of the “sides” in the rows with a laser level.

It should be remembered that ceramic or tiles, even when laid on a properly prepared surface, take several days to dry.

A specialist talks about the secrets of laying tiles: