"Where to begin?" - Perhaps the most common question that arises for all those who are considering how to lay a tile in the bathroom with their own hands. It is best to start by creating a detailed plan (project), in which it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of the upcoming work. You can sketch your thoughts on a piece of paper or use the services of a designer. Recently, more and more stores provide this service for free when selecting and buying material. The main thing is that you like the project option. Pay attention to such things:
- First of all, this is the arrangement. If the bathroom is small, then it can be difficult to plan the placement of a bathtub, sink, toilet bowl. Therefore, it is important to think things over. Is it planned to install any equipment (for example, a washing machine). Very often, a washing machine is installed in the bathroom, which requires an individual supply and drainage of water, as well as electricity.
- Will the bathroom have underfloor heating. If so, which ones.
- Where will be installed electrical appliances, lamps, sockets.
- What material will be used for decorating walls, ceilings and floors.
Selection and purchase of material
In choosing the material, be guided not only by preferences, but also by practicality, as well as quality. Do not be afraid to experiment, for example, in combination with tiles (or instead of it) you can use wallpaper and paint. Thus, the question "how to lay the tiles in the bathroom" will be easier or completely disappear. On the ceiling, you can also install various types of panels or paint it. But the best option is stretch ceilings. If the walls need to be leveled, then the plaster mix should be on a cement basis. Before going to the construction store, you need to measure the room as accurately as possible in order to avoid a shortage or, conversely, an overabundance of material.
Work order
Conventionally, the work in the question of “how to lay tiles in the bathroom” can be divided into two stages: preparatory and finishing. At the preparatory stage, the most time-consuming and "dirty" types of work are performed:
- Dismantling. Unnecessary partitions and various designs are demolished. The surface is cleaned from old material. Notches are made on the walls if, for example, the walls were previously painted.
- Installation of electric wire, sewer pipes and water supply is being carried out.
- Installation of underfloor heating (if provided).
- Alignment of walls and floor (if necessary).
- New structures (boxes, niches) or partitions are being erected. The material is different, but mostly it is moisture-proof drywall or blocks.
The final stage is already directly finishing according to the selected materials:
- Facing walls and floors with tiles and grout.
- Painting or wallpapering (if provided).
- Installation of necessary appliances and items.
Installation of electricians and plumbing
These works are carried out at the preparatory stage and require special attention. They include gating walls and laying cables to places of future outlets, switches, sensors and fixtures. Installed podrozetniki. The depth of the strobes depends on the thickness of the cable.
If the installation of sewer pipes and water sockets is hidden, then it is also necessary to hollow the walls into the thickness of the pipes. Instead, you can mount drywall boxes. This is especially true for monolithic walls, because it is almost impossible to hollow out a strob for sewer pipes.
Installation can be open, it all depends on the preferences and features of the bathroom. The main thing is to immediately check all nodes and connections for operability. The strobes are sealed with plaster mix or tile adhesive.
Installation of underfloor heating
A great solution for those who are faced with the question "how to lay tiles in the bathroom." For bathrooms, there are two types:
- Electric underfloor heating is installed before laying the tiles. It is a heating element (usually a cable or heating mat). It happens with and without a sensor. Management is carried out by means of a temperature regulator.
- Water underfloor heating is suitable for those who have individual heating or a water heater. It features a more complex installation, but also greater savings compared to an electric underfloor heating. Installation takes place at a draft stage. To do this, remove the layer of the old screed in the selected place and lay the pipe (usually metal-plastic) and connect it to the collector of the gas boiler. Depth should be at least 3-5 centimeters from the surface of the pipe. It is poured with a cement-sand mixture. After pouring the screed, you can turn on the heating no earlier than three weeks later.
Alignment of walls and floor
How to lay tiles in the bathroom on the walls? Here a lot depends on the walls, or rather, on how smooth their surface is. Therefore, a reasonable question arises: to plaster the walls or not? There are no general recommendations, a lot depends on the specific room, but, for example, if the walls are uneven, then the consumption of tile glue will increase up to two times. Therefore, if the deviation from the level is more than 1-2 centimeters in length and height, then it is recommended to plaster it. In addition, if the corner of the room is expanded (more than 90 degrees), then the glue consumption will also increase.
Before plastering, it is important to treat the walls with a primer or concrete contact (for monolithic walls). If enamel was originally applied to the walls, notches should be made. To achieve the best result, it is necessary to use a cement-based plaster mixture.
All of the above applies to gender.
An uneven (not level) floor will not only look unaesthetically, but can also cause improper installation of equipment and furniture. It is best to level it with lighthouses using a cement-sand mixture. If necessary, make waterproofing with a rise of 15-20 centimeters on the walls.
Tile mounting methods
There is no definite answer to the question of how to lay tiles in the bathroom. Some people prefer to start from the walls, while others start from the floor. There are no fundamental differences in technology, there are only small nuances:
- If it was decided to start from the walls, then first you should mark the perimeter of the room at the level of the beginning of the second row. We measure the height of the future row, taking into account the thickness of the floor tiles and glue, put a mark. Using the laser level, we put marks around the entire perimeter of the room. You can draw a line by the usual rule or by using a marking cord. Now it remains to attach the guides to the wall and get to work.
- The second way is to start laying tiles from the floor. Perhaps the easiest option, especially for those who are first faced with the question of how to lay tiles in the bathroom. Usually start from the wall opposite the entrance. After the glue has dried, you can start decorating the walls.
- There is also a third way, although it is quite rare, this is when the tiles begin to be laid from the level of an already installed bath. That is, tiles are not placed on the walls behind the bathroom. In this method, there are perhaps more minuses than pluses. For example, in most cases, the first row of tiles around the perimeter will have to be filed. The question is quite natural: "how to lay the tiles under the bath in this case?" But in any case, pieces of tile are brought under the bath so that subsequently they are covered by a decorative screen.
There are also ways according to the layout:
- Direct layout when the tile is perpendicular to the walls. The easiest way, since it does not require additional measurements and cuts of tiles.
- Diagonal, when the rows of plates go along opposite corners, that is, diagonally. Suitable for small rooms, as it visually expands the space. Increases the required number of tiles by 10-15%.
- The layout is in a run. It is rarely used, mainly in large rooms using long tiles.
Laying tiles on the floor
And finally, all the preparatory work is completed, and you can proceed directly to the installation of tiles. How to lay tiles in the bathroom on the floor? Where to apply glue - on the tile or on the floor? These and other questions will arise before you if you are a beginner or decide to make repairs yourself. But do not be scared, everything is not so scary:
- Floor tiles should be laid out on the floor along the walls from the corner of the intended start. This will allow you to see how flat the walls are and the angle. If at the preparatory stage the walls and the corner were aligned, then this step can be skipped.
- It is necessary to lay the tiles in such a way that the most open places in the bathroom are faced with whole plates (the layout is determined at the planning stage). If the layout is diagonal, then you must first make the markup. Usually start from the wall parallel to the entrance.
- Glue still needs to be applied to the floor with a toothed trowel or a spatula with a tooth size of 8-10 millimeters. Of course, many are advised to apply on both surfaces (both on the floor and on the tile), but this will significantly affect the speed, and besides, this action is not so important. If the screed was made according to the level, then glue is applied under the comb (on the floor), not allowing an increase in the thickness of the glue and voids between the tile and the floor.
- The plane of the laid slabs is checked using the rule and the building level. The seams between the tiles are fixed with crosses, the distance from the wall with tile wedges.
- Excess glue is best removed immediately, especially at the seams of the plates. Since when drying, it will be much harder to do and damage the tiles.
- You can go or start further work after at least 12 hours, it all depends on the thickness of the tile adhesive. It is recommended to immediately clean all joints from glue residue.
Mounting tiles on the walls
Regardless of which installation method was chosen, this will not affect how to properly lay the tiles in the bathroom. Any of the methods will be correct. The most important part in laying on the walls is the first row. All further work will depend on the correct installation of the first row of tiles. Therefore, in the matter of how to lay tiles in the bathroom, the following recommendations will help you:
- The first row fits strictly in level (vertical and horizontal). You can correct the horizontal with the help of wedges, placing them under the tile. The vertical level is adjusted by clicking on the tile. The thickness of the seam is fixed with crosses, usually 1.5 millimeters.
- They usually start from the wall opposite the entrance. This is done so that the tile laid on adjacent walls covers the edges of the tile laid on the front wall. So the joint (inner corner) will be less noticeable. But if you plan to use decorative tiled corners, then you can start with any of the walls.
- Glue is better to put on the tile, so there will be less dirt. But if the walls are slightly uneven, then it is better to apply glue on both surfaces. The thickness of the glue will increase, but it will be possible to adjust the tile if the wall "falls" (bends, protrudes) inside the room.
- It is recommended that you first lay out the first row around the entire perimeter and only then proceed to the next rows. This will be easier to do using the laser level.
- You can cut the tile with an electric or manual tile cutter, as well as a grinder with a diamond wheel mounted on it. We make holes with ceramic drills or special crowns.
Grouting
After the tile is fully laid out and the glue has dried, you can start grouting the seams. But before that, it is necessary to clean all the seams from crosses, wedges and the remains of tile glue. Usually the seams are cleaned the next day after laying.
The diluted grout is rubbed into the seams with a rubber spatula, then washed off with a damp cloth or sponge in a circular motion. It is important not to press too hard on the sponge so as not to wash out the seams that are not yet dried. Also, do not overwrite too much volume, they usually overwrite 1-1.5 square meters, it all depends on the experience, and sometimes the type of grout.
Grout can be tinted in any color with a regular paint tint.
Do not align the seams with your finger, as many have suggested, this will cause your fingers to cut. It is better to use special tubes (they come with grout) or the back of a rubber spatula.
After the grout has dried (preferably the next day), plaque from the tile can be easily removed by wiping it with a dry and then a damp cloth.
Installation of equipment and furniture
So we figured out the question of how to properly lay tiles in the bathroom, it remains only to install equipment and furniture. First of all, a bath or shower is installed, and this equipment needs to be assembled in the room itself. Then everything else is installed: a toilet bowl, a sink, all kinds of equipment and other items and accessories, as well as sockets, switches and lamps.
The repair is completed, and now you know how to lay the tiles in the bathroom. If everything was done correctly, then you will enjoy the repairs made for a long time. Problem spots can be closed using various decorative elements. Thus, you can give the bathroom coziness and beauty and emphasize its individuality.