Ceramic tiles can without exaggeration be called one of the highest quality and affordable facing materials used in our time for wall decoration in rooms with high humidity. A variety of colors, textures, tile sizes, the presence of multiple decorative elements allow you to come up with a beautiful and unusual design, thanks to which the kitchen, bathroom or toilet will look very elegant and original. Laying tiles on the wall, of course, requires certain skills and accuracy, but the presence of a pair of skillful hands allows you to do this work yourself. The main thing is to approach the matter with full responsibility, preliminarily conduct all the necessary calculations, be patient and follow the generally accepted requirements for facing the walls with ceramic tiles.
The laying of tiles on the wall begins with a thorough preparation of the base surface. The wall under the facing of ceramic tiles must certainly be even, otherwise it is unlikely to achieve a positive result. Therefore, previously all the walls must be leveled with plaster mortar, which, by the way, will greatly facilitate the subsequent installation process. True, some masters level the base directly with a tile adhesive, imposing a different amount of it on each tile and controlling the laying process using the building level. However, such laying tiles on the wall requires a certain amount of experience and a large amount of adhesive solution, which is quite expensive. If you have some experience and desire, the surface can also be leveled with moisture-resistant drywall, which will significantly speed up the process of lining it.
After completing the basic work, it is time to proceed directly to the cladding. Laying tiles on the wall is unlikely to be beautiful and durable if it is carried out on glue of poor quality or not corresponding to the type of facing material. Therefore, when choosing an adhesive composition, it is recommended that you carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations and buy only the adhesive that is designed for the selected type of tile and for laying it on the walls, and not on the floor.
Before starting work, you must carefully mark the surface. Of course, the ideal option is when the cladding can be done without undercutting. However, if it is impossible to lay a whole number of tiles on the wall, work should begin from the most prominent corner. This is necessary so that the cropped pieces are not so striking when entering the room. There is another way that involves starting work from the central part of the wall, but you can use it only if you get fairly wide trim around the edges, so that the masonry will look symmetrical.
When laying ceramic tiles on the wall, it is most difficult to lay exactly the first row, from which, in fact, you will have to “dance” further. Therefore, in order for the cladding to pass qualitatively, usually on the wall, at the level of the second row, a metal or wooden plank is fixed horizontally. It is from this place that the facing should begin, and the fixed bar will serve as a guide for the master and protect the tile from sliding down.
Laying tiles on the wall is carried out without fail using the building level, which allows you to control the correct location of each tile. In addition, the adhesive solution should be tried to be applied evenly, and special crosses should be inserted into the gaps, thanks to which the seams are smooth and beautiful. The presence of voids under the tile is unacceptable.
In principle, the article gives only general recommendations. Laying tiles on a wall with your own hands is quite a long and painstaking work, so, if necessary, you can always find detailed step-by-step instructions on the Internet or in print sources that will help a home craftsman to perfectly cope with the task.