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How To Tile A Bathroom

So you’re tiling your bathroom? This step-by-step guide from Walls and Floors will show you how quick and easy it is to tile a bathroom. Our professional tiler takes you through the entire process; from planning and preparation, right through to applying the grout.

Preparing to tile your bathroom

Have you got a sufficient amount of tiles, adhesive and grout? Firstly, measure the area to be tiled and calculate it in square metres. Then work out the number of tiles and add about 10% for wastage. Walls and Floors can help you with your calculations if you’re unsure. Alternatively, you can use our handy Tile Calculator. It can be found on all tile product pages. Always check the wall to make sure the background you’re tiling on is clean, dry and sound, and will hold the weight of the tiling. Always check recommended weight loadings for your tiles. That’s 32kg/Sqm for plasterboard, and 20kg/Sqm for well-adhered plaster.

Tiling your bathroom walls

Start by setting out the area to be tiled. Take a baton of timber, and mark out the width of your tiles with spacers. This will help you to estimate the final position of your tiles, and plan evenly sized cuts to the tile edges. Use a 6mm Wall Trowel to apply a good, even layer of adhesive. Press and twist your tiles into the adhesive, one row at a time. Make sure you use Tile Spacers to ensure a uniform joint. Once the adhesive has hardened, you’re ready to get on with the grouting!

Grouting your bathroom wall tiles 

Before you begin, carefully check that your tile joints are clear of any excess adhesive, and that you have removed any tile spacers.

Simply add the powder to the water and mix to a good, creamy consistency. Use a Grout Float to work the grout into the tile joints. Wait for the grout to partially set, and wash the surface off with a sponge and clean water. Once you’ve completed your bathroom wall tiling, you’re not ready to start on your floor tiling.

Planning your bathroom floor tiles 

When tiling directly onto plywood overlay, use Ardex X7001 Tile Adhesive with Ardex P51 Primer. Firstly check that the boards are screwed down correctly before you begin, and that the base is sound. Next, set out the floor area to be tiled. Select the best position for your centreline to tile from and mark the floor. Use a gauging staff made with your floor tiles to check the tile cuts are even.

Laying tiles directly onto timber

If you’re tiling directly onto a timber floor, Kwik Flex Grey Floor Tile Adhesive with Palace Tiles Primer are the ideal, easy option. Brush one coat of Palace Tiles Primer onto the floor and leave it to dry. Then thoroughly mix the powdered adhesive into clean water with a Mixing Paddle and drill. Working from the centreline we found earlier, use a Floor Trowel to spread out an even bed of adhesive, and press each tile firmly into the adhesive with a slight twisting motion. Remember to push a full tile spacer between the tiles as you go. Remove any surplus tile adhesive from the surface with a damp Tiling Sponge and clean water. Once the adhesive has hardened, the tiles can be grouted.

Grouting your new bathroom floor tiles

When grouting, we recommend using Ulrtacolour Mapei Grout. Available in various colours, it’s a durable, flexible tile grout with built in ad-mix. When you are ready to start grouting, empty the bag of powder into the water and mix thoroughly. Ultracolour Mapei Grout is really easy to mix to get a good, creamy consistency. It can also be mixed to a thicker consistency, so it can be used for grouting walls. Using a grout float, apply the grout into the tile joints, working in diagonal sweeping movements. Wait for the grout to partially set, then damp down the tile surface and wash off with an Tiling Sponge and clean water.

To finish the job, we’re use Silicone Sealant. Simply cut the nozzle, load the gun, and apply. Silicone is available in several colours. Finally, polish off your newly tiled bathroom, stand back and admire your work!

All the products shown in this video and more are available right here at Walls and Floors! Now you’ve seen How To Tile A Bathroom, why not take a look at How To Tile A Kitchen?

Walls and Floors
Walls and Floors