What to do with walls before tiling? Rules for preparing surfaces for laying tiles

For a seamless and durable finish, you must properly prepare your walls before beginning to tile. There are a few important steps involved in surface preparation that can have a big impact on how your tiling project turns out.

To begin with, it’s crucial to check the walls for any damage that may already be there, like holes or cracks. Use the proper fillers or patching compounds to fix these. Ensuring that your tiles adhere correctly and retain a uniform appearance requires smoothing out uneven surfaces.

After that, give the walls a thorough cleaning to get rid of any dust, oil, or grime. A spotless surface is essential for strong tile adherence. To make sure no residue is left behind, thoroughly rinse with water and a mild detergent solution. Let the walls air dry completely before moving further.

Take into consideration priming the walls after cleaning. Primer aids in surface sealing and strengthens the tile adhesive’s bond. Select a primer that is appropriate for the kind of tiles you plan to use as well as the wall material.

After the primer has dried, carefully arrange the tiles. For precise and uniform tile placement, measure the walls and mark the locations of the guidelines. This stage of preparation guarantees a polished outcome and helps to prevent errors.

How to prepare walls in the bathroom and other rooms for tiling?

You must properly prepare the surface for laying tiles if you want them to lie flat and remain in place for many years.

Tiles are typically installed on concrete slabs. However, there are times when they must be installed on drywall, painted walls, or wooden panels. It is imperative to adhere to the technical guidelines for surface preparation in each unique instance.

Painted

There are several preparatory steps that must be taken if the tiles are to be installed on painted walls. You must realize that tiles do not adhere well to concrete, water-based paint, enamel, or specialty adhesives. Alternatively put, the adhesion will be incredibly inconsistent with such a surface.

For this reason, it’s imperative to remove as much paint as you can from the wall. There are various methods for doing this. Use a hand grinder with a specific disc, for instance. Using a spatula or coarse sandpaper, the same process can be carried out manually. Yet, this kind of work could take days or even hours.

It is possible to remove the paint in conjunction with the plaster by using a heavy instrument like an ax or hammer drill. This method will be quicker, but the wall will require new plastering.

In one way or another, the paint has to be completely removed because, in the presence of water in the concrete or tile adhesive, even a tiny bit of paint will cause the tile to fall off.

There is a way to get the wall ready for tiles without taking off the paint layer if you are unable to remove the plaster or oil paint. This requires sanding and acetone degreasing the paint itself. Using an axe or hammer drill, large notches are made in the paint’s surface so that the tiles will stick to the wall—at least through these paint-filled spaces.

However, you must realize that there is no guarantee that the tiles won’t fall off and that this method of wall preparation is ineffective.

With wallpaper

It is not possible, in theory, to adhere tiles to wallpaper. Since the paper or vinyl used to make them gets wet from moisture and loses its adhesion to the wall, it will come off almost instantly. Tiles glued to wallpaper will therefore not stick. Here, the wallpaper has been taken down entirely. And using a spatula or hand sander, the walls beneath the wallpaper are thoroughly cleaned of any remnants of old glue.

Plastered

Walls that are plastered make it much simpler. After all, plaster is typically applied around beacons and provides a perfect surface for tiles. But there are subtleties:

1. The plaster must be made of sand concrete. If it is made on the basis of lime, then it will have to be removed, since this solution does not fit well with the tiles and may fall off under its weight.
2. Old plaster can come off the wall in places, forming voids and will also fall off under the load created by the tiles. When preparing a plastered wall for installing tiles on it, you need to make sure that there are no voids in the coating layer, and that it itself is reliable and dense.

Wooden

For a variety of reasons, it may become necessary to install tiles over wooden floors or wall panels. For instance, the incapacity to remove boards or the installation of technological hatches in the walls or floor that are composed of wooden panels. Occasionally, the notion of tiling a house made entirely of wood occurs to people. In this case, wooden panels must be appropriately primed before tiles are adhered to them.

First of all, you should be aware that a wooden house will eventually shrink on the walls and floor, regardless of how firmly it is built. It may represent as much as 5–7% of the wall’s or home’s total area.

And because tile is not as flexible as wood, it will undoubtedly break and fall off in such a scenario. Furthermore, the use of thermal joints and a unique reinforcing film beneath the tiles will not improve the situation.

For this reason Prior to applying tiles to a wooden house, a piece of chipboard, plywood, or plasterboard is affixed to the wall. Additionally, "sliding supports" are used to secure the plywood sheets. Because they do not press the sheet firmly against the wall, the house is able to "walk" without coming into contact with the tiled interior walls.

From plasterboard

There is no special preparation needed to install tiles on a false plasterboard wall. In this instance, the only suggestion is that the tiles be adhered to the waterproof drywall with a specialty adhesive.

Alignment

Leveling the walls to remove any flaws is the first step in getting ready to install tiles. The wall beneath the tiles needs to be absolutely level, but they are frequently uneven and occasionally crooked. In other words, the wall can be piled inward or outward, and occasionally the depression or bump is right in the center. This occurs as a result of the masons’ lack of focus while laying the bricks or blocks.

You must either plaster them using beacons or cover them with plasterboard to remove such severe distortions.

• In the first case, the beacons are installed on the walls using a level and plumb line, thereby creating an even sheathing of plaster. Using them in the future, it’s easy to plaster the wall.
• The second method is used in cases where the differences in unevenness are 6 cm or more. It is impossible to make such a thick layer of plaster, which is why plasterboard is used. In the worst case scenario, if a crooked wall bursts under the influence of gravity, it is best to dismantle it and lay the brick or blocks again.

Getting rid of cracks and dents

Covering minor dents and cracks is necessary after the wall has been leveled. A "grater," a specialized tool used by plasterers to smooth out wall cracks and indentations, and regular concrete mortar can be used for this task. This type of work is done quite simply: apply plaster, rub the wall crack with smooth, circular motions, and use a shorter tool called a "grater" or "poluter."

Deep cracks need to be sealed with a masking net before grouting to prevent the crack from later spreading to the tile. It is preferable to embroider, which entails enlarging and deepening the brick crack and correctly sealing it with mortar.

Waterproofing wiring

Waterproofing is a crucial third step in wall preparation for tiling. After all, tiles are typically installed in damp areas like the bathtub or toilet. Excellent waterproofing won’t harm it even if it’s in other rooms like the kitchen or hallway.

• You can put so-called bitumen-based film roll material on the floor. The floor surface must be perfectly flat.
• This material is not placed on walls, as it is difficult to glue it firmly. Typically, such a film is fused using an industrial hair dryer. For walls, coating waterproofing based on a bitumen-polymer or bitumen-rubber mixture is best suited. Essentially, it is a mastic that is applied with a special tool.

In order to achieve a perfect and long-lasting finish, it is essential to properly prepare your walls before tiling. The first step is to give the walls a thorough cleaning to get rid of all the dirt, grease, and old paint. To create a smooth surface, then use an appropriate filler to seal any holes or cracks and smooth down any uneven areas. To increase adhesion, you must prime the walls using a primer that complements your tile adhesive. Finally, before starting to tile, make sure the walls are dry and clear of dust. You can install tiles on your walls in a professional and durable manner by following these steps.

Installation of water sockets for plumbing

It will appear unsightly to simply drill a hole in the tiles to access the plumbing pipes underneath them. Developers also use a specific GOST in order to install water sockets on the tile surface. With a custom design, water outlets for connected faucets, a tap for a flush tank, or a tap for water delivery to a washing machine are installed in accordance with the preferences of the owner or the designer’s vision.

Advice from professionals

To ensure that the bathroom or other room’s tiles don’t break and last for many years, experts suggest:

1. Don"t rush into the order of work. When preparing walls or floors for installing tiles, each layer must dry thoroughly. This will make the entire structure stronger and protect the walls from mold formation.
2. All pipes, the so-called black wiring, are installed before installing the tiles.
3. Plumbing pipes must be replaced. This, firstly, will allow you to remove old and possibly rotten pipes, and secondly, it will make it possible to install a faucet or toilet in the place that is most convenient for the owner.
4. If possible, that is, it is desirable, all pipes should be laid not in the walls directly under the tiles, but in special boxes along the bottom of the wall. This precaution will allow you to replace pipes in the event of an accident without dismantling expensive tiles. Moreover, the place of the breakdown will be visible, while the pipe leaking in the wall will have to be completely removed. The box can be closed with a wooden or plastic panel with tiles glued to it.
5. A good master plasters the surface for the tile himself. After all, then, with a crooked tile, he will not be able to refer to the “crooked” plasterer.
6. It is necessary to plaster the walls under the tiles. Local tearing out and filling up cracks does not guarantee that the tiles will last for many years.
7. Before gluing the tiles to the walls, they must be soaked in water – from 1 to 3 hours. This will improve its grip on the wall.
8. The bathroom or kitchen is very often subject to flooding due to plumbing accidents. This is why it is necessary to waterproof the floor. Experts strongly advise not to skimp on waterproofing, especially in multi-storey buildings. After all, after such an accident, the owner of the apartment will have to pay for repairs to the flooded neighbors below, and this is an order of magnitude more expensive than the most expensive waterproofing.
9. Waterproofing the floor and walls is especially important if the tiles are glued to plasterboard or plywood. If there is no basic waterproofing on the walls in such a situation, then mold will inevitably appear under the panels. And this is dangerous to health.
10. Waterproofing must be done between the bathtub and the edge of the tile. There are many ways – from a ceramic border to the banal covering of cracks with sealant. The most convenient device for retaining water in this case is a plastic corner. Its upper edge is mounted under the tile, and the lower edge extends onto the edge of the bathtub. It is practically invisible, but it works with a 100% guarantee. Otherwise, condensation or water will flow down the tiles and accumulate under the bathtub.
11. The heated towel rail must be installed at the stage of laying out the rough sewer system. Otherwise, you will have to dismantle the finished tiles. And such a device is necessary in the bathroom, even just as a heating element.
12. In order for the tiles above the bathtub to look even and harmonious, you need to start laying them from the edge of the bathtub. And unevenness in the ceiling or floor will go up there and you will need to file the tiles.

Furthermore, since the bathroom ceiling is typically covered in plastic, all uneven and sawn tiles will fall beneath this suspended ceiling.

Next, we advise you to view this instructional video featuring professional tile-laying advice:

If you adhere to all the guidelines for priming walls before tiling, you can complete this task on your own without sacrificing quality. The most important thing is to measure everything thoroughly and take your time before doing any operations. After that, the tiles will remain flat for many years.

Task	Details
Clean the walls	Remove old paint, wallpaper, and dirt.
Repair any damage	Fill holes and cracks with plaster.
Prime the surface	Apply a primer to improve adhesion.
Level the walls	Use a leveling compound for uneven areas.
Ensure dryness	Make sure the walls are completely dry.
Check for flatness	Use a spirit level to check wall flatness.

If you want your tile installation to be successful and long-lasting, you must prepare your walls before tiling. Cleaning the walls thoroughly to get rid of any debris, grease, or dirt is the first step. One way to accomplish this is by mixing a solution of detergent and water, rinsing with fresh water, and letting the walls dry entirely.

Next, look for any imperfections or cracks in the walls. You should use the proper filler or patching compound to fix these. After application, smooth the surface to guarantee that the substrate is even and level for the tiles.

It’s crucial to check that the walls are level after repairs. To look for any lumps or uneven areas, use a level. To get a smooth and level surface, you might need to use a leveling compound, depending on how severe the unevenness is.

It’s time to prime the walls after they have been cleaned, repaired, and leveled. Using an appropriate primer seals the surface and gives the tile adhesive a good surface to bond to. Before installing tiles, let the primer dry in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Your walls can be successfully prepared for tiling by completing the following steps: cleaning, repairing, leveling, and priming. In addition to ensuring a more aesthetically pleasing outcome, taking the time to properly prepare the surfaces increases the longevity and durability of your tiled walls.

Video on the topic

Is it possible to lay tiles on a painted wall?

Preparing walls for tiles

Plaster under tiles. Which plaster to choose and why primer is evil.

the old fashioned way, laying tiles on unplastered walls

Preparing walls for laying porcelain stoneware and forming 90 degree angles!