This will prevent the adhesive from hardening as you trim the last tiles and prepare to finish the installation.Īs the adhesive hardens, inspect the grout lines and make sure they are free of excess adhesive. As you reach the last full tiles, scrape off any excess adhesive from the areas of the wall left exposed. Leave the tiles that need to be trimmed or cut until the end of the project. Working systematically in sections, repeat this process until the entire wall is covered. This action will "set" the tiles in the adhesive and flatten the surface. With the running-bond pattern we are using, you must get the offset correct so that the joints have the proper spacing from row to row.Īfter each small section of wall is completed, use a short block of wood and rubber mallet to very lightly rap over the surface of the tiles. Continue installing the subsequent rows, again using plastic spacers to maintain uniform joints between tiles. When the first row is complete, check it for level using a carpenter's level, then begin the second row of tiles, taking care to offset the vertical grout joints by exactly one-half the tile width. Install only the full-width tiles-leave the trimming of partial tiles until the end. Press the tile firmly into the adhesive as you press, the adhesive flattens out, filling the spaces between the ridges created by the trowel.Īfter the first tile or sheet is set in place, complete the first row along the horizontal layout line, using plastic spacers to ensure uniform spacing between tiles. Align it carefully with the horizontal and vertical layout lines. Position the first tile (or tile sheet, if you are using mosaic tiles) in place on the wall at the center point of the layout. This size works well for most tiles that are 6 x 6 inches or smaller. In our subway tile sample project, the recommendation is for a trowel with 3/16 x 5/32-inch notches. The proper size of the V-shaped notches in the trowel depends on the ceramic tile size and thickness and the recommendations from the tile manufacturer. Thin-set adhesive is applied with a notched trowel. Thin-set usually has a latex additive that gives it some flexibility to prevent the tile job from cracking. Most wall tiles are best installed with a mortar-based glue known as thin-set adhesive, made of cement, fine sand, and a water-retaining agent such as cellulose. When required, also buy required trim tiles, such as base tiles, edge trim, or bullnose top trim. Home centers and tile specialty shops will stock some tile styles, but specialty styles often require special orders. It's best to pad the estimate by at least 10 percent to allow for waste and breakage.
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