Ceramic tile covering a bathroom wall is both decorative and functional.
The installation of ceramic tile on bathroom walls provides durable protection against moisture in a frequently damp environment. Bathroom walls may be covered with semivitreous or low absorption ceramic tile, but nonvitreous ceramics should be avoided. Nonvitreous tiles absorb the most water and the chances of seepage damage are high. Ceramic tile in the bathroom requires a substrate of cement board. Waterproof drywall, identifiable by its green paper covering, is not adequate for bathroom applications.
Instructions
1. Measure the area that will be tiled. Use your circular saw to cut enough cement board to cover the wall.
2. Trowel thinset mortar onto the wall and press the into place. Fasten the board with galvanized screws fastened six inches or so apart. Fill the joints between the boards with thinset and cover the seams with fiberglass tape.
3. Measure and mark with your pencil the midpoint of the wall. Snap intersecting chalk lines across the center point both horizontally and vertically. Place an A-square where the lines meet to ensure they form ninety degree angles. Re-adjust the chalk lines if required.
4. Draw a grid pattern on the wallboard using a yardstick, level and A-square to keep your lines level and square. Plan your pattern so that the top and bottom rows of tiles will be the same size as will the rows to the far left and far right.
5. Clean the wall surface to remove any dust. Spread thinset mortar on the wall over an area about three foot square using your notched trowel to create ridges.
6. Press the tile into place following your grid pattern to keep them lined up and level. Place plastic spacers between the tiles to provide for uniform grout lines. In tight spaces, place notched mortar on the tile rather than on the wall and press the tile into place.
7. Score and cut tile as needed using your tile cutter. For smaller cuts, use your tile nippers. Allow the tiles to dry and set. Remove your spacers.
8. Apply grout at an angle, using a rubber-bottom float to work the grout into the joints. Flatten your float and wipe it across the tile surface to remove excess grout. Use a damp sponge to wipe away any residue remaining on the surface of the tile. Rinse the sponge in a bucket of warm water as you work to remove dissolved grout.
9. Fill your bathtub with water. Use your caulking gun to apply a bead of silicone to the seam between the edge of your tub and the first row of tiles above. Allow the silicone to set before draining the tub. This process will accommodate any joint expansion caused by the weight of the tub and prevent cracking of the silicone.
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