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Preparing to tile

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Preparing to tile

The thing with tiling is getting all the edges flush to the wall, that is, installing the tiles in such a way that there are no edges jutting out unevenly. It's tricky, but by preparing your walls properly before you start you have a much higher chance of getting the tiles on the wall or floor without any edges poking out.

In this short article we go over the various ways you can prepare your surface for tiling. We are assuming that you have all the normal tiling tools available to you such as a paint scraper, tiling trowel, grouter and a chipping hammer. If the job is a big one then you'll probably need the chipping hammer to save time, but if you are only preparing a small area then a hammer and good bolster will suffice.

Lifting any existing tiles

Regardless if you are preparing a wall or floor, it's good to start by removing any existing tiles from the surface. To do so can be tricky, especially if they have been on for many years. The easiest way to remove tiles is with a chipping hammer (if you don't have one, they are easy to rent for a day from most hire shops). Plug the chipping hammer in, point the thin edge towards the adhesive joint holding the tile in place and away from yourself. Then simply chip the tiles of the wall. Some of the tiles will come off quite easily, but expect others to shatter. Therefore, you really should be wearing good protective clothing as well as eye goggles. I've used a chipping hammer before and been cut by flying shards of ceramic glaze, so watch yourself!

Once all the tiles are off the wall you'll probably be left with quite an uneven surface that will not be suitable for tiling onto. In this case you have 2 options, either sand off the adhesive or skim over the top with a self leveling compound.

Sanding off the adhesive

If you choose to sand off the lumps of adhesive then be prepared for clouds of dust, which if you are not prepared for can create respiratory problems. When sanding always keep the windows open to improve the air's circulation and wear a mask. Using an electric sander makes the job easier and faster. Make sure you use the coarsest grade of sandpaper available and start going over the floor until smooth. You might also think about skipping the sanding and going with a self leveling compound.

Using a self leveling compound

Please be aware that self leveling compounds will only be suitable for floors. If you don't have the time or equipment to sand down the floor then use a self leveling compound. These are made with latex so that once spread on the floor they find the natural level before setting. You can buy them from any decent hardware store and it is fairly quick and easy to use. Simply mix a good sized batch using the supplied manufacturers instructions. Pour some onto the surface, take a spreader and start to push out the leveler. Work your way out to the exit, close the door and wait for it to set. It will dry a lighter shade when set and be hard to the touch, a perfect surface for tiling onto.

Resurfacing a wall

You may be preparing a wall to tile, so self levelers are not an option. In this case you might want to skim the wall with plaster instead. Simply buy some plaster from a hardware store, pretty much available anywhere. Mix up a batch following the instructions on the pack. Then using a plastering trowel, start to apply the plaster to the wall. try and get it as smooth as you can from the word go. Once it is starting to set, start to go over the surface with the edge of your plastering trowel so that any imperfections are leveled out. Leave it to dry before tiling onto. Plaster will dry a lighter shade. You may also want to bond the plaster with a few coats of PVA glue, just so that the adhesive has some texture to stick to.

Now that you have a smooth level surface you can get tiling. So there you have it - how to prepare a surface for tiling in a few easy steps.