How to tile a wall or floor

Whether you want Italian Chic or Spanish Terracotta, tiling floors and walls will give them a new lease of life whatever style you want to create. But you don’t have to be an expert to ensure a professional finish…the right equipment and a bit of patience will get the job done just fine.

Tile a Wall

Step 1

Make sure you start with a smooth, bare wall. Use a wall tile remover to clear old tiles quickly and easily; fill large cracks or holes and then use a drywall sanding kit to get a good finish.

Step 2

Fix two batons, one horizontally and one vertically to give you straight edges to work against.

Step 3

Apply the adhesive to the wall and position the tiles carefully, using spacers to keep things neat and tidy. If a tile needs cutting to size, use a tile cutter to get a clean cut.

Step 4

Leave the tiles to dry for 24 hours and then remove the batons so you can tile right to the edges.

Step 5

Grout between tiles to fill in the spaces. Use a damp sponge to clean off any excess grout from the surface of the tiles before it dries and finish with a soft dry cloth to bring up the shine.

Tile a Floor

Step 1

Again, you’ll need a clean, smooth surface to work on. Use a floor tile remover to get rid of old tiles and ensure there’s no adhesive residue. Use a concrete planer to smooth any really uneven areas.

Step 2

Find the centre of your room by running a string or chalk line diagonally from one corner to the other. Repeat from the other direction. The point where the two lines cross is the centre and you should plan your tile layout from that point.

Step 3

Apply adhesive to the floor following the manufacturer’s instructions and position the tiles carefully. If any tiles need cutting to size, use a tile cutter to get a smooth cut.