How to Tile a Wall | Tiling a Wall

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Installing new bathroom wall tiles is a wonderful way to make a statement and reflect your individual taste. Tiles are incredibly durable, low maintenance, and easy to clean, making them a very cost-effective update.

Figuring out how to tile a wall might seem a little complex at first, but we can help you tackle the job. With thorough planning and the right tools, it is perfectly possible to achieve a professional finish. Before you get your space prepped, check out our handy how-to video to see the process in action. Let's start tiling your bathroom wall.

You must properly prepare your room by installing waterproof tile backer boards and sealing them with a suitable primer before applying your wall tile adhesive.
To ensure a neat finish, mark a central starting point and measure your layout so your edge tiles are always at least half the width of a whole tile.
Apply your adhesive in straight lines using a notched trowel, lay your tiles using spacers, and firmly press your grout into the joints once the adhesive is set.

Tools and Materials

Choosing the correct tiles

Picking the right style can completely transform your space. Natural stone and porcelain tiles are beautiful choices, but they may need to be sealed both before and after grouting to protect them from staining. Ceramic tiles are incredibly popular and offer a huge variety of brilliant colours and finishes.

Think about the size of the room before you buy. Using large, light-coloured tiles can naturally make a compact bathroom feel much more spacious and open. On the other hand, smaller mosaic tiles are fantastic for creating eye-catching feature walls or highlighting the space directly behind your sink.

Always check the batch numbers on your tile packaging. Try to buy all the packs you need from the same batch to guarantee proper colour matching across your entire tile wall.

Common mistakes to avoid

When you are learning how to tile a bathroom wall, avoiding a few common pitfalls saves you time and effort.

Tiling on plywood: New changes to British standards mean you can’t install tiles directly onto plywood. You must use water-resistant tile backer boards instead.
Untidy edge tiles: Try to avoid small or thin edge tiles. If your layout leaves a gap smaller than half a tile's width at the edges, rearrange your starting point to create a larger, better-looking edge.
Forgetting wastage: Always remember to add at least 10% extra to your total tile order to account for inevitable wastage and tricky offcuts.
Applying too much adhesive: It’s tempting to cover the whole wall in adhesive all at once to speed things up. But tile adhesive sets quite quickly. If you apply too much, it’ll dry out before you can lay your tiles, leaving you with an uneven finish and weak bonds.

Preparing your bathroom wall

Your wall needs to be absolutely clean, dry, and free of dust. You'll need to install tile backer boards or aqua panels that are suitable for humid areas. Cut your panels to size and screw them into the wall with stainless-steel screws.

Before you mix any adhesive, make sure to seal your wall using a suitable primer. This reduces the porosity levels and ensures a strong bond.

Planning your tile layout

Knowing your wall's dimensions will help you work out your final layout. Measure the width and height of your wall and mark the exact centre point with a pencil.

Measure your tiles' width and height, accounting for the 3mm tile spacers. Work out how many whole tiles will fit from the centre outwards. If the gap between the last whole tile and the wall is less than half a tile wide, adjust your centre line to so that your edges look neat.

Cutting and fixing tiles

Measure the width between your fitting line and the wall, then transfer these measurements to your tiles, remembering to subtract the 3mm spacer gap. Trim your tiles with a single straight cut using a manual tile cutter.

Check the manufacturer's instructions for the ideal water-to-product ratio. Use your drill and whisk to mix the wall tile adhesive until it holds its shape on the trowel but spreads easily.

Apply the adhesive using the notched side of your spreader. Creating straight, uniform lines helps avoid air bubbles for a stronger bond.

You should also 'backbutter' the tile by using the straight side of the spreader to cover the tile's back in a smooth layer of adhesive.

Laying and grouting tiles

Starting at the bottom, place your first tile onto the wall in line with your measurements and push down firmly on all sides.

Put spacers in the gaps and use a spirit level to make sure that the tiles are perfectly flush. Continue this method from bottom to top.

Once the adhesive has fully set, remove the spacers. Mix your tiling grout with water using a clean whisk. Place the grout over the joins and gently work it into the gaps using a grout float, making sure it sits flush.

Leave it to partially dry, then wipe off any excess with a damp sponge. Wipe across the joins rather than along them so you don't pull any wet grout out.

Once the grout has fully set, you officially have a newly tiled bathroom wall. You can then continue tiling the rest of your bathroom, including tiling the bathroom floor.

FAQs

To establish how many packs you need, simply calculate your total surface area in square metres by multiplying the length by the width. Check this number against the coverage on the tile pack and always add an extra 10% to cover inevitable offcuts and breakages.

Yes, you can tile over a painted wall if the paint is in excellent condition and firmly bonded. However, in a bathroom environment, it is always safer and more reliable to install waterproof tile backer boards first to ensure a stable, moisture-resistant base.

If you are replacing old tiles, you will need to remove the dried adhesive to create a flat surface. You can use a hammer and a wide masonry chisel to carefully chip away the old, stubborn adhesive ridges until the wall is smooth enough for your new backer boards.

Mix your grout to a thick, malleable consistency and place it over the joints. Use a rubber grout float to gently press it deep into the gaps. Allow it to partially dry, then use a damp sponge to carefully wipe diagonally across the tiles to remove any excess residue.