Wall Laying Tile Methods: Patterns, Options, Advice

An important moment is the choice of the starting point of the work. As a support for the tile, you can use a metal profile or a wooden rail. You should also carefully plan the location of the tile. Since the walls may not be completely smooth, first you need to draw a horizontal guideline along which the support bar is nailed to maintain and guide the first row. Then mark the quantities of rows of tiles vertically from each side. Along the edges of the windows and on the outer corners, it is advisable to put only whole tiles, so you should determine the location of the tile before its applying. Let’s review some of the most common wall laying tile methods: patterns, options, advice that will not make you professional but at least give you some notion of how it works.

There are Several Options for Laying Tiles on the Wall

• “Seam-to-seam” – in this variant of laying, rows perpendicular to each other (horizontal and vertical) are formed. It should be noted that with such a laying method tile should be with the smallest surface irregularity.
• The “tie-up”. In this case, the seam of the lower row must coincide with the middle of the tile of the upper row. Thus, tiles are laid only in horizontal rows, but unlike the “seam-to- seam” variant, the process of work is much easier since the vertical deviations are not so noticeable.
• “Diagonal” is the most difficult way of laying. Most often it is used when facing a large surface. Interglacial seams between tiles are strictly perpendicular lines. The seam line should form 45 degrees corner with a floor. Work begins with the installation of tiles. The level should have a horizontal direction while the plumb line is vertical. The recommendation is to lay the indicator tiles on the glue which hardens much faster than cement mortar. The tiles begin to be laid upwards. The support rail is set at the lower wall, and a lath-plumb line with a length of at least 2 meters should be set on the edges of the cladding surface. Then, between the side rails, a horizontal cord is tightened over which the horizontal rows of tile are fastened.

Less Popular and Non-Standard Ways of Laying Tiles on the Wall

• “Modular grid” is a more complex option that is perfect for smaller rooms. You must first choose the picture and color of the material. It is advisable to make a drawing of the pattern, where you will want to specify the dimensions of the seams and tiles.
• “Herringbone” is considered a non-standard option for laying a tile. It is not so often found in the room, as, for example, the “seam-in-seam” variant but this method has its own “charm”. The process of laying the “herringbone” pattern is visually similar to the technology of laying the parquet. At the same time, it is necessary to use only rectangular tiles. This way of applying tile perfectly decorates rooms with irregular geometric shapes. Although “herringbone” decorates the floor in the room more often it can be used on the wall, but it is important to fit into the overall design of the room.

Adhesive for Tiles and Seams

For beginners, it is recommended to use a thin layer of glue when facing. The desired thickness is achieved using a notched trowel. If the size of a tile is 15 by 15 cm use a trowel with a tooth depth of 6 mm. For a tile size of 30 by 30 cm, it is better to use a 9 mm trowel. You should not worry about poor adhesion of the tile to the surface because of the small adhesive layer, the main thing is to choose the right glue (it all depends on the surface to be finished: plaster, drywall, etc.). The surface under the tile must be flat, but not smooth as glass so that the glue can “grab” the surface.

When using tiles of small size, the seams are made narrower than when using tiles of a larger size. But the seams should not be 2mm at that time (since it will be difficult to fill them with solution) and no wider than 10 mm (wide seams will lead to shrinkage and cracks). But there is also a seamless laying (obtained as a result of trimming the edges on special equipment). But usually, such an option is used only when facing floors.

Various Patterns

Even the simplest tiles can make a beautiful decor: you can experiment with the color, size, and orientation of the tile. To do this, simply lay the tile on a flat surface so to say “in the draft.” Also, when choosing, it is recommended to select tiles of the same thickness – this will greatly facilitate the process of laying. Also, do not forget that the tile may have rectangular edges or more “wavy” ones. Permanent use of such tiles can lead to difficulties in work, so use a more viscous solution to facilitate this process.