Starting on a new redecorating project can be a big undertaking, especially if you’re planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation rather than a fresh coat of paint for your living room. Once you’ve chosen your colour scheme and purchased your tiles, there are still a number of steps you need to take to ensure you’re fully prepared for your tiling project.

Before tiling a wall you will need to check that the wall is straight and flush. If you do not do this you may find the tiles don’t fit and are uneven, leaving your tiled wall not looking its best. Fill any holes with filler and smooth over the wall removing any lumps of old plaster or grout and check you have a level surface with a spirit level.

Once you have a smooth wall you will need to measure the area being tiled, making sure you take into account any border tiles being used. If you don’t do this when you come to the end of the wall you may find you have to cut small slivers of tiles which is tricky and can look untidy. It is better to start with half tiles if full tiles won’t fit across the wall rather than have an uneven tiling finish.

The next step is to fasten a wooden baton vertically and horizontally across the tiled area so you know you have a straight point to start to tiling from; a point that can often be missed if you’re not careful. The baton should be checked with a level to make sure you have a straight tiling line and it is a good idea to leave a 6mm gap at both ends to account for movement of the wall. Spread your adhesive with a tiling comb, only spreading an area of roughly 1 square metre at once to prevent the tile adhesive from drying out while you’re applying the tiles, and push the tiles on the adhesive spreading them up and across the wall making sure you use tile spacers to keep your tiles level and at an even distance. Continue this for the whole process and you should end up with a lovely new tiled wall to accompany any kitchen or bathroom.

Tiling can be quite tricky so always make sure you plan before you attempt this. If you’re not experienced at tiling or DIY, a quicker, easier and less stressful option is to contact a professional tiler. Finding an expert local tiler couldn’t be easier than at www.localtraders.com who can put you in touch with the best tiling specialists that can provide a competitive quote for you for your perfect tiled wall or floor.

Related posts:

1. A Guide To Planning A New Tiled Floor
2. A Guide to Laying a New Tiled Floor
3. Tiling A Room – Tile Over Existing Tiles or Start Afresh?
4. Choosing The Best Type of Kitchen Tiles or Bathroom Tiling Finish
5. Tavistock Welcomes New Tile Supplier