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How to lay tiles in the bathroom with your own hands: life hacks for beginners
Finding a good master is worth a lot in every sense. And you can make a mistake with qualifications, and miscalculate the price. But if time permits, then you can master the skill of laying tiles yourself.
Once upon a time, tiles were the only option for finishing a bathroom, apart from painting. Now there are much more materials – from plastic to wood. But the tile does not give up its positions, it is still popular. There is only one thing – it is difficult to find a good master who will not spoil the material, and will lay the tiles, if not forever, then until you get tired of it. With the help of experts from the Leroy Merlin School of Repair, we have collected several life hacks that will help control the work of the master, and maybe even lay the tiles with our own hands.
Graphic Design
Nowadays, the trend is an environmentally friendly theme in design. This applies to both materials and general aesthetics: the abundance of plants, the use of natural materials, light and natural colors. And the tile does not lag behind here: you can choose materials that imitate wood, or other natural materials. When it comes to stone, the result is a monumental yet laconic design that echoes the textures of marble, agate or onyx – these are the most popular types of stone.
For many years, the loft style has not lost its relevance. If your apartment is made in this style, do not deviate from it in the design of the bathroom. Classic solutions of soft colors – for example, shades of gray – work well here. You can add brightness to the bathroom with accents in the decor or plumbing in unusual colors.
Seams and textures
When choosing a tile design, it is better to give preference to light options: there are quite a lot of impurities in tap water that appear on surfaces after the liquid dries. That is, if you buy glossy black tiles, be prepared for white streaks.
Another important point is the seams: dust and dirt can accumulate in them, so there should be as few seams as possible. To do this, choose a larger tile – this way the bathroom design will be more holistic, and unaesthetic joints will not be conspicuous. You can find options for tiles with side lengths from 6 to 60 centimeters (it is customary to lay larger and heavier tiles on the floor, and smaller and lighter ones on the walls). There is also an alternative solution: you can purchase tiles that are installed using a seamless method.
When choosing a tile type, it is important not to overpay. The tile has such a parameter as a class of wear resistance; it is obvious that more wear-resistant tiles are more expensive. For a bathroom, the value should not be high, the load on the bathroom floor is minimal, so choose the option with the minimum degree of strength (abrasion class PEI I). Do not forget that for flooring it is better to purchase tiles with a rough texture: it is safer, on such tiles there is a lower risk of slipping.
So that you don’t have to run to the store in the middle of the working day, because there were not enough tiles, buy with a margin – 10-15% more than the required amount. Something may be broken, something will have to be cut into smaller pieces to cover small areas – think about this in advance, and there will be no surprises. In chain hypermarkets, sales consultants can use a special calculator to calculate the required quantity, taking into account the layout.
Tools
First, you need two spatulas: smooth and notched. Serrated glue is applied, smooth is needed for grouting. Secondly, measurement tools – from chalk and pencils to tape measure, levels and plumb lines. The master must have cross-shaped plastic spacers that fix and level the seams, it is desirable that there is a tile leveling system (SVP). Most likely, the tiles will have to be cut and adjusted in shape – this will require cutters, angle grinders (grinders) and cutters. Finally, you will need a drill with an appropriate attachment and a plastic container to prepare the glue – make sure none of the above is overlooked.
Preparing the basis
Prepare the base before installation. In the case of the floor, the first step is cleaning and drying: knock off a lot of dirt with a broom or a brush, go over the fine residues with a vacuum cleaner and dry the surface thoroughly. This should be done with high quality, otherwise the glue will not hold the tiles well. Make sure that the repairers get rid of unevenness and differences in height by installing a new screed. For walls, the first step is similar: the surface must be dry and clean. The next step is to apply plaster under the beacons, they will show the location of the tiles. It is best to work with the walls first, then with the floor so that it does not have to be cleaned twice.
We prime and glue
Next is the primer. Study the instructions for use and make sure that the masters do everything according to the rules: for different compositions of different brands, the sequence of actions may differ. The primer should be applied in a thin layer, after finishing let it stand for 4-5 hours – then you can start gluing the tiles. To do this, it is necessary to apply markings: on the floor this is done using a chalk thread (cord), on the walls – using plumb lines. For one row of tiles, at the very beginning, you need to place cross-shaped stops so that the entire tile is glued evenly.
Next, using a notched trowel, glue is applied, on which the tiles are laid.
The tiles can be laid end-to-end (seam to seam) – this is the most popular option – either sprawling (in this case, each next row is stacked with an offset), or diagonally (the tile is mounted at an angle of 45 degrees to the floor or wall).
Pay attention to the sequence and speed of work: firstly, you first need to lay all the whole tiles, and you need to start installing the trimmed elements at the end. Secondly, the glue sets and hardens quite quickly – the work should take place without delay.
After laying, you need to wait 15 hours (for walls) and about a day (for the floor) – during this time the glue will finally harden and set. Then you just have to take out the cruciform supports and rub the seams – you’re done!