Tile is a common option for floors and walls in hallways, kitchens and bathrooms. If desired, this work can be done independently. To do this, you will need to correctly calculate the amount of materials, the features of the technology, as well as the recommendations of specialists on carrying out this work. How to lay the tiles will be discussed in the article.
Features of work
How to lay tiles quickly and evenly? This question interests many owners of houses and apartments who started repairs. The choice of tiles for decoration is a good decision. This material is durable. It is easy to use and does not absorb moisture. The surface of the tile is easily cleaned from various contaminants. At the same time, this finish does not absorb moisture. It does not allow fungus and mold to develop on the surface of the walls, which creates a he althy indoor microclimate.
Tile laying is often trusted to professionals. This will be a good solution if the owners want to make repairs quickly. Experts will be able to laytiles according to any scheme. This greatly enhances the decorative effect of the finish.
If the owners have enough free time to lay the tiles on their own, and they also want to save money on the family budget, they may well do this work with their own hands. This is a relatively easy process. You just need to delve into all its subtleties. In this case, it will be possible to create a spectacular finish for any room.
How to lay tiles on the wall or floor yourself? Particular attention should be paid to the choice of materials. It is not recommended to save on their quality. According to reviews from buyers and professional installers, inexpensive tile collections may contain inconsistencies in the size of the plates. They can be 2 mm or even more. Also, the color of the surface of the tiles in one package may differ markedly. Therefore, in the store you need to pay attention to the collections presented by well-known manufacturers. They use high-tech equipment in the production process of plates. Small production cannot provide high quality products.
Before starting work, a calculation must be carried out. You will need to create a plan for future coverage, as well as the cost of materials and tools.
Tile Reviews
How much does it cost to lay a tile? This is one of the first questions that owners of private real estate consider before carrying out repairs. On sale are materials that differ in quality, price, scope and design.
For the floorchoose a tile that will be resistant to mechanical stress. Its wear resistance class should be at least 3. It is better to purchase products of 4-5 wear resistance classes for the kitchen and corridor. In the bathroom, this is required only if there are household appliances (washing machine). For walls, you can choose a simpler tile. The lower the wear resistance class, the cheaper the tile costs. However, it is worth paying attention to finishing 2-3 classes. They will be more durable in operation than class 1 abrasion resistance tiles.
Products of foreign and domestic companies are presented on the market. Russian tiles are in demand today more than foreign products. This is due to its high quality at a fairly affordable price. Thus, the most popular manufacturers in our country are Kerama Marazzi, Shakhty Tile, Cersanit. The cost of such products ranges from 600 to 1000 rubles. per m².
To calculate how much it costs to lay a tile, you must first pay attention to its cost. So, materials of French, Polish, Czech and German production are on sale. Their cost ranges from 1000 to 2500 rubles. per m². The quality of such products practically does not differ from Russian-made tiles. Therefore, such products are purchased only if the design of the finish is ideal for the interior and the owners like it.
The most expensive, elite finishing options are plates of Italian and Spanish production. The minimum price of such products is 3,000 rubles. per m². Suchmaterial is used to create a design interior. It looks luxurious, rich and very original. The interior in this case will look stylish and spectacular.
Setting cost
Many homeowners turn to professionals to install tiles. A square meter of such a finish costs differently. The price depends on the experience and appetite of the master. Also, in different cities, the cost of the services of a professional repairman is different. The average cost of work (excluding materials) for a mid-level specialist ranges from 800 to 1200 rubles. per m². However, in St. Petersburg, Moscow, for the same work, you will need to pay from 1200 to 3000 rubles. per m².
It is also worth considering that the craftsmen set a minimum cost for their work. Therefore, if you want to tile the floor in the toilet, you should not expect that the master will need to pay only 800-1000 rubles. In different regions and for different specialists, the minimum cost is different. For example, the minimum cost of a master's work can be from 2,500 to 5,000 rubles. In this case, it becomes simply impractical to seek the help of a specialist. The cost of such a finish will beat all records.
It is also worth considering that the price of a specialist's work depends on the complexity of the work. The above prices are based on the fact that the base of the floor or wall is completely ready for finishing. If you need to make screeds or prepare the base from the boards, you will need to pay an order of magnitude more. Also, the price increases if the tiles are laid on steps, applymosaic or the original way of laying.
It is precisely at such moments that the owners begin to think about self-finishing the kitchen apron or the floor in the bathroom, corridor. In this case, the question arises of how to lay the tiles on the wall or base of the room. The reviews of the masters who first tried to lay tiles with their own hands are encouraging. Indeed, almost everyone can do the tiling on their own. It is only necessary to consider all the subtleties of this process.
Create a finishing plan
Planning a do-it-yourself renovation should start by learning how to tile a bathroom. The advice of experts will help you understand all the nuances. First you need to draw up a project for the future finish. To do this, draw the surface on a scale with an indication of natural dimensions. It can be the floor, the walls in the room, or the kitchen apron. Base configuration must be accurately transmitted.
Next, you need to choose the method of laying tiles. It may be traditional. In this case, the plates are laid one above the other. Clear parallel and perpendicular seam lines are obtained. This method is best suited for beginners. With this installation, there is a minimum amount of waste materials.
The second possible styling option is the offset technique. Each subsequent row of plates is shifted by half of the previous finish. It resembles brickwork. It is also a good option for a beginner.
You can lay tiles ondiagonals. In this case, the plates are tilted at an angle of 45º. The finish looks impressive. However, you will need to carefully measure the position at the base of each tile. This mounting method is uneconomical. The result is a lot of waste.
As you learn how to tile the right way, you also need to consider more interesting ways to tile. Plates of various sizes can be used. In this case, you will need to create an accurate plan of the surface. Especially often, various decors are used on the walls in the process of surface finishing. These can be borders, panels, just inserts of several tiles with an interesting pattern.
Design and method of laying should be carefully considered at the planning stage of renovation work. In accordance with the created plan, materials are being purchased.
Materials and tools
When studying a step-by-step guide on how to lay tiles in a bathroom, kitchen or hallway, you need to pay attention to the correct preparation of materials and tools for work.
In addition to tiles, you will definitely need to purchase tile adhesive. This mixture is sold dry. Bags can have a weight of 25-30 kg (depending on the manufacturer and series). A large number of adhesive compositions are on sale. They differ in cost and quality. Ceresit SM-11 is the best-selling adhesive for installing tiles indoors. This composition costs about 400 rubles. per bag 25 kg. At the same time, the composition of the cement mixture includes various plasticizers and additives. They improve the adhesion of the tiles to the floor. It is also easy to work with this material.
Except for tile adhesive,you need to buy a primer. She treats the surface before starting work. In the process of preparing the room, building dust can accumulate on the walls and floor. The primer will prepare the base for further finishing. This material is relatively inexpensive. You can buy a 5 l canister at a price of about 100-150 rubles.
Considering the technique of how to lay tiles in a room, you should pay attention to additional materials. You need to purchase crosses for grouting the seams between the tiles. You also need to purchase grout in accordance with the tone of the tile. The cost of these materials together does not exceed 500 rubles.
For installation of tiles, you will need to prepare a building level, a container for mixing glue, a tile cutter, a tape measure and a pencil. We need a notched trowel and a drill with a crown (to drill holes for sockets and switches).
Wall preparation
There are some simple tips from professionals on how to lay ceramic tiles. First you need to prepare the basis for subsequent work. If it has an old finish, it must be dismantled. If there is paint on the walls, it can be removed with a grinder with a nozzle. The dismantling of the old tile is carried out using a perforator. It is put into shock mode and brought under the lower edge of the plates.
There may be old plaster on the walls. It may fall off in pieces. All trim will need to be removed. If there is fungus on the walls, clean the surface with sandpaper. After that, it is treated with a special antiseptic composition. When choosing materials, you need to give preferencesuch formulations that include antifungal components.
Use a plumb line and a level to determine if the walls are even. Most often (in 95% of cases) the surface is uneven. Therefore, it will need to be treated with plaster. When considering how to lay tiles on a wall, special attention is paid to the preparation process. First you need to prime the surface. Next, plaster beacons are installed on it. They are mounted on the same mixture with which the walls will be treated. All beacons are leveled. After that, the gaps between them and the wall must be filled with mortar.
To level the walls, you will need to mix the cement mortar. You can add 1 part of tile adhesive to it. The solution is thrown onto the wall and leveled with a rule. Excess solution is removed back into the container.
Concrete floor leveling
When considering how to tile a floor, due attention should be paid to the preparation process. If the base is concrete, a self-levelling compound can be used. This option is quite expensive. However, the job will be done quickly and easily. The second method involves the use of beacons.
First determine the highest floor level. From it, using a level, draw a line along the perimeter of the walls. Next, pull the rope between the corners diagonally. If they do not intersect with the floor anywhere, the drawn line will become the new level of the floor. In some cases, the rope will touch the floor. Therefore, it must be raised a few millimeters up. The floor level will be even higher. Next installlighthouses.
Laying technology does not differ from that used for walls. The guides must be level with the markup you created. After that, the solution is applied and leveled according to the established guide rule.
To understand how to lay tiles in the bathroom with your own hands, you should pay great attention to the preparation process. The cement mortar dries for a long time. It will take him about 3-4 weeks to do this. In this case, the surface must be moistened. Otherwise, it will crack. At the same time, the bath will not work for at least a week. This should definitely be taken into account before starting work.
Self-leveling compound is more expensive, but it dries faster. Within a day it will be possible to walk on the surface of the floor. Subsequent finishing is carried out in a week.
Preparing the wood floor
Some owners of their own houses and apartments are interested in how to lay tiles on a wooden floor. Such a foundation also requires special training. First you need to assess the condition of the old wood flooring. If the boards do not creak, do not bend, you can leave them as they are. Otherwise, you need to remove the old coating. If the logs are in good condition, a layer of expanded clay is poured between them.
Next, the boards are mounted, tearing off those that are already rotten or have defects. The distance between the boards should be 3-5 mm. This is necessary to ventilate the base. You can use sheets of waterproof plywood instead of boards. This way the work will move faster.
After that, the surface is covered with a layerwaterproofing. It will burn to be polyethylene, bitumen or roofing material. Next, a layer of reinforcing mesh is laid on this material. It should be metal (material with 10 × 10 mm cells is suitable). After that, beacons are set up and a cement screed 3-5 cm high is poured. Self-leveling floors can be used for this purpose.
When learning how to lay tiles, you should also pay attention to the preparation of a "dry" base. In this case, the screed is not required. Sheets of moisture-resistant drywall are laid on the waterproofing. Tiles will be mounted on them.
Mounting tiles on a vertical surface
How to put tiles on the wall quickly and correctly? First you need to prepare the tile adhesive (according to the manufacturer's instructions). Tiling is done from the bottom up. First you need to mount the rail. It must be perfectly flat. The first row will fit on it. The subsequent rows are laid out according to this level.
After that, you need to apply glue to the back of the tile. To do this, use a notched trowel. The tile is slightly pressed against the wall. This will allow the solution to evenly distribute under the tile. When the second tile is installed, a cross is inserted between them (thickness 2-4 mm). The evenness of the masonry is controlled by the level. At the end of the row, the tiles will need to be cut with a tile cutter.
When all the masonry is created, it should dry out (a day or two). After that, you need to prepare the grout for the seams. It is applied with a rubber spatula. If the material hits the surfacetile, it must be removed immediately. If it has time to harden, it will be more difficult to wash it off later.
Laying tiles on the floor
Laying tiles on the floor is even easier than on the wall. However, there are a number of nuances here. Installation starts from the far wall. At the same time, they move towards the door. It is recommended to pre-mark the base. This will prevent the plates from moving.
Next you need to apply glue to the surface of the tile. For this, a notched trowel is also used. It is laid on the floor surface, and then pressed a little. Next, you need to put a building level on the surface. If any corner is raised higher, it must be lowered with a hammer with a rubber nozzle. By tapping on the surface of the tile, you need to align its position.
If the master overdid it and the tile "sank" below the set level, you will need to remove it and apply the solution to the surface again. A second tile is also being installed. Crosses are placed between them. The size of the joint is chosen in accordance with the dimensions of the tile. Work continues to the end of the room. It is also cut with a tile cutter. If not, you can use a grinder with a special nozzle. This is a dustier and more labor intensive process. However, such a tool is also used quite often. After the tile adhesive has dried, grout is applied.
After considering how to lay the tiles, you can do all the work yourself. The result will be no worse than that of professional craftsmen.
