How to tile a kitchen wall

---

If you are tiling a splashback above your counter it's one of the easiest ways to add life to your kitchen on a budget and will also make cleaning your walls much easier.

Preparation

Before you get started you need to check the condition of the wall surface (substrate). Ensure that the wall to be tiled is clean, level, firm, completely dry, sound and free from dust, grease or any other contamination. Any weak/loose surface material or layers must be removed to ensure a good bond between the adhesive and tiles.

If you are tiling over existing tiles, then there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind. Read our step by step guide on tiling over tiles

Once you are happy to proceed apply a diluted coat of weber PR360 primer to walls, ensuring that you have full coverage, with a roller or brush. The primer should be diluted with clean water which is designed for use on a wide range of substrates. weber PR360 regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion. Allow weber PR360 to become touch dry.

Measure your wall and mark the centre point. Then draw a vertical level line through this centre point using a spirit level. Measure your tile and mark out the centre point on the tile and line this up with your vertical line on the wall. Then mark out the edges of the tile onto the wall and copy this procedure across the wall.

Application

Depending on the type of tiles used, the wall substrate, and its surrounding environment, it's vital you choose the right tile adhesive for the job.

Weber's ready-mixed tile adhesives come ready to use straight out of the bucket. Suitable for interior walls, they are perfect for projects such as tiling kitchen splashbacks if using up to 300mm x 300mm ceramic tiles. If the substrate is non-porous such as a backer board or for heavier tiles and non-absorbent tiles such as porcelain, glass and slate a powder adhesive should always be used. For further information, please check the product bag or data sheet.

If you opt for a ready-mix tile adhesive there are three products in the Weber range depending on your requirements. Our range includes products with greater resistance to moisture, stronger bonds, and extra flexibility. These are weberfix, weberfix WR and weberfix plus.

Find the tile that was marked up with the centre point and line it up with the vertical line on the wall. This is where you start! Spread the adhesive onto the notched trowel and then straight onto the wall, rather than onto the tiles. Do not spread an area larger than can be tiled in approximately 30 minutes.

Fix the tiles within 30 minutes of applying adhesive - less at elevated temperatures. If lightly pressed, the adhesive should still stick to the fingers. If not, then it should be removed and more applied. Firmly press the tiles into the adhesive bed, with a twisting or sliding action, leaving at least 2 mm gaps for grout joints. Place tile spacers on all sides of each tile making sure that they are straight and there is equal spacing.

For dry areas, the contact area between the adhesive and tile must be at least 70%, uniformly over the whole tile. In wet areas, it is essential that there are no voids under the tiles. The final bed thickness should be no more than 3mm.

It is good practice to occasionally remove a tile to check that the required contact is being achieved. Remove any excess adhesive from the tiles and joints before it sets and remove any tile spacers after approximately 1 hour.

Grouting

Ready-mixed adhesives gain strength on drying, so leave for a minimum of 24 hours before grouting. On non-porous surfaces, leave for at least 3 days. If you used a powder adhesive then leave for at least 2 hours before grouting. Longer is required at less than 5°C or when tiling onto impervious or sealed surfaces. For further information about drying times please review the product datasheet.

weberjoint premium wall and floor tile grout is suitable for all tile types and for joint widths up to 20mm. It's PURE CLEAN technology means that it is more resistant to stains and dirt and is available in a range of 18 colours with matching silicones.

Once mixed according to the datasheet instructions using a squeegee or a rubber float, apply the grout to a small area at a time. Completely fill the joints leaving no voids. Excess grout should be removed immediately.

After approximately 25 - 35 minutes when the grout has become firm in the joints, the tiles should be cleaned with a damp clean emulsifying pad. This should be used in a circular motion to loosen the grout residue. The tiles should now be wiped with a clean damp sponge until all residue is removed. Once dry, polish the tiles with a clean, dry cloth. Use weberjoint silicone to seal the edges. weberjoint silicone is waterproof, highly flexible, has excellent bond strength and an anti-fungal agent prevents mould growth.