Ceramic tiles should be fixed to the wall with special adhesive, which can be bought ready-mixed in tubs or as a powder for mixing with water. An adhesive spreader usually comes with each tub. To estimate how much adhesive you need, allow roughly one litre of the ready-mixed types for every one to one and a half square metres of tile.

Old tiled surfaces provide a flat firm surface and can be tiled over with few problems. Make sure that the old surface is completely free from grease and dirt and replace any tiles that have fallen out. New plaster should be left for a month to dry out. Apply tiles to finishing plaster only, never to undercoats.

Blockboard, chipboard, MDF, plasterboard and plywood can be tiled over as long as the surface is rigid and does not flex. The boards should be backed by a rigid framework. Natural wood expands and contracts as its moisture content changes. Ordinary tile adhesives may not be able to cope with this movement - use a flexible tile adhesive.

Most ceramic tile adhesives will work on quite hot surfaces, but around a fireplace it might be better to use a heat-resistant adhesive. Where tiles are likely to be splashed or be in contact with water - around baths, basins, sinks and showers - a waterproof adhesive should be used. If the surface to be tiled is lumpy or uneven, you can use a thick-bed adhesive.

Once ceramic tiles are on the wall, the gaps between them should be filled with grout a thick paste which dries hard. It is available either ready-mixed or in powder form; once again the tub or packet should give expected coverage -roughly 0.5kg of powdered grout to every two square metres of tiles. Mosaics need more. Some grouts have fungicides added to prevent mould growth. To apply grout, you need either a rubber squeegee or a sponge.

Metallic and mirror tiles can be fixed in place either with small double-sided self-adhesive pads, which are sold with the tiles allow four or five pads per tile or with an adhesive. Contact adhesives can be used but some tile manufacturers produce special adhesives for their own tiles.

Imitation brick and stone tiles made from fired or pressed material can be stuck to the wall with ceramic tile adhesive or with mortar. Mortar or special grouting powder (available from the tile supplier) should be used to point the gaps between the tiles. Imitation tiles of this type made from plastic can be stuck in place with plastic tile adhesive -the type used for fixing expanded polystyrene ceiling tiles.

Article Submitted By: taamiv
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