Transform Your Home with Our 8 Step Guide to Tiling!

The world saw a massive surge in creative DIY projects during the Covid-19 lockdown. As millions of people across the globe were suddenly forced to stay at home, with an abundance of time on their hands, many of them turned their hand to home improvements that they had never attempted before. And one of these was tiling!

If you are new to tiling, a small area such as a splashback is a good place to start. You can create an eye-catching focal point in your kitchen or bathroom, as well as protecting walls from splashes and making them easier to clean. Elle Décor has some wonderful tile design ideas for 2020 if you need inspiration!

How to Tile a Splashback

When tiling, one key material is a good quality adhesive, but here below is a list of all the materials you will need:

• Tape measure
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Wall tiles
• Tile cutter
• Spirit level
• Tile adhesive
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Tile spacers
• Ready-mixed grout
• Trowel

8 Easy Steps to Tile a Splashback:

1. Work out the width

Measure the width of your basin and mark a centre point on the wall. Draw an additional centre point at the top of the area to be tiled and draw a vertical line between the two. Calculate the width of the splashback in whole tiles, plus spacers and edging strip. Lay out the tiles and spacers flat to work out the full width.

2. Line up and level

Use a spirit level to see if the basin is straight. Start by lining up the centre of the first tile with the centre line. If it is not even, fix a horizontal batten above the basin to create a starting point. Centre it on the vertical line and position the top edge half a tile from the basin. Check that it is level.

3. Get Started!

Spread the adhesive in horizontal strokes, using a trowel. Working from the centre, place your first tile, pressing it firmly against the wall. Add a tile above it and one next to it, spacing them evenly and pushing them firmly into the adhesive. Continue until you’ve tiled the whole area.

4. Fill in the gaps

Put spacers into the corners between the tiles, adjusting tile positions as needed. Push them in firmly, flush against the wall so that you can grout over them. When all rows are tiled and the adhesive has set, remove the batten (if using). Cut and fix the remaining tiles into the bottom gap.

5. Get the grout out

Starting at the bottom left, press a small amount of grout on to the face of the tiles using a trowel. Using a grout spreader, work it into the joints, in long, upward diagonal strokes. Once all the joints are grouted, wipe the tiles with a slightly damp sponge to remove any excess.

6. Wipe Clean

Let the grout dry. A powdery film will appear on the tiles – wipe this clean with a dry cloth.

7. Seal the deal

Apply a bead of sealant along the tiled area. Smooth and leave to dry.

8. Sit back and admire the result!