How To Install Large Wall Tiles In Shower

Installing Large Format Wall Tile

Installing Large Format Wall Tile

For starters, lets become over what constitutes a big format tile. If any side of the tile is over 15″, and then it is typically considered large format. In this mail nosotros will become over how to install large format tile on a wall, which is not much different then installing it on the floor. It may seem easy but larger tiles are actually much harder to install correctly so I'll go over which products to use and how to set tile like the pros do.

Disclosure: This project is sponsored by Rustoleum even so my opinions and the information shared are 100% my ain.

Wanna see how the entire bath came together? Bank check out the video beneath for all the details!

Tools

• Levolution lippage arrangement
  • Spacers
  • Caps
  • Evolver Tool
• Laser level
• 5 gallon buckets (2 or 3)
• Drill/Commuter
• Mixing paddle
• Wet tile saw or manual tile cutter
• Diamond tile blade
• 1/2″ x 1/2″ square notched trowel
• Diamond hole saw
• Grout bladder
• Sponges
• Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Safety Glasses
• Hearing Protection

Disclosure: The links provided in the "materials" and "required tools" sections are affiliate links. If yous would like to support our site and help keep our content free come find out more about how we can make coin with no extra price to y'all.

Time needed:ii days.

These are the steps that I took to install a tiled feature wall in our 1/2 bathroom. The tile is a 12″ x 24″ limestone tile which requires certain steps be taken to assure professional looking results.

1. Determine a Layout

   There are many different patterns when it comes to laying tile. Whatever yous choose, I recommend yous do it before you figure out how many tiles you think you need. Later deciding on a 12″ x 24″ limestone tile from Esquire Interiors, I just causeless we would get with a staggered blueprint (lower) and exist able to reuse the off cuts on our 5′ broad wall. However, we ultimately went with a grid layout which required more tile. With a layout determined you can then effigy out how much tile will be required.

   

2. Sealing Natural Stone Tile

   If working with a natural rock tile information technology is wise to seal the tile prior to installation. This way you lot can protect the tile from staining due to mortar during install.

   

   This isn't always convenient, for larger jobs specially, so information technology may also be sealed after setting the tile but definitely prior to grouting. To larn more, check out my "Why, When and How to Seal Tile" blog post.

3. Installing a Level Ledger Board

   Before you gear up your beginning tile you'll need to figure out where the showtime row will start and screw a board to the wall to support the starting time row of tile. I recommend a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation level to use as a reference withal a 4′ level would work as well. I similar to use the laser level to assure the tiles are vertically aligned during install besides.

   

4. Mixing the Mortar

   Not all mortar is made the same so make certain yous get the correct i for the specific job. For this job I went with Custom'southward Natural Stone and Large Tile Mortar Mix. This mix is designed for larger tiles and so information technology has a higher bond strength, equally well it is resistant to sagging and reduces the chance for lippage. Mix per the instructions in a make clean 5 gallon bucket using a drill and a mixing paddle.

   

5. Cutting Tile

   When cutting tile y'all have a few options. A wet tile saw is the most widely used notwithstanding at that place are manual tile cutters that work well with certain tiles (usually smoother tiles).

   Sometimes an angle grinder can be useful equally well. But always call up that a saw is only as practiced every bit it'due south blade so make certain to have a good diamond tile blade on it.

   

6. Troweling the Mortar onto the Wall

   When installing large format tile you'll want to use a 1/two″ 10 one/2″ square notched trowel. This will make sure that the ridges of the mortar collapse when setting the tile and give you the required 85% or more of coverage.

   Agree the trowel at a 45 degree angle and make sure that each ridge is full when troweling onto the wall and that the unabridged area where you will be setting the tile is covered. I have always been told to trowel in the opposite management of the longest side of the tile. I couldn't find any data to substantiate this but I exercise know that the trowel lines should exist going all the same manner to allow air to escape every bit the tile is pushed into place and the ridges are collapsed

   

7. Dorsum Buttering the Tiles

   To ensure complete coverage it is recommended that you "back-butter" each tile. This is when you used the flat side of the trowel to employ a sparse coat of mortar to the back side of the tile.

   

8. Installing Spacers and Lippage Organisation

   The spacers that I recommend, are included in the Levolution lippage arrangement. I similar the fact that they have universal spacers which means that they come as a cross simply two of the tabs can be easily cleaved off to create a flat or merely i to create a tee. Since the base will stay behind after installation, it is nice to know that holes in the base will brand sure the strength of the mortar bed is non sacrificed.

   

   For this installation we went with a 1/sixteen″ spacer to have a narrow grout line and all we need is ane cross at each intersection and 1 flat closer to the wall.

   

9. Setting the Tiles

   This step is pretty cocky explanatory. With typical spacers you tin slide them in afterward but with this leveling system and the large bases y'all'll need to place the lower spacers in before setting the tile. Identify the lower edge on the spacer and rotate the tile into position.

   

   Press the tile against the wall and slide it up in down a little to ensure all the ridges are fully complanate.

   

10. Assuring the Tiles are Level

    The cap now slides over the spacer and then the Evolver Tool is used to tighten downward the cap. The tension on the tool can be adjusted simply should exist enough to bring the tiles into the same plane without breaking the spacer tab off. Simply heed for two-three clicks and that'south it – the cap will non move and hold the tile level while the mortar cures.

    Using the Levolution system made the unabridged process a lot easier to make certain the tiles were nice and even. Another bonus is since the spacers are installed at the corners, you need to install far less than other leveling systems that require 2 per side, which saves a bunch of time.

    

11. Drilling Holes

    More than likely y'all'll demand to drill a hole in the tile at some betoken. Determine the size of the hole that you need prior to the outset of this projection and and so notice the appropriately sized diamond hole saw.

    

    For larger holes like light fixtures it would be all-time to use an bending grinder to score the perimeter of the pigsty then follow up with multiple cuts that tin be knocked out.

12. Grouting

    Equally I said earlier, natural stone tile should be sealed prior to grouting, whether that is earlier install or now. This will prevent the grout from staining the tile.

    At that place are several types of grout that tin can be used. Below is a quick reference for which to use where.

    Unsanded Grout – Joints less than ane/8″
    Sanded Grout – Joints i/8″ – iii/8″
    Pre-Mixed Grout – Joints 1/16″ – 1/ii″ (good for small jobs)

    Grouting is pretty simple but here are the steps to take that will make cleanup a little easier. First, using a grout float, apply the grout to the seams with the float held at a 45 degree angle, forcing it into the gaps between the tiles. Then come back and wipe (using the float) with the seams to remove every bit much excess equally possible.

    

    Later on allowing the grout to prepare for a few minutes, come up back with a wet sponge and wipe the remaining excess off without pulling to much of the grout out of the seams.

    

    Now give all the tile a terminal wipe with a clean wet sponge. Proceed the sponge clean the entire time by rinsing every few wipes. This volition remove the grout haze from the tile and reduce the amount of make clean up afterward curing. Grout haze is caused when the residue from the grout is not fully removed and cures on the tile.

    

13. Sealing

    If y'all have natural rock then y'all volition need to seal the stone a final time. Permit 3 days for the grout to fully cure earlier sealing. Make certain any grout residue is removed from the surface of the tile which can exist washed using a heavy duty cleaner that is safe for natural stone. Then, use an even coat of 511 Impregnator to the surface.

    

I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something along the way. If y'all want to learn more than most laying floor tile or fifty-fifty heating floor tile, check out the web log mail I wrote here.

About The Author

Jamison Rantz

I'thousand a Christian, begetter, husband and old aerospace engineer. In my spare time I like to engineer piece of furniture for the weekend DIY'er similar myself. In other words, I write plans for crawly looking article of furniture that are so easy it volition blow your mind! (No woodworking feel required.)

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