When preparing the surfaces for a tile installation, you should consider the following tips.
Before you start working on the bathroom floor and/or walls, you will need to isolate the electric supply and water supply and restore them later on.
It would be advisable to arrange an alternative temporary electrical supply to the extraction fan, which will need to be on almost continuously. This is to make sure you are not breathing in all the dust, remember that tiling becomes dusty at some stages.
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If your bathroom has no extraction fan, make sure you wear a mask, especially while cutting tiles.
While laying new tiles over old tiles is not always a problem, it is however a practice that I would not recommend. The truth is that to do it properly is probably a more expensive job than simply removing the old tiles. Getting rid of the old tiles is not a quick or easy job but the results will be well worth the effort.
Removing the old tiles used to be a backbreaking job. Now with power tools available, this can be done much quicker and easier than before. There is no need to buy these tools; nowadays you can find tool hire shops in every city. You can hire a hammer drill with a special chisel for a few bucks a day.
After removing all the old tiles and debris, check if the embedded plumbing, or electrical work need any changes or renovations. This is the time to do any maintenance work or repair if needed.
When the electrics or plumbing are very old (things like lead or iron plumbing and outdated wiring) I strongly recommend you up-date them even if they look fine. In doing this the risk of any problems in the future which could mean you would have to break your nice new tiled wall and start all over again are reduced and an expensive repair is avoided. So if you want a long lasting quality job remember to do this.
Make sure that the pipes securely fixed to the wall without excessive vibrations, otherwise you may get that annoying noise that, I am sure, you have heard somewhere when turning on a tap. Do you know what I mean?
Before going any further you should test the plumbing for leaks the easy way to do this is by simply restoring the water supply and checking for water leakages. However, the professional way to go is using a hydraulic testing tool (you can also hire this) to ensure that there will be no leakage of water later. Hydraulic testing should be performed at least 1.5 times the normal working pressure.
No need to say that if you find any leakages, simply fix them.
After you have repaired any plumbing or electrical work, you will have to look at the surfaces to be tiled.
Make sure the surface has no cracks or holes. Repair cracks with filler, holes better filled with something suitable depending on your surface. Allow the fillers to dry thoroughly. Plastering or rendering may be needed if the walls are badly damaged.
There should be no bumps on the surface and the wall should be plumb. It will be very difficult if not impossible to have a straight tiled wall if you have bumps on the wall.
If you are going to plaster or render it is always good practice to use some waterproof additives in the mix.
Preparation work is vital for success of your project and so the time spent doing it is worthwhile. Therefore, if you wish to have a successful project, remember to prepare it well.
by Manuel Kupka
