Beginners Guide To Tiling!... - Tile Advice

[emeluu]

Evening all,

We have recently bought and I am planning on retiling our small bathroom with white metro tiles and plain white grout at a spacing of 2mm. Although there are threads on here covering beginners they are from years ago so wondered what the latest products you'd recommend are?

So starting from the beginning - some wall surface is currently covered in tiles which I'll strip off, but some wall has just been painted. This is a bit peeling now so I was going to sand it down in preparation. Is there any other preparation you'd advise - like a sealant or anything?

Then, is there a particular adhesive and grout that dries slowly for a newbie getting to grips with it?

Also as they are metro tiles the traditional cross spacers aren't ideal. I have seen straight ones on American blogs, but can't seem to find any to buy here - do they exist? Or would you say to cut down the cross ones?

Thanks in advance for any help - any tips will be gratefully received to this newbie!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Just love the bit about the spacer pegs!

 

[Martyn Leeds]

I'd go with grey grout on white metros.

 

[emeluu]

Just love the bit about the spacer pegs!

Haha! I get it! I've just looked closer at the photos on the American blog and they are put in sideways... see even a cheeky comment like yours can help

 

[emeluu]

I'd go with grey grout on white metros.

Thank you, I had decided to go with white tiles as the bathroom is extremely small. I'd be worried that the room would feel a bit busy with the grey. Have you found that in your experience?

 

[Dan]

What are the walls? Plaster or plasterboard or something else?

 

[emeluu]

What are the walls? Plaster or plasterboard or something else?

Hi Dan,
They are plaster - here is a pic of the peeling/falling off paint exposing the cracked plaster below. Do you think this could just be sealed then tiled onto? Or would you advise a replaster?
Thank you

 

[Brian the Tile]

You will have to take off all the loose plaster before tiling ,no good trying to patch it up tap it and i would imagine you will find it all loose with the looks of it on the pic

 

[emeluu]

You will have to take off all the loose plaster before tiling ,no good trying to patch it up tap it and i would imagine you will find it all loose with the looks of it on the pic

Thanks Brian - I'll get a quote on replastering the wall then after we've taken the existing tiles off

 

[magga]

Thank you, I had decided to go with white tiles as the bathroom is extremely small. I'd be worried that the room would feel a bit busy with the grey. Have you found that in your experience?

Grey grout with white metros looks ten times better than white grout, in my opinion. You only need a very light grey, nothing too dark. Mapei Ultracolour plus silver grey or Tilemaster grout 3000 light grey.

 

[Rookery]

Remove the duff plaster, dry line then tank it. I'd suggest using Mapei P9 adhesive as its got a very long pot life. Mapei UCP grout is fine but it might be a bit quick for you.

 

[emeluu]

Grey grout with white metros looks ten times better than white grout, in my opinion. You only need a very light grey, nothing too dark. Mapei Ultracolour plus silver grey or Tilemaster grout 3000 light grey.

Thanks Magga - If you guys are suggesting it I may just go for it. It would give the tiles more definition as well. Thanks for the grout suggestions too

 

[emeluu]

Remove the duff plaster, dry line then tank it. I'd suggest using Mapei P9 adhesive as its got a very long pot life. Mapei UCP grout is fine but it might be a bit quick for you.

Thanks Rookery - very helpful. Is the Tilemaster grout any slower?

 

[magga]

Yes it might be better for you as you don't have to clean it off so quickly like UCP.