How To Fit Wall Tiles | 4Homes

A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Fit Wall Tiles

5. Tips And Advice

5. Tips And Advice (Image 5 of 5)

Plan the position of the tiles so that the tops of the last row of tiles under any window will be exactly flush with the ledge. You may find you will have to cut the bottom row of tiles.
To prepare the walls, repair any large holes with plaster filler and brush on a coat of plaster stabilising solution if the surface is powdery.
Old tiles can be tiled over - just arrange the new joint lines so they don't line up with the old tiles.
When taking off thin strips from the edge of a tile, score the 'waste' surface and use pincers or tile nibblers to trim. Always wear safety glasses or goggles.
To stop a drill bit slipping, stick some masking tape over the area to be drilled.
If you need to cut a curve, to fit around the side of a basin for example, make a card template the same size as the tile. Make cuts at around 10mm spacing along the curve edge and press the template into position.
Trim the 10mm strips to fit exactly around the curve and transfer this shape to the tile. Remember to leave at least 2mm for grouting.