Tiling kitchen - will I be able to do it?!

hazybubbles

We had the kitchen units refitted last year and ever since have been meaning to get round to painting and getting someone in to tile. Nearly a year later and there's still bare plaster, mainly because the hours I work make it difficult to be around to let trademen in.

So, I am thinking I could have a go at the tiling myself, although I've never done it before. I would like these tiles and to do it in the same sort of brickwork pattern shown: http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/tprod966/section280/Metro-White-Wall-Tile-20x10cm.html
I want to tile up to the level of the bottom of the wall cabinets on all walls.

Can anyone give me some tips? Are the beveled edges going to make it more difficult? What sort of spacers should I be using? Which tile adhesive would you recommend?

I don't want to start then realise I've made a huge mistake and have to get someone in anyway!!

tpt

actually if you are brick bonding you wont be able to use cross spacers in the way that they are intended -you have to put them in more like a 'peg' at each corner and remove after....

Oldsoak

Personally, I prefer a 6mm notched trowel for these wall tiles. However, it should be O.K so long as you don't go any bigger than 8mm. The reason being, is that you will end up with the tiles being too far off the wall. If you use a 5 or 6mm trowel, then when you press the tiles into it 2 things should happen. 1st the addy will spread and adhere to both surfaces and give a good bond. 2nd is that you won't get huge amounts of addy squeezing out into the grout lines.
Good luck and as previously said, take your time (no prizes for muck ups).

hazybubbles

thank you both for your help, I will give it a go!

McKneff

I hate those brick like tiles, it looks like a gents toilet,, sorry, just my opinion.

I got my last tiles from Direct Tile Importers, brilliant company, priced well.

My tiles were granite like, matt, 4" and in three shades, really light grey, mid grey and dark grey, they look stunning with my white shaker kitchen.

I was annoyed at what the tiler did though, the pattern he did was fine but where the cooker hood was I expected him to start in the middle of there and work outwards so that on the sides the tiles would work out to be the same size at each side. He just hadnt thouht
of it. It is now 3/4 of a tile at one side and 1/4 tile at the other, no one else notices but I know its there,

Good luck, hope you manage okay, there will be videos online you can view before you start.

vax2002

if you dont "size" the plaster they will fall off, you need some 1/3 pva with water and prime the plaster to prevent it drawing the adhesive.

motherofstudents

You could hire a really good tile cutter which would make it easier.

Dippypud

vax2002 wrote: »

if you dont "size" the plaster they will fall off, you need some 1/3 pva with water and prime the plaster to prevent it drawing the adhesive.

NO, NO, NO and in case your in any doubt, DON'T DO IT....

no PVA on plaster please, if you 'must' size a wall, please use wall paper paste.

tpt

to echo of some comments - do start in the middle of the focal point (usually the cooker\hood area) and layout before starting to get them centred.

6mm trowel - yep its a fair cop! with these size tiles on good plaster

dont dont dont use pva, or wallpaper paste. use a real primer - acrylic tilers primer your best bet.

pva has been used for years, but recently manufacturers have been specifically saying not to use it, always best to do what they say!

brick tiles\metro are very popular and in fashion at the mo

Idonex

Not sure if those metro ones require it, but if it says seal the tiles first then SEAL THE TILES first! Our tilers didnt bother sealing our crackle glazed metro tiles before they put them on, despite being given the sealant and asked to. Low and behold i have £200 of tiles that have the dust and dirt from the room when they were put on permanantly sealed within them. Looks awful but i dont have the energy or money to redo at the moment.

hazybubbles

Thank you everyone for your advice. This is what I have drawn from it, please correct me if I have got something wrong:

- use an acrylic tile primer
- go for a trade tile adhesive rather than diy
- use a 6mm trowel
- use a powdered white grout
- check if tiles need sealing
- start in the middle of a focal point and take my time!