How To Install Tile On Sheetrock Wall

Plywood and osb are not suitable surfaces for installing tile on walls and foam does not have the tensile strength to support tile.

How to install tile on sheetrock wall. Wash the wall with tsp tri sodium phosphate or an ammonia based cleaner to remove any grease or oil. Seal seams on new drywall with drywall tape and compound and let dry. Remove the tile and prepare the wall according to the corresponding instructions above or tile over the existing tile. Set the second tile next to the first sandwiching two 1 4 inch spacers in between for even spacing.

Starting in the center on one side of your reference line apply a coat of tile setting adhesive to an area about 3x3 feet square. Next take the tile adhesive thinset mortar and apply it to the drywall with a trowel. Add another 1 8 inch to the height measurement and place a mark on the vertical line. Can tile be directly installed to wood surfaces or foam insulation.

Take care not to cover your lines. Place the level horizontally on this line and. Prime the area to seal the new drywall. To do so make sure all of the tiles are intact and secure.

Sand the area with medium grit sandpaper and vacuum up the dust. Line up the tile edges with the vertical and horizontal marks on the wall to ensure that they re level and plum. Spread the adhesive evenly in small in sections since the adhesive can dry before you lay any tile if your work area is too large. Measure up from the bottom of the wall the height of the tile.

Wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dust and allow to dry. Step 4 place tile adhesive on the sheetrock. It doesn t need to be paint ready and blemish free but it needs to be smooth. Bare gypsum drywall is a suitable substrate in all dry interior applications.

If the sheetrock is in an area that does not encounter a lot of moisture it is fine to use thinset to install tile. Repair any loose or cracked tiles. To install ceramic wall tile use a level and measuring tape to mark the tile locations on the wall with chalk. Step 3 install the tile.

If existing tiles are beyond repair remove the tile and install a piece of wallboard in its place. Use long sweeping motions to apply mortar to the wall and start placing your tiles in the marked locations. Spread the adhesive with the smooth side of your notched trowel and then go over it with the notched side to create ridges in the adhesive. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for using the thinset.

Once you spread the mortar press the tiles into place. Be sure to put spacers between each tile as you go.