Small tiles often come attached to large mesh sheets for easy installation.
Tile can be applied to almost any surface. The tile adhesive used dictates the level of water resistance given to the wall. The ideal backing for tile is cement or cement backerboard. However, drywall, also known as gypsum board or sheetrock, is fully capable of holding up standard tile. Applying tile to drywall requires using thin-set mortar, which has a higher water resistance than most other adhesives. The process of installing tile on drywall is the same as any other type of tile installation.
Instructions
1. Scoop the thin-set out onto the wall using the flat edge of the notched trowel. Apply a layer approximately 1/4-inch thick.
2. Pull the notched end of the trowel across the layer of thin-set with the trowel held at a 45-degree angle to the wall. The trowel will create grooves in the thin-set, which are necessary for proper adhesion of the tile. The grooves need to run horizontally.
3. Place your first tile in the bottom corner of your work area. Place the second tile adjacent to the first, running along the bottom edge of the work area. Install a spacer between each tile to maintain the proper spacing for the grout. Place tiles horizontally until you have completed the bottom row.
4. Continue to lay additional courses of tile. Work your way up the wall, putting spacers between each tile, until the work surface is complete.
5. Measure sections that need to be cut carefully, and cut the tiles with a tile cutting saw, available for rent from most hardware stores. Tile cutting saws are wet saws that operate similarly to a table saw. Mark the tile with the proper measurements, turn on the machine and slowly push the tile through the cutting blade on the saw. Installation of partial tiles is the same as installation of full-size tiles.
6. Remove the spacers after the adhesive has had ample time to dry.
7. Scoop premixed grout over the tiles with the flat edge of the trowel. Hold the trowel at 45-degrees to the wall and angled against the grout lines. Pull the grout mixture down and into each of the grout lines. Work in small patches so the grout does not dry before you clean it off the tile. Wipe off any excess grout with a damp sponge.
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