Install tile on taped and sanded wallboard.
Tile adds a design element to your walls, but before you install it, you must prepare unfinished wallboards to ensure that the tile lays flat. Wallboards, or drywall panels, have a mitered outside edge, and where the panels meet, there is a slight depression in the unfinished wall. Wallboard manufacturers do this intentionally to allow you to apply joint compound and tape to the seams and still have a smooth flat wall. You'll need some drywall tools and supplies to get the wall ready for tile.
Instructions
1. Cut pieces of fiberglass mesh tape, and apply them over the seams in the wallboard. Do not overlap the tape, it's okay if the tape is up to 1 inch short along the top and bottom of the seams. The tape is self-adhesive.
2. Scoop up about ½ cup of premixed joint compound with a 6-inch taping knife, and smear it over the fiberglass mesh tape. Use enough pressure to push the wet compound through the mesh and into the wallboard joints.
3. Fill an entire seam with the compound, then switch to a 10-inch taping knife and smooth the seam to further flatten out the wet compound. Repeat the procedure on all the seams between the wallboard panels.
4. Smooth a little bit of compound over the dimples left by nails or screws that hold the wallboard in place.
5. Let the compound dry completely, and sand off bumps and rough spots with a drywall sander.
6. Apply an additional thin coat of joint compound over the seams, using only the 10-inch taping knife. Let dry, and sand once more. Now your wallboard is ready to prime and tile.
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