What are wall tiles?
A wall tile is a hard, thin object used to cover a wall for the purpose of decoration or to protect the wall in wet or splash prone areas.
These manufactured tiles are usually square or rectangular in shape and are created from materials such as clay, natural stone, glass or ceramic.
What is the difference between wall and floor tiles?
Whilst wall tiles are perfectly suitable and durable for use on walls, they are more delicate than floor tiles and will break or scratch more easily if not used correctly.
Wall tiles are usually smaller and can be more decorative with the use of different materials and glossy, uneven or bumpy surfaces.
Floor tiles are much stronger than wall tiles and tend to be larger with anti-slip surfaces. Many floor tiles can also be used on the walls, especially if you want a clean cohesive look that carries from the floor and over your walls.
But some floor tiles are too heavy for walls, so this is something you must check before using floor tiles on your walls.
Can I use a wall tile on the floor?
Unless a tile is specified as being suitable for both walls and floors, then a wall tile cannot be used on the floor as it will not be strong enough to withstand weight or the wear and tear caused by regular foot traffic.
A wall tile that is not designed to be used on the floor will easily crack, break, scratch or chip.
How do you measure wall tiles?
You will need to calculate the area of the wall you wish to tile in m². To do this, measure the length and the height of the wall and then multiply the length by the height to calculate the area.
If you have a window or door in the wall, calculate the area of these as well, then subtract from the total area of the wall.
Next you need to add 10% wastage to the total to account for any tile breakages that may occur during shipping or cutting. To add 10%, take your total and multiply by 1.1 (Total x 1.1 = Total including 10% wastage)
Do you tile walls or floors first?
You can do it either way, but you may prefer to tile the walls first so that you don’t damage your newly tiled floor whilst tiling your walls.
Accidents happen; tools or tiles can be dropped during the wall tiling, which could lead to a newly tiled floor being damaged before you’ve even finished your project.
Can you tile on uneven walls?
It is quite likely that your walls are a little (or a lot) uneven, but yes, you can work with an uneven wall.
If you wish to tile an uneven wall, there are a few preparations you can make to ensure the tiles lay smooth, even and look professional when you’ve completed your project.
A few options include replastering the wall, using tile backer boards, or using levelling clips and wedges.
It will take more time and work but will be worth it in the end.
Can I tile over painted walls?
Yes you can. First scrape away any loose or flaking paint and fill any holes or cracks. Then hand sand the whole area with a medium-grit sandpaper to slightly rough up the surface.
