Laying ceramic tiles doesn't have to be difficult. All you need is time and knowledge of a few simple rules. See what you need to know to make tiling quick and efficient.

Proper substrate preparation is key

Before applying the adhesive mortar, we must ensure the surface is clean so that the tiles have proper adhesion and adhere evenly to the substrate. We can get rid of dust and dirt with a vacuum cleaner. To remove old glue and greasy stains, use water with detergent.
However, getting rid of dirt and dust is only the first step to success. We need to know that the substrate on which we lay the tiles should be stable. For this reason, always remove protruding and brittle layers. When we have thoroughly cleaned our substrate, we should prime it. For what reason? A primed substrate makes the adhesive more adhesive, and the tiles adhere more stably to the floor or wall. Moreover, priming the space under the tiles will protect us against later chipping and cracking of the tiles.

Adhesive mortar: preparation

Thorough mixing of the adhesive mortar is a very important activity that should be performed with due care. We should follow the instructions that the manufacturers place on the packaging. We must maintain the correct proportions between the dry mixture of ingredients and water. If we unnecessarily add more water, the adhesive will lose its properties, including adhesion, and additionally, the setting time of the mortar will be extended. The mortar must be carefully mixed, it cannot contain any lumps, it should form a uniform mass. Good advice: after mixing the mortar once, wait a few minutes and then proceed with the activity again. It is worth remembering that preparing adhesive mortar in a hurry can ruin all our work and effort.

Applying the adhesive mass and fixing the tiles

For the tiles to adhere stably to the substrate, it is recommended to use the combined method during gluing. What does it consist of? According to this practice, the mortar should be applied both to the underside of the tiles and to their surface. We cannot save on mortar. When do we know that the amount of adhesive we have applied is sufficient? If the mortar, after pressing the tile, comes out from under the tile and flows around its sides. A costly mistake is to spread too little adhesive on the tiles and the substrate.

See our bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles.