Where to start laying tiles in the bathroom: sequence and laying technology

Where should you start laying tiles in the bathroom according to the rules of construction - this question worries many novice craftsmen who independently carry out repairs in the house. Finishing surfaces with tiles has its own subtleties and nuances, which relate not only to the sequence of work, but also to technology as a whole.

When tiling a bathroom, it is important to follow the correct sequence.

Sequence of work

In order to carry out repair work correctly, first of all, you need to find out the sequence of laying tiles in the bathroom. If in ordinary rooms the “top-down” principle is often used, here it is necessary to lay in a completely opposite way. The order of facing changes and first of all you need to take care of removing a flat floor. This is due to the fact that after applying a layer of mortar, both the walls and the floor will change their level.

After the floor is completed, you can start decorating the walls. In this case, work is carried out from the bottom up. In order for the coating to look attractive and not contain threaded elements in visible areas, it is recommended to identify the position of the rows in advance and start installation work from the second strip.

If you plan to tile the bathtub or bring out the curbs, then wall decoration can be done in two ways: from the curb up the wall or from the bottom using the standard method. The first option is more preferable.

The correct sequence of laying tiles in the bathroom: first of all, the floor is tiled and only then the walls

Separately, the sequence of tiled cladding in relation to a specific plane is considered. This also takes into account the location of furniture and plumbing. In some cases, you can save money and leave, for example, the walls behind the bathroom uncoated.

Laying scheme and markings

Before you start laying tiles on the walls or floor in the bathroom, you need to decide on the layout project and find out where the finishing elements will be located. To do this, it is recommended to initially work out the design on paper. When drawing up drawings, the scale and exact dimensions of the tile are taken into account. So you can visually assess the situation and make the necessary adjustments.

After the project is developed, you can start marking on the work site. First you need to determine the perimeter of the floor. The lines must be even so that distortions can be eliminated in the future. For marking, it is best to use a laser level or a thread treated with chalk, it is applied to the concrete surface and thus mark the contours of the cladding.

Most common bathroom tiling patterns

To mark the walls you need to use the tile itself. Attach it to the wall without mortar, moving from top to bottom and marking the position of each tile. So you can determine the starting point of the masonry. The bottom row will be laid last of the threaded elements.

Floor cladding

Since the repair work starts from the bottom up, first of all, you need to tile the floor of the bathroom with a tile. You can get started using one of the following principles:

• From the farthest visible angle. This is the traditional method. In this case, the first cladding element is laid from the most visible point, that is, from the corner that is located opposite the wall with the door. If this area is closed by a bath or shower, the expediency of this principle is partially lost.
• From the threshold. This is the most common method. In this case, the tiling process starts from the corner closest to the door. The rationality of using this method is due to the fact that the far part of the bathroom is hidden by plumbing.
• From center mark. This method is used extremely rarely and is more suitable for spacious bathrooms with an open central area. At the same time, furniture and plumbing should be located along the walls in order to hide the incised elements, if possible. The center of the bathroom is determined by marking. You need to determine the center of each wall and draw lines along these points. At the intersection, the central junction of four tiles will be located, from which laying begins.

Basic principles of laying tiles on the floor

wall decoration

The technology also has its subtleties. In order to better understand how to lay tiles correctly, you should consider in more detail the methodology and sequence of work. The technology of laying ceramic tiles involves the following steps:

1. First, outline the approximate position of the side elements, taking into account the inter-seam space.
2. Determine the position of the bottom line of the second row and fix a wooden plank, metal corner or profile in this place so that you get a straight line indicating the beginning of the masonry. Such a bar will allow you to display the exact level during installation and prevent the tiles from slipping.
3. Knead the adhesive solution and let it brew for 10-15 minutes.
4. Apply adhesive to the wall with a notched trowel. The reverse side of the tile can be left untreated.
5. Attach the tile to the place intended for it and press lightly.
6. After fixing the second element, insert a plastic cross at the junction to adjust the thickness of the seam.
7. Tap the tile with a mallet and check the level.
8. Move up in rows, in some cases it makes sense to work in parallel with two lanes.
9. First lay the whole elements, and then cut the missing fragments.
10. Every 4 rows, let the tile dry a little and fix.
11. The bottom row is laid last, after the top has dried and it will be possible to remove the support bar.

This technology is also used in the arrangement of a kitchen backsplash, cladding of building facades, etc.

When facing walls, laying tiles begins from the second bottom row upwards

Seam processing and elimination of defects

After the surfaces have dried, it will be possible to start sealing the seams. It is made after full laying of a tile and cleaning it of glue. For this, special grout mixtures are used. It is recommended to pre-moisten the joints with an antiseptic.

The grout is applied with a rubber spatula or with a construction syringe, in appearance it looks like a confectionery, it can be made from a plastic bag. The last method is especially relevant for working with epoxy mixtures, they are more viscous, and therefore it will be quite difficult to carefully fill them into the space between the tiles with a conventional spatula.

The last step in tiling a bathroom is grouting.

Joints between plumbing and tiles must be treated with a sealant. Additionally, corners and chipped areas are worked out in the same way. With the help of mastics, you can mask small defects and visually correct the width of the seams.

You can hide the joints between the floor and the wall, as well as tiles and plumbing, using a plinth or a decorative strip. They are attached last with a sealant.

After laying the tiles and grouting the joints, be sure to wash the surface of the tile with a soft sponge. So you clean it from the remnants of building materials. For shine, treat the tiles with glass cleaner.

The process of laying ceramic tiles in the bathroom takes an average of 3-4 days. This will be enough to prepare the work area, tile the surfaces, let them dry and seal the seams between the elements. If you follow the correct sequence of laying tiles, you will be able to minimize defects and bring out a flat surface.