How to prepare the surface and lay tiles on drywall in the bathroom

Recently, plasterboard is increasingly used as the main and auxiliary finishing material when performing work in premises for various purposes. For example, a type of such work is laying tiles on plasterboard in a bathroom or kitchen, which allows you to give the room a new, impeccable and interesting appearance from a design point of view.

Moreover, this work can be performed by people who do not have sufficient skills in such matters. The material is popular not only among beginners, but also among people involved in this issue at a professional level. This is due to its versatility (in a damp room it takes up excess moisture, and in a dry room it can release it, etc.), functionality, ease of processing and compatibility with other materials.

Choosing materials for finishing the bathroom

Drywall

Practice shows that not every room can use ordinary drywall. Today's building codes allow the use of these products of various types. Therefore, plasterboard under tiles in the bathroom, where the formation of fungus is possible due to high humidity, should only be used that is moisture resistant.

This is explained by the fact that the latter’s facing cardboard is treated with a special composition that is resistant to the effects of a humid atmosphere and, accordingly, is not susceptible to the formation of fungi. For complete safety, it is puttied and treated with a primer, and the exhaust ventilation provided provides additional air exchange.

Drywall sheets

Tile

The construction market today offers a wide range of tiles and ceramic tiles for the bathroom and kitchen. Modern tiles are distinguished by the fact that they are environmentally friendly and do not require additional care. However, before you finally make your choice, you need to carefully read the image and characteristics on the packaging, for what purposes it is suitable.

Then it is worth conducting a quality check:

1. The selected tile should not have visual defects, such as blurred or smeared patterns, stains, etc.
2. The surface of the tile must be sufficiently smooth and have a good seal so that it can be laid.
3. On the reverse side the drawing should be visible and the brand and its name should be clearly legible.
4. The hardness of a tile can be determined by lightly hitting it; a dull sound is proof of quality.

[note] It is important that its corners are straight and even: this can be easily checked if the tiles are placed opposite sides to each other. [/note]

Tile adhesive

The floor tiles in the bathroom are fixed with a special glue, which must also be of high quality. Manufacturers offer several options:

• Cement based adhesive.
• Elastic adhesive is sold as a ready-made mixture in liquid or dry form.
• Liquid nails are rarely used because they are quite expensive.

Waterproofing materials

The modern building materials market offers a wide range of waterproofing materials. To create an effective hydraulic barrier, the following are most widely used:

• Bitumen mastic.
• Roll and sheet insulation based on bitumen impregnation.
• Cement-polymer mixture.
• Hydrobarriers with a rubber base.
• Penetrating waterproofing, etc.

To independently carry out work on creating a hydraulic barrier, it is recommended to use bitumen mastic and rolled material impregnated with bitumen. This combination has a high probability of creating effective protection against moisture.

Waterproofing works

In new houses, waterproofing in bathrooms is usually done by professional builders. Therefore, this work most often has to be performed when carrying out major repairs or reconstruction of old premises. Waterproofing under tiles in a bathroom that is subject to renovation begins with the removal of worn-out flooring, remnants of waterproofing and screed.

In this case, everything is removed down to the concrete base, then everything is thoroughly cleaned of accumulated dirt and dust. After repairing and drying the concrete floor, priming begins. When applied, the primer fills all the small cracks and pores of the concrete.

Thus, the installation of waterproofing will ultimately be multi-layered, consisting of a primer, impregnation, a waterproofing layer, a screed and a floor covering.

Laying tiles on drywall

It consists of various stages, each of which has certain characteristics.

Preparatory work

It all starts with preparing the instrument. For this purpose we will need:

• Drill and attachment for preparing glue.
• Spatula with smooth and shaped surfaces.
• Tile cutter
• Plastic crosses.

Installing plastic crosses

As we have already said, before installation begins, it is necessary to putty the seams and joints, then prime the surface of the drywall. For better tightness, the primer must be done twice; experts recommend doing this at intervals of at least 45 minutes. It is recommended to dilute the glue until it becomes thick and creamy.

Direct installation

Laying work consists of the following stages:

1. Laying diagram. To rationally use tiles and create a specific pattern, you need to count the number of rows of tiles horizontally. To do this, you need to divide the length of the entire surface where the tiles will be laid (taking into account the width of the gaps) by its width. It is advisable to carry out the laying from the edge of the wall, which is most noticeable, or from the center.
2. Prepare the glue. The dry mixture is diluted with water in a container in the proportion indicated on the packaging and actively mixed using a drill attachment. You should get a viscous homogeneous liquid. According to professionals, the mixture should be prepared in such a way that it is enough for 2 square meters. m. surface.
3. After the bathroom has been waterproofed, the tiles are laid on drywall. A strip is attached to the lower part of the wall surface at a distance equal to the height of the tile from the floor. Using a level, the rail is installed in a strictly horizontal position. The pattern of the masonry depends on how accurately it is installed.

Glue the tiles

4. It is recommended to start laying from the wall located opposite the entrance door for better visibility. We start gluing from the corner (center) to the side and up.
5. You need to lay out no more than four rows at once; after a technological break, you can continue working. Apply the adhesive mass using a notched trowel. To maintain the distance between the tiles, plastic crosses are used. In this case, the seams must be filled with glue.
6. No earlier than a day later, you can grout the joints. And after 24 hours you can apply varnish, which will protect the seam from moisture and dirt.

Grouting joints

Laying tiles on drywall is accessible to almost everyone. In your work, you just need to adhere to the recommendations outlined in the article. And then rest assured, you will be able to lay the tiles and make the bathroom tiled with high quality and taste.