Q&A: Trouble-Free Tiling

May 2003

I've created a new bathroom by building a stud partition wall at one end of a bedroom. Can I stick tiles directly onto the plasterboard that lines the wall or do I need to plaster it first?

If you have used ordinary plasterboard then you should skim it before you tile onto it. This will seal the paper against any moisture that may get through the tiles. Alternatively, if you have not fixed the plasterboard, use Aquapanel instead, it's a water-resistant plasterboard specifically for kitchens and bathrooms. I suggest you contact these companies to see what is available in your area. It certainly makes sense not to have to plaster a wall that is going to be tiled.

I need to remove some kitchen tiles from a plasterboard wall. As far as I can tell the plasterboard is fixed to timber that forms the wall of the dining room next door. I'm worried that I will damage the plasterboard when I remove the tiles. How easy is it to repair if I do?

Plasterboard is easy to work with so if you do damage a section do not worry. In fact, if you damage a large area, it may be easier to remove the plasterboard with the tiles on it and simply fix a new sheet to the timber uprights (studs).

There are two ways of repairing plasterboard. One is to cut the old plasterboard back to the studs using a sharp trimming (Stanley) knife and then trim off a little more so the new plasterboard can be screwed or nailed to the studs. Before the plasterboard is fixed, cut two lengths of timber (noggins) to nail to the top and bottom of the new patch. These noggins can be slipped into place between the studs and then skew nailed or screwed to the studs. Fix them so that the edges of the existing plasterboard and the edges of the patch can be fixed to them. Then cut a patch and screw it into place using drywall (rust resistant) screws.

The other system of repair is for smaller holes. Cut out a hole using a trimming knife or pad saw. Then cut a patch of plasterboard that will slide into the hole but is big enough to overlap the edges once it is in place. Make 2 small holes in the centre of the patch and thread a piece of string through both holes so that the string can be used to hold the patch in place.

Apply filler or better still Bonding plaster to the inside edges of the hole, then feed the patch into the hole and pull it into place against the Bonding plaster with the string. Secure it somehow until the Bonding or filler is dry. Now the patch can be filled and tiled over.

I'm fitting a new kitchen but I'm not sure what to do about tiling above the new worktop. Do I need to remove the old tiles or can I tile on top of them?

You can leave the old tiles in place and tile on top of them. Make sure they are clean and any loose tiles are stuck back into place. I tend to scratch the surface of the old tiles with medium or coarse abrasive paper - this provides a key for the adhesive and helps to remove the dirt. I also scratch out any loose grout. Try to plan the new tiles so that the joins between the new ones do not coincide with the joins between the old tiles. Then apply the adhesive and away you go.

One advantage of doing this is that the new worktop can be slid into place under the old tiles and the new tiles will overlap the worktop to give a better seal between the worktop and the wall.

I have added a shower to my bathroom by changing the taps for the type that provide a shower as well as filling the bath. There are 5 rows of 6

Yes, I would add tiles right up to the ceiling so that spray from the shower does not get the wall wet. You can stick new tiles on top of the old ones once you have cleaned them well. Then you could fit a listello strip (a sort of tile dado rail) and fix tiles to the wall above this.

You will need to make sure that there is a sealing strip between the bath and the wall to stop water from the shower running down the wall and under the bath. Fit this strip before the new tiles are fixed and tile over the strip. This should make a good waterproof joint between the wall and the bath.

I want to create a self-made mosaic pattern on the wall of my kitchen. I thought if I did a square pattern mosaic I could tile around it to make an attractive and easy-to-clean wall surface. How do I go about creating this mosaic?

The first thing to do is find the pieces of ceramic or glass that you want to use for the mosaic. Do not choose anything too thick - the thick pieces will protrude above the surface of the tiles. Draw out the pattern to the correct size. Now cut the pieces of mosaic and lay them in place onto the pattern.

I think I would tile the wall around the area for the pattern first. This will give you a frame for the mosaic. Once you have worked out the pattern, apply water resistant tile adhesive to the wall and, starting from the bottom of the area for the mosaic, start pushing the pieces into the adhesive. If you need to cut some pieces to fit, do this with a pair of tile nibblers (grozing pliers). An alternative way is to stick the mosaic, face down, onto a sheet of paper, using water soluble PVA adhesive. Then the complete mosaic can be stuck into place on the wall. When the adhesive has dried the paper can be removed and the mosaic grouted.

It is a matter of preference which method you use. However, I do suggest you practice before you do the real thing.