Hi I have a 1933 house and I a want to tile the bathroom walls. The previous owners at some time tiled over the existing tiles. Both sets of tiles only go up the wall about 2 meters whereas we would like to tile to the ceiling. So at the moment when you look at the top of the tiles at the 2 meter level, it looks like the wall is nearly an inch back from the face of the tiles.
I would like to remove both layers back to the wall but it has been suggested to me that the back layer has probably been there a long time and when I pull this layer off I may have to use a tile chisel to remove them which will result in enough damage that the walls will have to be attended to before tiling, ie plastering or rendering. If the walls are bad I would get someone in to render or plaster if a lot needs doing as I could cope with small areas but not a whole room.
I can borrow a offset 80mm sds tile removing chisel, which I understand is the way to get them off.
My questions are:-
With the walls, how do I know whether they need rendering or plastering, or what is best?
Am I right that rendering is cement based, in which case how thin can it be and what is the best mix, just thinking in case I have only small areas to do?
If it is plastering I need, does it just need bonding or the finish coat as well or other?
With either how long would you leave it to dry before tiling, I have heard all sorts?
Would you unibond before tiling so that the moisture is not drawn out of the adhesive, or for any other reason?
We want to use big tiles maybe 12" square and there will be no bath just a shower so would I be best having full tiles up to the ceiling level but the cut tiles at floor level so that it looks best?
Whats the advice with big tiles and grout lines, ie what size grout lines would you go for with a 12" square tile? Is it small grout lines for small tiles and big grout lines for big in general or am I totally wrong?
Any help would really be appreciated.
I would like to remove both layers back to the wall but it has been suggested to me that the back layer has probably been there a long time and when I pull this layer off I may have to use a tile chisel to remove them which will result in enough damage that the walls will have to be attended to before tiling, ie plastering or rendering. If the walls are bad I would get someone in to render or plaster if a lot needs doing as I could cope with small areas but not a whole room.
I can borrow a offset 80mm sds tile removing chisel, which I understand is the way to get them off.
My questions are:-
With the walls, how do I know whether they need rendering or plastering, or what is best?
Am I right that rendering is cement based, in which case how thin can it be and what is the best mix, just thinking in case I have only small areas to do?
If it is plastering I need, does it just need bonding or the finish coat as well or other?
With either how long would you leave it to dry before tiling, I have heard all sorts?
Would you unibond before tiling so that the moisture is not drawn out of the adhesive, or for any other reason?
We want to use big tiles maybe 12" square and there will be no bath just a shower so would I be best having full tiles up to the ceiling level but the cut tiles at floor level so that it looks best?
Whats the advice with big tiles and grout lines, ie what size grout lines would you go for with a 12" square tile? Is it small grout lines for small tiles and big grout lines for big in general or am I totally wrong?
Any help would really be appreciated.
