Wall tiling methods

[spx]

Hi, I'm about to start tiling my second bathroom. The surface is a mixture of tiling over the old tiles and tiling on to exteror ply(new shower cubical built).

Any advice on the best method of applying the tiles - dot n dab or wavey lines with a trowel. what is the difference because a few people have told me of different ways but no explanation why to use them!

Cheers,

 

[HandyJon]

Any advice on the best method of applying the tiles - dot n dab or wavey lines with a trowel.

Generally the accepted method is to put the adhesive on the wall, and then using the notched trowel, make horizontal grooves. They don't need to be wavy. The adhesive is notched to allow the tile to be bedded down properly, the adhesive having space to spread via the notches. Dot and dab is only used on really large tiles.

 

[spx]

Cheers Jon, Waht would you define as large? The tiles I have are 25 x 33.

 

[HandyJon]

They're medium.

Use a notched trowel.

 

[Mudster]

If you have the opportunity to do so, replace the plywood in the shower with a product purposely desinged for that area, such as Aquapanel, Hardibacker, wedi board, lux board or anyting designed to be a tile backer board.

Tile don't like a product that expands and contracts, in fact tanled plasterboard is a better substrate than plywodd as it's stable.