Replacing Bath Tiles Part 1: Tile a Side Wall Without Taking Out Your Old Tiles

All About Ceramic Coloured Bathroom Tiles

It’s difficult to believe that they were once popular. 70’s and 80’s bathroom tiles are now obsolete and not much attractive for the current interior designs. The bathroom is probably the most difficult room to remodel of any house. Not just because plumbing, but the coating as well.

Most homeowners know how easy is taking a paintbrush and start painting a bedroom or living-room. In just a few hours of hard-working, any room may be completely re-decorated. It does not happen with tiles for bathrooms or kitchens, due to the expensive price of removing the tiles as well as the time without those basics spaces of your house.

However, it is possible to replace the existing tiles of your bathroom by using different techniques, much more clean and simple, painting and tiling. You can change the look of the bathroom vanities without removing tiles; and this doesn’t mean just painting over. Learn how to do it further on.

The second option is to cover the tiles using new tiles instead. It’s not that simple pasting a tile over an existing one; you need to apply a special leveling mortar to hide the old side wall installation. Learn how to use both techniques and much more. We’ll give you tips for innovative and original bathroom tile ideas to break the look of your bathroom.

Materials and tools are needed?

Belt sander with different sanding disks sizes.
Glass fiber mess.
New tiles.
Tile’s glue ready to use.
Separation crosspieces.
Self-adhesive holders.
Silicone.
Maker tape

How to tile without removing the existing side bathroom wall tiles

In order to achieve a successful installation, it’s absolutely necessary before start that you clean up and get ready the side wall. Be sure to clean it up with vinegar and water at 50%. This will hold new tiles tightly against the wall. This job is basically focused on:

To get a surface as a strong as possible for a further hold installation.
To extend the mortar or adhesive.
To install a well aligned tiles.
To keep the same join wide for all tiles.

install bathroom wall tiles

The surface has to be rough to get a better holding. Use the belt sander all over the side wall. Be sure to check out the tiles with your hand, they must be perfectly sanded.

Install the glass fiber mess at the edge of the tiled zone. This will avoid that tiles take off in the future. You need to apply here the special adhesive.
Tile’s glue ready to use is required now; first extend it using a smooth trowel and then use a dentate trowel to comb the edge. Do it by zones to have enough time to put the tiles correctly before glue is dried.
To guarantee always the same size between tiles, use the separation crosspieces; may be acquired at specialized stores. A typical space between tiles can be 4 and 10 mm.
Once the adhesive has been completely extended, put the tiles; aligned and leveled following a line. Push each of them against the wall to make sure they get perfectly sealed.
Remember to check back the alignment of the tiles when a row is finished. It’s easy just by using two self-adhesive holders, each one stuck on the tile’s corner and tight a cord between both.

How to seal the Junctions

Put maker tape around both tiles’ edges as well as along the junction. Fill in the junction using silicone anti-mould until excels through the borders of the maker tape. Then, using a small spatula, extend the silicone to smooth it completely. Once you’ve done it, you are ready to take out the maker tape, putting special care while you pull from it. Try pulling the tape towards the outside.