After determining fractional tiles, use a piece of
scrap wood from 36 inches to 48 inches in length to mark
up a tile-measuring stick (fig. 7-26, view A). Mark off
a series of lines equal to the width of a tile. Lay this stick
on the wall and shift it back and forth to determine the
starting point for laying the tiles. Make sure the
fractional tiles at the end of each row are of equal widths
(fig. 7-26, view B).
Use a level to establish a line perpendicular to the
horizontal starting line (fig. 7-26, view C). At both ends
of the horizontal line, draw vertical lines to form the
squared-off area. To make the tile application easier, you
can fasten battens to the wall on the outside of the drawn
lines.
Use a trowel to spread the mastic over approxi-
mately a 3- by 3-foot area of the wall. Use the notched
side to form ridges in the mastic, pressing hard against
the surface so that the ridges are the same height as the
notches on the tool. Allow the mastic to set for 24 hours
before applying grout. Follow the manufacturer’s
mixing instructions closely and use a rubber-surfaced
trowel to spread the grout over the tile surface. Work the
trowel in an arc, holding it at a slight angle so that grout
is forced into the spaces between the tiles.
Start tiling at either of the vertical lines and tile half
the wall at a time, working in horizontal rows. Press each
tile into the mastic, but do not slide them—the mastic
may be forced up the edges onto the tile surface. After
each course of tile is applied, check with the level before
spreading more mastic. If a line is crooked, remove all
tiles in that line and apply fresh ones. Do not use the
removed tiles until the mastic has been cleaned off.
Finish tiling the main area before fitting edge tiles.
When the grout begins to dry, wipe the excess from
the tiles with a damp rag. After the grout is thoroughly
dry, rinse the wall and wipe it with a clean towel.
Nonstaining caulking compound should be used at
all joints between built-in fixtures and tile work and at
the top of ceramic tile bases to ensure complete
waterproofing. Inside corners should be caulked before
a comer bead is applied.
Promptly replace cracked and broken tiles. This
protects the edges of adjacent tiles and helps maintain
waterproofing and appearance. Timely pointing of
displaced joint material and spalled areas in joints is
necessary to keep tiles in place.
A new tile surface should be cleaned according to
the tile manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid
damage to the glazed surfaces.
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
NOTE
Although the following references
were current when this TRAMAN was
published, their continued currency
cannot be assured. You therefore need
to ensure that you are studying the
latest revisions.
Gypsum Construction Handbook, United States
Gypsum Company, Chicago, Ill., 1987.
Materials and Methods of Architectural Construction,
John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1958.
Plastering Skills, American Technical Publishers, Inc.,
Alsip, Ill., 1984.
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