Tile Fixing Work in Dubai: How to do it yourself

If among the many do-it-yourself projects you have in mind to lay tiles on walls and floors, you are in the right place! In fact, here you will find a detailed guide on how to proceed, and which tools to use to perform a professional Tile Fixing Work in Dubai.

To carry out a correct laying of the tiles we recommend these tools:

- Stonecutter

- Spare chisels

- Mixer

INTRODUCTION TO WORK

Proper installation of tiles guarantees years of trouble-free performance and increases the value and beauty of your home. To proceed, careful preliminary planning is important, so it is necessary to follow precise guidelines which are divided into 5 phases:

Surface preparation

Arrangement of the tiles

Laying and cutting the tiles

Grouting the joints

Finish

 

For a high quality and above all fast work it is also important to have some safety tools available such as gloves and dust mask, knee pads and goggles. In addition, there are some tools and power tools that prove invaluable during the various stages of processing.

 

COMMON TOOLS

• Tape measure
• Squad
• Hammer
• Chalk
• Cutter

 

TOOLS AND POWER TOOLS

• Rubber hammer
• 30 cm wooden mural
• Trowel
• Spatula
• Tile cutter
• Electric drill

 

PREPARATION OF THE WALL SURFACE

The ceramic tile can be installed on most structurally sound substrates, so first make sure the surface is clean, smooth, dry and free of wax, soap scum and grease.

Any damaged, loose or uneven area must then be repaired, patched and above all leveled. During this preliminary phase it is necessary to remove all moldings, coatings, appliances and anything else that may interfere with the Tile Fixing Work in Dubai.

OPTIMIZE THE LEVEL OF THE WALL

When laying tiles in a bathroom, you need to start by finding the center point of the wall. In this case, use a level to draw a plumb line in the center of the wall itself, then line up a row of tiles on the bottom of the wall starting right from the center line, and making sure that the joints between them are uniform.

If your tiles already have spacer tabs, they can be aligned to automatically leave 1.5mm joints. This layout leaves small cuts (less than 1/2 tile) on the walls, so adjust the center line perfectly plumb.

Having said that, it is now necessary to determine the lowest horizontal point of the floor using a spirit level. In this case, stack two tiles on top and draw a horizontal line on the wall. With a level and a square, continue the line around all the side walls to be covered.

This line acts as a guide for the first row to be set on the top of the wall. At this point, mark the external lines on the walls that will not be completely tiled, in order to leave space for the installation of ceramic accessories (soap dish, towel holder, etc.). Also use the plasticized corners which are used to finish the edges on the walls where it is needed.

 

ARRANGEMENT OF THE TILES

Once you have properly prepared the wall, you can proceed with the laying of the tiles, mixing the glue with a first electric tool or a drill on which to mount a whisk that allows you to obtain a well-amalgamated substance without lumps.

Alternatively, you can purchase a specific power tool for use, available in the various online stores and in those that sell DIY and do-it-yourself products.

LAYING TILES ON THE WALLS

To avoid wasting material, start from the lower side of the wall and reach the opposite one, stopping at the point where you will need to cut some tiles.

Once the laying on the whole wall is completed, with a square shaped the tiles to be cut using the special tool that allows you to cut the part cleanly and without releasing unsightly chipping.

Finally, use the specific grout for the joints by applying it with a spatula, and gradually cleaning the surface with a sponge slightly soaked in water and then at the end dry the wall with a clean cloth.

LAYING THE TILES ON THE FLOOR

If your do-it-yourself work also involves laying tiles with joints on the floor, start by marking the central points of all four walls with a piece of chalk, and then join them with the opposite ones so that the lines will intersect in the center of the room. Once this is done, make sure the above lines form perfect squares and adjust them if necessary.

 

CREATION OF A CEMENT SCREED

Before proceeding with the setting and laying of tiles on a floor, the pre-installation is of fundamental importance parathion of the surface.

Specifically, it is a question of creating a well-leveled concrete screed.

Generally for this creation a mix based on mortar, cement and sand is used, and everything must be well blended and the materials used in the right dosage.

Having said that, the mixture gradually pours onto the surface to be paved and gradually levels out with a bubble placed on a special square about 150 cm long. At the end of the work it is necessary to wait at least one day for the screed to dry, and then make it ready for laying the tiles.

Still with reference to the preparation of the base, it should also be added that in the presence of a wooden attic in a rustic or ancient house, to avoid excessively weighing the structure, you can also opt for expanded clay bags.

Specifically, these are very light balls that, once poured on the surface and leveled, must be irrigated and after a day the screed obtained will be ready for laying the tiles.

 

SET THE FLOORING

Now arrange a row of tiles along the center lines in both directions, leaving room for even joints (use cross spacers). The next step involves dividing the room into smaller grids, creating other chalk lines parallel to the central ones. To lay the tiles, start from the center of the room up to the side walls. This method is particularly suitable if the flooring involves the laying of a group of central tiles designed to form a sort of rose window or any other geometric figure. If, on the other hand, it is monochromatic tiles such as those in stoneware (rough or porcelain), you can also start from any side of the room, and reach the opposite one, then proceeding along this false line until the entire surface is completed.

Also in this case you will surely need to cut and adapt the perimeter tiles in each grid, so the advice is to leave a space of about 6 mm between the last tile and the walls.

 

APPLICATION OF THE TILES ON THE FLOOR

Once you have finished laying and cutting all the tiles, you can proceed with fixing using the appropriate mortar. In this case, lift them one by one, so as to place a small amount of fixing compound on the back and in the center (with a trowel).

 

Gradually beat the surface of the tiles with a rubber hammer to make them adhere perfectly to the ground, and above all to level them with the contiguous ones. In reference to the latter, it is important to emphasize that a perfectly flat wooden mural of about 30 centimeters in length is of great use. This simple but functional tool will in fact be useful for leveling the adjacent tiles together, and thus avoiding the risk of finding yourself with a flooring with unsightly protruding teeth. Once you have finished laying the tiles on the floor, you just have to prepare the grout for the joints by applying it with a trowel. Also in this case it is highly recommended to use a sponge slightly soaked in water and a clean cloth to dry the tiles. This caution is essential because if the grout dries on their surface, removing it will be complicated and you will then be forced to use acids which, however, could dehydrate the joints making them greyish instead of their typical black tone.

 

FINISHING INTERVENTIONS

At the end of the tile laying work, all you have to do is proceed with the finishes or with the application of the skirting boards. The latter are available in various widths and heights, but however you can also get them from the tiles by cutting them with the appropriate tool. To fix it at the intersection point between the wall and the newly built floor, simply lay a little glue on the back of the skirting board and with a trowel, and then make it adhere to the wall with a slight pressure of the fingers or by tapping with the hammer. made of rubber. If, on the other hand, you have opted for a finish with wooden skirting boards, then you can use a circular saw or the alternative one for the clean cut, and gradually obtaining the various pieces you need to complete your accurate DIY work. Thanks to your skill you can therefore save the labor costs that a technician in the sector would have rightly required for his intervention.