How to lay and glue tiles onto drywall

If properly prepared, drywall can make an excellent base for tiling a wall. Many homes choose for drywall because it’s a smooth, level surface that makes a perfect canvas for tiling. To guarantee a solid, long-lasting bond, there are specific steps that must be followed when laying and adhering tiles to drywall.

It’s critical to realize the value of preparation before you start. In addition to simplifying the tiling process, properly prepping the drywall guarantees that your tiles will remain firmly in place for many years to come. This entails priming the surface and ensuring that the drywall is dust- and debris-free, clean, and dry.

Selecting the appropriate adhesive and tiling technique is crucial once the drywall is prepared. The best method will depend on what kind of tile you’re using—ceramic, porcelain, or something else entirely. You can improve the aesthetic appeal and practicality of your area with a professional-looking finish if you use the appropriate equipment and methods.

Which drywall is suitable??

Selecting the materials is necessary before installing tiles on drywall. Making the proper selection of gypsum boards is essential to excellent finishing. There are three varieties of plasterboard: regular, moisture-resistant, and fire-resistant. While tile products can be glued to any of them, ones that are resistant to moisture are better suited for use in the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. Its water-repellent qualities will make it last a lot longer than alternative solutions.

Choosing tiles

When making your selection, take into consideration the following factors to ensure that the tiles you bought and glued onto the bathroom drywall do not disappoint:

• Surface quality. Please note: the surface of the product cannot be absolutely smooth, but if the tile has obvious irregularities and defects, it is definitely not worth buying. You can check how smooth the front surfaces are by placing them next to each other. High-quality products will fit tightly and will not form large gaps. Of course, this is only true for tiles with a smooth (not embossed) surface.
• Clarity of the pattern. The pattern on the surface of the tile should be without defects, blurred or smeared areas, unnecessary color spots, streaks and other uncharacteristic features.
• Corners. They should be perfectly smooth and straight.
• Reverse side. The brand and name of the product should be visible on the reverse side of the tile. Otherwise, it is better to refrain from buying.
• Hardness. Overheated tiles can be identified by the fact that they have an uneven color and shine on the reverse side. Such products are very fragile, and even with careful handling there will be a lot of waste. Think for yourself whether it is possible to glue such tiles on drywall. High-quality tiles make a dull sound when lightly hit, and overheated tiles make a ringing sound.
• Quantity. You will not be mistaken if you count it not in square meters, but in pieces.

Choosing glue

In order to prevent tile peeling off in high humidity, tile adhesive used to adhere tiles to drywall in bathrooms needs to be exceptionally high quality. It follows that you must make an informed decision.

There are three good choices:

• ready-made solution;
• dry mix based on cement;
• liquid nails.

Let’s examine their characteristics. The cement-based material is perfect for tasks like installing tiles on bathroom drywall. It sticks nicely to the paper that the drywall sheet’s top layer is made of.

Since ready-made elastic glue doesn’t need to be diluted, there’s no chance of forgetting to keep the correct ratio of dry mixture to water. This makes it convenient; it comes in buckets and jars. However, this product is more expensive than the alternatives. Wish to cut costs without sacrificing convenience? Purchase a dry mix of a unique elastic adhesive. It is less expensive than pre-made solutions and simple to dilute. You can easily understand how to use such glue to adhere tiles to drywall by following the instructions.

The priciest but best-quality alternative are liquid nails. While using this type of glue to adhere every tile would be impractical, it works well for attaching individual products that have fallen off.

Important: Liquid nails should only be used to glue products to moisture-resistant drywall in bathrooms and other damp areas. If not, the products will eventually fall off.

Dismantling and using old tiles

Suggestions. It is best to remove any outdated tiles that may be present on the walls. Even though the base appears to be solid, you shouldn’t "patch" the surface. Reducing the budget for a complete renovation will make the bathroom look ugly.

Be patient as removing old tile flooring takes a lot of time and work. However, taking off the old finish won’t take as long as installing tiles in the bathroom over drywall. Order of work:

• wet the seams well with hot water;
• remove the gypsum grout with a spatula;
• wash the cleaned seams with a rag soaked in hot water;
• place a chisel in the gap and tap it lightly with a hammer to dismantle the product entirely;
• if the tile is cracked, use a chisel.

Completely removed tiles can be utilized again, for example, to complete utility rooms and other non-residential spaces. They work well for lining rooms in a garden house or summer house where aesthetic standards aren’t as high.

Suggestions. The backs of the tiles should be cleaned of any glue residue before reattaching them to the drywall. Conveniently, a special drill attachment (a wire brush) can be used for this procedure. Work must be done carefully to prevent damage to the products’ fronts.

Surface preparation

Installation of drywall is carried out with staggered seams. They must be processed, glued with self-adhesive tape (serpyanka) and puttied. Technological openings for pipes must be sealed with silicone sealant. Many people have a question: is it possible to lay tiles on drywall without such preparation?? Experienced professionals categorically do not recommend doing this. The reason is obvious: if you do not align the seams or seal them poorly, after a while the sheets of drywall will begin to separate and cracks will appear between them. This will also be reflected in the tiles: they will begin to fall off. So preparing drywall for tiles is a mandatory stage of finishing work.

Gluing

There are multiple steps involved in installing tiles over drywall. Product layout diagrams are first created; solid and piece tiles, the positioning of the cladding, the breadth of the seam, and the pattern’s location must all be considered.

Mark the plane from top to bottom before adhering tiles to the drywall. Mark the zero level on the wall first, followed by the rows’ locations. To ensure that there are no future concerns about the masonry’s evenness, make sure to use a tool to check the level.

• At the level where the 2nd row will be located, horizontally fix the rail, checking the direction with a level.Apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the tile or to the surface of the plasterboard using a notched trowel.
• Apply the tile to the surface and press lightly with your hand.
• Lightly tap the edge with a rubber-tipped hammer so that the tile takes the correct position.
• Insert crosspieces into the corners between adjacent tiles.
• After laying 4 rows, stop working for a while so that the glue has time to dry.
• Lay out like this until you reach the last row, which will consist of cut tiles.
• Cutting is done with a tile cutter.
• When all the tiles are laid, remove the cross-shaped spacers. Seams are grouted with waterproof grout.
• After the seams have dried, they are coated with waterproof varnish to give the surface waterproofing properties.

Before installing tiles on drywall, it is necessary to verify that the tile, adhesive, varnish, and tools are appropriate for use in damp environments.

Crucial! It is necessary to evenly distribute the glue beneath the tile’s surface to prevent voids from forming, which could lead to the tile cracking or falling off in those areas.

After laying the ornamental border, you ought to take a forty-minute or hour-long break. Certain tiles might get forced out of their positions during this period. In the event that this occurs, they are put in place by gently tapping with a rubber-tipped hammer.

Any space can have a modern, long-lasting finish by simply laying and adhering tiles to drywall. Making sure the drywall is smooth, clean, and primed before applying adhesive is crucial. You can attain a long-lasting, professional-looking result with the appropriate tools and methods. Even for individuals who are unfamiliar with DIY tiling, this tutorial will walk you through every step of the process, from preparing the surface to installing the tiles and grouting the finished project.

Important Tips

1. If you doubt whether it is possible to lay tiles on drywall in a new house, do not experiment, but seek advice from an experienced builder. He will dispel doubts or, on the contrary, recommend waiting for the house to shrink. Such foresight will save your money and time.
2. It is not allowed to lay tiles on drywall that does not have moisture-resistant properties. Gypsum fiber sheets (GVL) are best suited for damp rooms.
3. How to lay tiles on regular drywall (GKLV): do not attach it to the wall, but to the guide strips located at a distance of 40 centimeters from each other. Depending on the thickness of the sheet, the distance can be reduced. The substrate prevents the drywall from swelling when moisture gets on it.
4. Some craftsmen use polypropylene plaster mesh instead of strips. It reliably protects the drywall from deformation. The mesh is installed using PVA glue and metal staples.
5. Coat the drywall with a primer in two layers: apply the first layer, wait for 45 minutes until it dries, then apply the second layer.
6. An option to make the wall more durable is to install gypsum plasterboard using a two-layer method. Twice as much material is consumed, but nothing threatens the reliability and durability of the wall.

Crucial! Is it possible to glue tiles onto drywall if it is too thin, wonders novice home craftsmen? It is possible, but installing the sheets in two layers is advised.

A practical way to finish your home with a smooth, polished look is to lay tiles on drywall. You can make sure that your tiles adhere correctly and endure over time by taking the appropriate precautions.

The secret is to prepare. Make sure your drywall is clean, dry, and firmly fastened before proceeding. A high-quality primer will facilitate a good adhesive bond and give your tiles a solid base. Making the effort to meticulously plan your layout will also have a significant impact on how it turns out.

Work methodically when it comes to setting the tiles and applying the adhesive. Using spacers to keep uniform gaps between the tiles, evenly apply the adhesive and press the tiles firmly into place. Grouting will seal the joints and shield your work from moisture and dirt after the adhesive has dried.

Ultimately, with the proper planning and attention to detail, tiling drywall can be a simple task. You can improve any room in your house with a stunning and long-lasting tiled surface that you create with careful work.

Video on the topic

How to glue tiles onto drywall with your own hands.

How to lay tiles or porcelain tiles on drywall

Laying tiles in the bathroom on drywall with your own hands. High-quality and fast tile laying

Laying tiles on plasterboard

How to lay tiles on drywall, gypsum board or GSP

How to lay tiles on plasterboard walls? Size 30×90 cm.