Laying Slate Tile On Walls

Laying the outdoor slate tile spread enough mortar for one or two tiles at a time.

Laying slate tile on walls.

Slate tiles are available in a variety of different sizes including 2 inch 4 inch 6 inch 12 inch 16 inch and 24 inch squares. Make sure you have at least 10 percent extra tile for cuts and waste. Figure a represents tile installed over a mortar bed fastened to masonry or concrete while figure b is tile bonded directly over masonry or concrete. Be careful if you re spreading enough mortar for more than one tile because you don t want the mortar to dry out.

Slate tiles differ slightly from other stone tile installations in that they require a wet mortar bed made of a mixture of portland cement and sand rather than standard thinset mortars. Measure the tile to account for a one eighth inch 0 3 cm grout space along the wall. Start by tiling the bottom half of the bathroom walls. Mix the slate adhesive according to the packing instructions.

Apply a layer of adhesive on the underside of each tile and place the first tile below your horizontal reference line to the side of the vertical reference line. It is a task that you can do on your own if you follow certain steps and tips. Installing tile on exterior walls. You can cut slate tile with a diamond blade wet saw grinder or hacksaw with an abrasive blade.

Tile can be laid out straight or set on a diagonal. In addition your layout could use a variety of different sizes. Maintain a 45 degree angle on the trowel when spreading the adhesive to produce a smooth even and consistent coat. Figure a and figure b are typical examples of exterior wall tiling.

Cut tiles to fit around the edges of the room. On a vertical surface you generally won t want to go larger than 12 x 12 inch tiles. Do not mix more than you are likely to use in 30 minutes. It is usually a good idea to have 20 percent extra so you will have enough tile on hand in the future to fix and replace any tiles that break.

A slate wall tile is a natural durable long lasting and affordable material which is able to add a stylish and distinctive appearance to your wall. Then use a damp sponge to wet each tile before you lay it on the mortar. Installing slate wall tiles is not a daunting task but definitely requires some effort and diligence.