how do I put up individual wall tiles

[airman k]

I have a wall in my bathroom that is 6 feet wide by 8 feet high. I would like to apply a 6 foot long by 3 foot high piece of oak panel along the floor, then install 3 tiles in a diamond pattern just above the oak panel (about three inches over the paneling). I would like to put a 6 foot by 1 foot piece of the oak wall panel over the tiles (same 3 inch distance), then top the room with another row of tiles set in the diamond shape.

I would like to paint the wall the color of the other three walls in the room before putting the tile on the walls. The walls are sheetrock (gypsum board) and were painted white 10 years ago.

I would like to know how can I apply the tile without seeing the thinset under the tile on the edges, and not have them fall off the wall in a few months or years........ Maybe Just some sort of edging? Tile or wood molding?

Thank you for your knowledge.......

Airman Kelley

[seriph1]

Hi and a big welcome to our forum!

Why not place the tile feature inside a nice picture frame? In that manner you would nicely "tie in" all elements of the project.... and IF you decided you didn't really like the tiles it'd be a piece of cake to simply remove them.

Other than that, your suggestion of a moulding around them would be fine - or you could very neatly and precisely remove the sheetrock using a vibrating multi-tool (Bosch, Fein, Milwaukee etc.) so the finished depth of the tiles was equal to the wall .... that would represent considerably more work but I think the effect would be lovely.

[Oldsaltoz]

Hi and a big welcome to our forum! Why not place the tile feature inside a nice picture frame? In that manner you would nicely "tie in" all elements of the project.... and IF you decided you didn't really like the tiles it'd be a piece of cake to simply remove them. Other than that, your suggestion of a moulding around them would be fine - or you could very neatly and precisely remove the sheetrock using a vibrating multi-tool (Bosch, Fein, Milwaukee etc.) so the finished depth of the tiles was equal to the wall .... that would represent considerably more work but I think the effect would be lovely. I would start by lining the wall with new Villaboard sheets, they can be fixed over the existing sheets, this ensure you have a good surface that is water resistant in a wet area and avoid any of the problems associated with tiling over a painted surface. The Australian standards calls for a WR rated sheet in all wet areas. doing this also means you also have the opportunity to level the wall. Good luck.

[seriph1]

looking at this again I have misunderstood your idea... I now think you want the wall to have a 3 foot dado paneling system, with a 3-tile-high strip of tiles laid in a diamond pattern, bordered at its base and top with matching Oak rails. As you state and as confirmed by Salty, you have to ensure there is an adequate bond betweenthe tiles and the wall - So many of us cut the vital corner of tiling direct to a painted surface only to find over time the tiles are coming away because the only bond is with the paint and not the wall.

Can you explain a little more about the Oak paneling you're intending to use?

What base boards do you want to use?

How far is this wall from primary water sources?

Is the floor tile or timber or.....?

What pattern if any, is on the tile?

Are you removing the plaster board from behind the paneling?

How do you intend to seal the bottom from water getting in and behind the wall?

Is the proposed wallan internal or external one?