Wall tiling forgives little: every crooked tile stares at you at eye level for twenty years. The good news: with a prepared substrate and three rules from the French tiling standard (DTU 52.2), the result is professional.
The substrate first
- Flat (defects < 5 mm under a 2 m rule — otherwise skim first), dry, dust-free, primed.
- In the shower zone: moisture-resistant board + waterproofing membrane BEFORE the tiles — tiling is not waterproofing.
Single or double buttering?
| Tile format | Adhesive | Trowel |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 300 cm² (e.g. 15×15) | Single (wall) | 6 mm |
| 300 to 1,100 cm² (e.g. 30×30) | Single, back-buttering advised | 6/9 mm |
| > 1,100 cm² (e.g. 30×60, 60×60) | Double buttering mandatory (wall + back) | 9 mm / half-moon |
Setting out (diagram)
The moves that make the wall
- Never start from the floor (rarely level): a screwed starting batten set by laser, the bottom row goes in last, cut.
- 2 mm spacers (rectified tiles: 1.5 mm min), level checked every 2 rows.
- Cuts with a manual cutter (straight) or an angle grinder + diamond disc (notches); pipe holes with a diamond hole saw.
- Grout after 24 h: water-resistant in wet rooms; corners and tray/tile junctions in sanitary sealant, never cement.
The complete bathroom also means the plumbing, the electrical zones — and why not a wood floor.