Project guide
Tiling a wall or splashback: tiles, adhesive and grout
Measure the wall, take off anything you are not tiling, add an allowance for cuts and work out adhesive and grout from the tile size.
The short answer
Tiles = wall area x 1.1 (x 1.15 for diagonal or herringbone). BAL gives about 0.4 m² per kg of adhesive for a solid bed on wet walls with a 6mm notched trowel. A 2 x 0.6m splashback in 200 x 200mm tiles needs about 33 tiles, 3.3kg of adhesive and 0.3kg of grout.
The formula
- Tiles (m²) = width x height - area not tiled, x 1.1 (1.15 diagonal)
- Adhesive (kg) = area / 0.4 x 1.1, in 20kg bags
- Grout (kg) = area x joint length per m² x 2mm x 8mm x 1.6 x 1.1
- Spacers = about one per tile
Worked example
A 2 x 0.6m splashback (1.2 m²) in 200 x 200mm tiles, laid straight:
- Tiles: 1.2 x 1.1 = 1.32 m², so 2 m² (about 33 tiles)
- Adhesive: 1.2 / 0.4 x 1.1 = 3.3kg, so 1 x 20kg bag (more than you need: ready-mixed in a tub suits a job this small)
- Grout: about 0.3kg, so 1 x 5kg bag
- Spacers: 1 pack of 500
Materials checklist
- Wall tilesBought by the box: divide the m² by the coverage on the box and round up.
- Flexible tile adhesiveCement-based, 20kg bags, spread with a 6mm notched trowel.
- GroutCement-based, 5kg bags, in the colour you choose.
- Tile spacers2mm crosses, one per tile, packs of 500.
- Sanitary siliconeFor the joints against the worktop, bath or basin: do not grout those.
You'll also need
- Primer or tile backer board if the wall is new plaster, bare plasterboard or crumbly
- Notched trowel (6mm), grout float, sponge, tile cutter, spirit level and masking tape
- Tile edge trim for open edges (optional)
Step by step
- Prepare the wallIt must be clean, dry, flat and sound. Prime new plaster or board.
- Set outFix a level batten above the worktop and work up from it, not from the worktop itself.
- Spread and tileSpread adhesive a square metre at a time, comb it with the trowel and press each tile on with spacers.
- GroutLeave the adhesive to set, then grout and sponge clean.
- SealRun silicone along the worktop, bath or corners, never grout.
Tips from the manufacturers
- We use BAL's wet-wall figure of 0.4 m² per kg (a solid bed with a 6mm notched trowel), which is the cautious end for a wall.
- Buy all the tiles from one batch: shades vary between batches.
- Keep a few spare tiles for future repairs.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting from the worktop, which is rarely level.
- Grouting a joint where tiles meet a worktop or bath: it cracks. Use silicone.
- Using floor adhesive coverage on a wall: floors need nearly twice as much (0.26 m² per kg).
Frequently asked questions
How much adhesive for a splashback?
About 2.5kg per m² on a solid bed with a 6mm trowel (0.4 m² per kg, BAL), so a small splashback needs far less than a 20kg bag.
How much extra tile should I buy?
About 10% for a straight layout and 15% for a diagonal or herringbone layout.
How many spacers do I need?
About one cross per tile. Packs of 500 are plenty for a splashback.
Sources
Quantities are estimates for typical jobs, using the coverage figures above. Products vary, so check the data sheet for the product you buy, and talk to a professional for structural, electrical or gas work. SmartBuild is independent and not affiliated with any of the manufacturers listed.
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