If you're considering a room refurbishment or interior upgrade, one of the first things you can think about is how to beautify the walls. You can use wall coverings that can give a patterned look to your room. In this case, you can use brick tiles to establish a stylish, inviting ambiance, and also a durable quality. These tiles can give you a vintage or industrial impression to the room. These tiles also offer several benefits, such as durability, weather resistance, and easy maintenance.
In addition, these tiles are also made to mimic the appearance of traditional bricks without making them look bulky. That way, you can get a classic brick look without having to do major structural renovations. You can also save a lot of construction costs. To find out more, this article will help you learn what brick tiles are, the benefits they offer, the types available, and how to install them step by step.
What are brick tiles?
Brick tiles are a building material that many people use for decorative purposes. They mimic traditional bricks, creating a vintage or industrial aesthetic. In terms of look, it has a similar visual appeal to the brick slips. This is due to the fact that certain brick tiles are composed of porcelain or ceramic tiles that are intended to resemble the concrete.
As for the protection, it requires you to have a coating. This process will help you protect your brick tiles by creating a space to breathe. It means that this space allows your tiles to prevent a moisture buildup of dampness, and any potential damage from happening. Therefore, it can make your tiles have a better quality.
Benefits of using brick tiles
There are multiple functional advantages you can get by applying brick tiles on your wall. One of them is their resilience. This durability characteristic comes from its material, which is made of natural clay. Hence, it can be resistant to any weather damage, wear, and tear. Besides this, there are other benefits you can get, such as:
- Multiple options of creative design
- Easy installation and maintenance
- Resistant to moisture
- Save more money
Types of brick tiles
There are several types of brick tiles that you can use in your space. Each of these types have different techniques and materials that highlight its uniqueness. For example, many homeowners are using veneer tiles for their kitchen. This is because glazed tiles have a coating that is more resistant to stains and scratches. Moreover, they are available in various colors, making them a good choice for your wall decoration. To learn more about each type, below is the explanation of the types of brick tiles:
Extruded tiles
Extruded brick tiles are the type that are widely used and are made of clay that is put through a mould. This type provides several options of tiles in different sizes, colors, and textures. You can use it for interior and exterior usage since it offers uniformity, durability, versatility, and easy maintenance. This is the reason why the professionals are mostly using it for their homes.
Reclaimed tiles
Reclaimed tiles are tiles that you can use to create a vintage or rustic vibe in your room. This type of tile is made from recycled old bricks and displays its original shape, including a variety of colors, chips, and textures that come from years of natural aging. Therefore, this type of tile is usually preferred as a decorative wall or floor covering.
Glazed tiles
Unlike reclaimed tiles, glazed tiles offer a more modern and polished look. This is because the material of this type uses a coating that can be in many different colors, including glossy ceramic. The glossy on the tiles can add more protection and make your space look clean.
Steps to install brick tiles on your wall
There are several steps to install brick tiles on your wall, such as preparation, tiling, applying the mortar, and the final touches. These steps are the stages in general. Each stage has a process that needs to be done to make your tiles look good. However, all these steps share the same goal of making a perfect wall from a brick tile.
Before starting the process, you need to ensure that the equipment, area, surfaces, and materials are ready. This can help you to prevent any mistakes or problems during the process. Also, you need to measure everything to make a well-finished result. To find out, here is a guide that you can follow in installing these tiles, such as:
1. Preparation
In this step, you need to prepare everything before installation. To start, you can prepare the room by making sure the floor is level and measuring the width and height of the walls. In addition, you need to remove or trim all skirtings attached to the walls. After that, plan your first row of slips and how you will put them in the obstruction area.
Next, move the obstruction and put the screws somewhere safe. Don’t forget to cover any exposed flooring. After everything is clean and clear, you can start the scoring and create a crosshatch pattern using a blade. Then, mix your chosen primer and apply it to the wall. Wait for the primer to turn tacky. While waiting for them to be glued, prep the boxes.
2. Tiling
At this tiling stage, you can start by choosing the tiles and cutting them up to turn them into your preferred sizes. If you want to make a rustic vibe, you can just use the original shape of the brick tiles. Then, plan your pattern on the wall and cut the slip to fit into your pattern.
Next, mix your adhesive and make it into a thick paste. Once the adhesive is ready, you can start tiling your wall and provide spaces for the mortar. You can use spacers to create the mortar lines. After that, match the vertical joints as you work and tile around any obstruction.
3. Applying the mortar
Once you put the tiles on the wall, you can move to the mortar step. You can start by mixing your mortar thoroughly until it turns into a smooth paste. Next, put them into your mortar gun or a piping bag. Once the paste material is ready, you can start to mortar and work in sections.
After finishing one section, you can scrape out the joints and brush them for a smooth surface. Continue the step as you move up. Be careful to avoid air pockets while applying mortar. Then, use your scraper to finesse the joints. If the mortar is already applied, then leave it to set.
4. Final touches
This is the aftercare you can do if your brick tiles are already applied. This aftercare can include sealing, cleaning, and hanging the slips. As for the sealing, you can start by pouring your chosen sealing material and saturating it on the slips with a brush. After that, leave them to dry. Once it dried, you can apply an optional second coat for more protection, and you’re all set.
At the same time, if you want to make a hanging, you can start by preparing your equipment like screws and plugs. Then, measure the area you want to work on. You can use a masonry drill bit and tape it at screw depth. Next, drill to the wall and stop at the tape line. Place your plugs and screw everything into place to finalise.
Learn how to install proper brick tiles with CCM!
Brick tiles are building materials that you can use for construction and renovation processes. These tiles have versatile and durable characteristics that can enhance the structure and aesthetic value of your home. You can also use them as excellent insulation and protection from all kinds of hazards or extreme weather changes. In addition, with a variety of styles available, you can also easily find the most suitable style to make your home more comfortable and visually appealing.
If you want to take your design and construction skills to the next level, the College of Contract Management offers expert-led lessons tailored to your needs. Through this learning, you can gain practical skills, in-depth knowledge, and a certificate of completion to demonstrate your expertise. Interested in starting your learning journey? You can visit our official website or contact our team for more information and support.
