Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Senior Secondary 3
Techniques and Methods of Fixing Various types of Wall and Ceiling Tiles
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Techniques and Methods of Fixing Various types of Wall and Ceiling Tiles
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Nigeria 2025 app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Block laying, Brick laying & Concrete Works
Class: Senior Secondary 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 2
Theme: Finishes
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Students should be ableto:Out line the procedures and precautions to betaken in laying tiles Estimate the quantityof wall tiles requiredfor a specified wallarea.
Mix grout according to manufacturer's instructions to a smooth, workable consistency. Using a rubber grout float, spread the grout diagonally across the tile faces, pressing it firmly into the grout lines to ensure full penetration. Work in small sections.
Precaution: Do not apply too much pressure initially to avoid dislodging tiles.
8. Cleaning Grout: After 15-30 minutes (depending on grout type and temperature), when the grout has started to set but is still workable, use a damp (not wet) sponge to gently wipe off excess grout from the tile surface. Wipe in a circular motion, rinsing the sponge frequently in clean water. Avoid pulling grout out of the joints. Allow the grout to cure for several hours, then buff off any haze (dried grout film) with a clean, dry cloth.
9. Curing and Sealing: Allow grout to cure completely as per manufacturer's instructions (usually 72 hours to a week) before exposing it to heavy moisture. For natural stone tiles or certain types of grout (e.g., unsanded cementitious grout), apply a penetrating sealer to protect against stains and moisture. E. Estimating Quantity of Wall Tiles (Objective 2) This involves calculating the area to be tiled and dividing it by the area of a single tile, then adding a percentage for wastage.
Formula: Number of tiles = (Total Area to be Tiled / Area of One Tile) (1 + Wastage Factor)
Steps:
1. Measure the Area to be Tiled: For a rectangular wall, Area = Length × Height. For multiple walls, calculate each wall's area and sum them up. Subtract areas of openings (doors, windows) if they are not to be tiled.
2. Determine the Area of One Tile: Tile dimensions are usually given in cm or mm. Convert to metres for consistency. Area of one tile = Tile Length (m) × Tile Width (m).
3. Calculate the Base Number of Tiles: Base Number = Total Area to be Tiled (m2) / Area of One Tile (m2). Always round up to the nearest whole number.
4. Add Wastage: Wastage accounts for cuts, breakages, and future repairs. Typical wastage for wall tiling is 5% to 10%. For complex layouts (e.g., diagonal, intricate patterns, many cuts around obstacles), this can be 10% to 15%. Wastage amount = Base Number of Tiles × Wastage Percentage (as a decimal). Total Tiles = Base Number of Tiles + Wastage Amount. Always round up the final number of tiles to the nearest whole carton or tile.
Worked Example 1 (Estimation): A kitchen wall measuring 3.5 meters in length and 2.8 meters in height is to be tiled. The tiles chosen are 30 cm x 30 cm. Estimate the total number of tiles required, allowing for 8% wastage.
Solution:
1. Area of the Wall: Length = 3.5 m Height = 2.8 m Area of wall = Length × Height = 3.5 m × 2.8 m = 9.8 m2
2. Area of One Tile: Tile dimensions = 30 cm × 30 cm Convert to metres: 0.3 m × 0.3 m Area of one tile = 0.3 m × 0.3 m = 0.09 m2
3. Base Number of Tiles: Base Number = Area of wall / Area of one tile Base Number = 9.8 m2 / 0.09 m2 ≈ 108.89 tiles. Round up to 109 tiles.
4. Add Wastage (8%): Wastage amount = 109 tiles × 0.08 = 8.72 tiles. Round up to 9 tiles.
5. Total Number of Tiles: Total Tiles = Base Number + Wastage Amount * Total Tiles = 109 + 9 = 118 tiles.
Therefore, approximately 118 tiles will be required for the kitchen wall.
A. Types of Tiles (Relevant to Wall and Ceiling Applications)
Ceramic Tiles: Most common for walls. Made from clay and other minerals, fired at high temperatures. Glazed ceramic tiles are popular due to their durability, ease of cleaning, and wide range of colours/patterns. Often used in kitchens, bathrooms, and corridors.
Porcelain Tiles: Denser, less porous, and more durable than ceramic. Fired at higher temperatures with finer, purer clays. Excellent for high-traffic areas and often used for both walls and floors where superior strength and stain resistance are required.
Mosaic Tiles: Small pieces of ceramic, glass, or natural stone, often pre-mounted on a mesh backing for easier installation. Used for decorative features, accents, or curved surfaces. Natural Stone Tiles (e.g., Marble, Granite, Travertine): Offer a luxurious and unique finish. Require specialized handling, adhesives, and sealing. Often used in high-end projects for feature walls or decorative elements.
Quarry Tiles: Unglazed, hard, and durable tiles made from natural clays. While typically used for floors, smaller formats can be used for rustic-style wall cladding in specific architectural designs.
Ceiling Tiles: Gypsum Tiles: Made from gypsum plaster, often with decorative finishes. Used in suspended ceilings, providing a smooth finish and sometimes acoustic properties.
PVC Tiles: Lightweight, water-resistant plastic tiles, often used in bathrooms, kitchens, and commercial spaces for suspended ceilings due to their ease of installation and maintenance.
B. Tools and Equipment for Tiling Measuring Tools: Measuring tape, spirit level (long and short), plumb bob, set square.
Cutting Tools: Manual tile cutter (scorer and snappert), electric tile cutter (wet saw for complex cuts and harder tiles), nippers/tile pliers for irregular cuts.
Mixing Tools: Mixing bucket, electric drill with mixing paddle (for adhesives and grout).
Application Tools: Notched trowel (various notch sizes, e.g., 6mm, 10mm depending on tile size and substrate), rubber grout float, sponge, cleaning cloths.
Setting Tools: Tile spacers (for uniform grout lines), rubber mallet (for setting tiles evenly), tile leveling clips/wedges (for large format tiles).
Safety Gear: Safety glasses, gloves, dust mask, knee pads.
C. Materials for Tiling Tile Adhesive: Cement-based adhesives: Most common. Mixed with water on-site. Suitable for most ceramic and porcelain tiles. Come in various grades (e.g., C1 for standard, C2 for improved adhesion).
Ready-mixed adhesives: Polymer-based, pre-mixed and ready to use. Convenient for smaller jobs or specific applications (e.g., on drywall). Not typically recommended for very wet areas or heavy tiles.
Grout: Fills the spaces (grout lines) between tiles.
Cement-based grout: Most common. Mixed with water. Available in various colours.
Epoxy grout: Highly durable, stain-resistant, and chemical-resistant. Used in commercial kitchens, hospitals, or areas requiring maximum hygiene and durability. More expensive and harder to work with.
Primer: Applied to porous or dusty surfaces before tiling to improve adhesion of the tile adhesive.
Sealant: Applied to natural stone tiles or cement-based grout to protect against stains and moisture.
D. Procedures for Laying Wall and Ceiling Tiles (Objective 1)
1. Surface Preparation: Cleanliness: Ensure the wall or ceiling surface is clean, dry, and free from dust, grease, paint, or loose particles.
Soundness: Check for any cracks, hollow spots, or loose plaster. Repair with suitable patching compounds. The surface must be solid and stable.
Levelness/Plumbness: Ensure the wall is plumb (vertical) and flat. For ceilings, ensure it is level. Use a spirit level and straight edge. Any significant unevenness (more than 3-5mm over 2m) should be corrected with a render or leveling compound.
Priming: Apply a suitable primer to highly porous surfaces (e.g., cement render, plasterboard) to reduce absorption and improve adhesive bond. Allow to dry as per manufacturer's instructions.
2. Setting Out / Layout Planning: Find the Starting Point: Crucial for a balanced layout. Avoid small cuts at prominent edges.
Walls: Determine the lowest point of the wall if starting from the floor, or draw a perfectly level datum line if starting above a fixture (e.g., countertop). Dry-lay a row of tiles horizontally from the centre of the wall to determine the best starting position to avoid thin cuts at corners. * Ceilings: Find the to reduce absorption and improve adhesive bond. Allow to dry as per manufacturer's instructions.
2. Setting Out / Layout Planning: Find the Starting Point: Crucial for a balanced layout. Avoid small cuts at prominent edges.
Walls: Determine the lowest point of the wall if starting from the floor, or draw a perfectly level datum line if starting above a fixture (e.g., countertop). Dry-lay a row of tiles horizontally from the centre of the wall to determine the best starting position to avoid thin cuts at corners.
Ceilings: Find the centre of the room or the centre of the primary visual line. Snap chalk lines perpendicular to each other from this central point to create reference lines.
Mark Guidelines: Use a spirit level, measuring tape, and chalk line or pencil to draw horizontal and vertical guidelines on the wall/ceiling. These lines will guide the placement of the first few rows of tiles. Often, a batten is fixed temporarily to support the first row of wall tiles.
3. Mixing Tile Adhesive: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the correct water-to-powder ratio. Use a clean mixing bucket and an electric drill with a paddle mixer. Mix until a smooth, lump-free, consistent paste is achieved (like thick pap or toothpaste). Allow it to "slake" (rest for 5-10 minutes) as per instructions, then remix briefly. This ensures chemicals fully activate.
Precaution: Mix only enough adhesive that can be used within its "open time" (typically 20-30 minutes).
4. Applying Adhesive: Use the appropriate notched trowel. The size of the notches depends on the tile size and surface evenness. Larger tiles typically require larger notches. Apply adhesive to a small area of the wall/ceiling (not more than 1 square meter at a time) using the flat side of the trowel. Then, comb the adhesive with the notched side of the trowel, holding it at a 45-degree angle, to create uniform ridges. Ensure full coverage. For very large tiles or uneven surfaces, "back butter" the back of the tile with a thin, even layer of adhesive using the flat side of the trowel, in addition to applying it to the substrate.
5. Laying Tiles: Place the first tile firmly onto the combed adhesive, aligning it with the marked guidelines. Press the tile into the adhesive with a slight twisting motion to ensure full contact and collapse of the adhesive ridges. Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the tile, ensuring it is fully bedded and level with adjacent tiles. Insert tile spacers at the corners/edges of each tile to maintain uniform grout lines. Continuously check for levelness and alignment with a spirit level and straight edge as tiles are laid.
Precaution: Remove any excess adhesive that squeezes through the grout lines immediately with a trowel or sponge, before it dries.
6. Cutting Tiles: Measure and mark the cut line on the tile using a pencil or marker.
Manual Tile Cutter: Score the glaze along the marked line with the cutting wheel, then apply downward pressure to snap the tile.
Electric Tile Cutter (Wet Saw): Use for precise, straight, or angled cuts, especially on harder tiles like porcelain, or for multiple cuts. Ensure constant water supply to the blade for cooling and dust reduction.
Tile Nipper: Use for small, irregular cuts or shaping around pipes/obstacles.
Precaution: Always wear safety glasses when cutting tiles. Ensure stable work surface.
7. Grouting: Allow the adhesive to cure fully (typically 24-48 hours) before grouting. Remove all tile spacers. Mix grout according to manufacturer's instructions to a smooth, workable consistency. Using a rubber grout float, spread the grout diagonally across the tile faces, pressing it firmly into the grout lines to ensure full penetration. Work in small sections.
Precaution: Do not apply too much pressure initially to avoid dislodging tiles.
8. Cleaning Grout: After 15-30 minutes (depending on grout type and temperature), when the grout has started to set but is still workable, use a damp (not wet) sponge to gently wipe off excess grout from the Teacher Activities: Introduction (10 minutes): Recap previous relevant lessons (e.g., surface preparation, basic rendering). Engage students by asking about the importance of tiling in buildings they see daily (homes, shops, hospitals) in Nigeria.
Introduce the topic: "Techniques and Methods of Fixing Various types of Wall and Ceiling Tiles," highlighting its practical relevance and career opportunities. State the lesson's performance objectives clearly.
Content Delivery (30 minutes): Explain different types of tiles suitable for walls and ceilings, showing physical samples if available (e.g., ceramic, porcelain, PVC ceiling tiles). Present and discuss essential tools and materials, demonstrating their use where possible (e.g., holding a trowel, showing a tile spacer). Use charts or projected images if physical tools are scarce. Systematically explain each step of the tiling procedure (surface prep, setting out, mixing, application, laying, cutting, grouting, cleaning, curing). Emphasize precautions at each stage, linking them to quality and safety. Introduce the concept of tile estimation. Present the formula and break down the steps using a worked example relevant to a Nigerian context (e.g., tiling a room in a typical Nigerian bungalow). Practical Demonstration/Visual Aid (15 minutes): If facilities allow, perform a mock demonstration of: Mixing a small batch of adhesive (illustrating consistency). Applying adhesive with a notched trowel on a board. Laying a tile, using spacers, and checking with a spirit level. Cutting a tile with a manual cutter (emphasize safety). If a live demonstration isn't feasible, use a video demonstration (if internet/projector available) or detailed diagrams/charts.
Facilitated Discussion (10 minutes): Prompt students to ask questions about the procedures or estimation. Discuss common tiling mistakes encountered in Nigerian construction and how to avoid them (e.g., uneven surfaces, incorrect adhesive mix, poor grouting).
Guided Practice (15 minutes): Lead students through 1-2 estimation problems on the board, encouraging them to participate in each step of the calculation. Ask students to outline specific steps or precautions for different parts of the tiling process.
Student Activities: Actively listen and take notes during explanations. Observe demonstrations carefully, noting the techniques and safety measures. Participate in discussions by asking questions and contributing ideas. Practice measuring hypothetical wall areas and calculating tile quantities individually or in small groups under teacher guidance. Identify and name different tiling tools and materials presented. Respond to questions posed by the teacher about tiling procedures and precautions.
Entrepreneurship and Job Creation: Understanding tiling techniques and estimation is a direct pathway to self-employment and small business opportunities in Nigeria. Skilled tilers are always in demand for new constructions, renovations of homes, offices, schools, and hospitals across urban and rural areas. This knowledge empowers students to become independent artisans or start their own tiling contracting businesses, contributing to the local economy.
Home Improvement and Maintenance: For individuals, this knowledge is invaluable for personal home renovation projects. It enables homeowners to manage tiling work themselves, saving costs, or to effectively supervise hired artisans, ensuring quality work and preventing being overcharged or deceived regarding material quantities. This directly impacts household budgeting and property value in Nigerian communities.
Quality Construction and Aesthetics: Tiling contributes significantly to the hygiene and aesthetic appeal of buildings. Proper tiling techniques learned here ensure that floors and walls are easy to clean (crucial in kitchens and bathrooms to prevent disease), durable, and visually pleasing, enhancing the overall value and comfort of structures in Nigeria. This integrates with public health and urban development initiatives.