Setting Slate Tile On Wall

When ready place the specially sized piece into the space to complete your first line.

Setting slate tile on wall.

Create a smooth surface for the slate tiles to be set on by covering the brick wall with a layer of thinset mortar. Reinsert spacers if required. You can cut slate tile with a diamond blade wet saw grinder or hacksaw with an abrasive blade. Allow the sealer to dry before allowing traffic on the tiled surface.

Using a trowel with 1 4 inch notches spread a bed of mortar evenly over a 2 by 3 foot area. Spread the mortar onto the wall with the flat edge of a trowel. Setting material slate tiles differ slightly from other stone tile installations in that they require a wet mortar bed made of a mixture of portland cement and sand rather than standard thinset. Cut tiles to fit around the edges of the room.

Do not mix more than you are likely to use in 30 minutes. Apply two to four coats of sealer. Measure the distance from the tile spacer on the last piece to the end of the room. Then employ a wet saw to cut a tile down to the dimensions necessary to fill that area in.

Apply a layer of adhesive on the underside of each tile and place the first tile below your horizontal reference line to the side of the vertical reference line. Mix the slate adhesive according to the packing instructions. After 72 hours apply a high quality grout and tile sealer over the entire surface of the grout and the slate tile. Then reposition the tiles from the walls inward.

If you like the wet glossy look apply two coats of glossy sealer over the penetrating sealer coats. Start by tiling the bottom half of the bathroom walls.