How to Prepare a Painted Wall for Tile

Create a sound, smooth surface before installing your wall tile.

You found the perfect wall in your home to add some decorative tile. Resist the urge to just start slapping on tile adhesive and sticking up tile. A painted wall is not the ideal place to install new tile. Before you begin your tile installation, you need to properly prepare the painted wall to hold the tile. Any residues, slick paints or substances left on the wall can hinder the tile’s ability to adhere to the wall. Make sure you have a sound surface before installation, and your tile job will be less likely to crack and crumble.

Things You'll Need

• Ammonia based cleaner Paint scraper Sandpaper Spackling compound Cement board Masonry screws Circular saw Drill

Instructions

1. Clean the wall surface with an ammonia-based cleaner. Cleaning thoroughly will remove all residues from the wall.

2. Scrape away as much paint as you can with a paint scraper, focusing on loose paint. Remove all loose paint from the wall.

3. Sand the wall with medium grit sandpaper. This will create texture and provide a surface to which the mortar will adhere. Avoid breaking through the top layer of the sheet rock. Aim to roughen its surface without harming the wall. Wipe away all sanding dust with a damp rag.

4. Patch any holes in the wall with spackling compound. Scoop out the compound with a putty knife. Spread the spackle into the hole and run the blade of the putty knife over the area. Smooth the compound until it is flush with the wall. Let the putty dry according the manufacturer’s instruction.

5. Lightly sand the patched area until it is smooth. Rub the area with your bare hand. There should be no difference between the patched and un-patched areas.

6. Install cement board on the wall. This is only necessary for bathrooms where the tile will be exposed to moisture. Measure the wall and trim the board to fit the space with a circular saw. Leave one-eighth inch of space at the corners to allow for expansion and contraction. Drill masonry screws through the board and into the wall to attach.

Tips & Warnings

• Concrete board cannot be painted. Plan to cover the board completely with tile.

References

• Hometime.com: Wall Underlayment
• Lowes.com: Install Wall Tile