How to Install porcelain Cladding

The preparation stage

The first thing to do is to know exactly which surface you will want to apply porcelain cladding to and the material that it is made from. There are many surfaces that will need next to no preparation such as cement, RCC, plasterboard, plaster and even render, plywood, stones and brick mortar. All of these materials provide a good base for porcelain cladding.

However, if you are applying porcelain rendering to walls, vertical surfaces, and even some horizontal surfaces then you will need to prepare them before starting the process. In order to do this, you will need a primer. This paste (or solution) helps to stop the fixing solution from being absorbed.

You can apply the primer to your desired area with a roller or a brush but you should leave it to dry (roughly two hours) before applying any adhesive to the area.

The measuring stage

Once you have prepped your surfaces it is time to start mapping out the area. This will include drawing your lines. You should do this by firstly finding the centre point on the wall, going outward from here with a spirit level to ensure that your lines are perfectly straight.

Once you have done this you can begin to dry lay your cladding going out from the centre and toward the edges.

When you get to the edges you should ensure that the tiles on the ends are the same size. To do this you can simply adjust the vertical reference line.

The finishing stage

Once you have left enough time for your cladding to properly adhere to the surface and for the adhesive to dry you can begin to finish up. This stage includes grouting, which will fill in the spaces between the cladding tiles.

Typically, the cladding adhesive will require a full day in order to dry. Once this has passed you can begin to grout. Get a squeegee and run this at an angle of 45 degrees over the clad surface. This will allow the grout to get into all of the gaps, giving you a nice smooth finish.

Remove any excess grout with a wet sponge. Once cleaned use a dry soft cloth to shine the tiles, being careful not to move them. Leave to dry.

Conclusion

Porcelain cladding is a nice clean solution to cover walls and other surfaces. However, it is a job best left to the professionals.

If you must do it yourself then follow the steps detailed above to achieve the best results.