Does a wall need skimmed to tile on?

[NearlyDIY]

Getting a new kitchen installed, and I'll be putting tiles up on the wall where the cupboards, hob etc are. The tiling will be done after the kitchen as been put in but what I want to know is, will the wall need skimmed before I put the tiles on? Or, can they just be tiled straight onto the wall and adjusted for any unevenness? ( if that's a word! )

Cheers

Duncan

[philprime]

Personally if the walls are not to bad I would tile straight on to it

But if they are in a state I would think about having it skimmed

[royaloakcarpentry]

What do you mean the wall.............backing plaster, brick, block, painted plaster etc etc

[pgc555]

The size of your tile also makes a difference. Smaller mosaic might "flow" over slight irregularities and not have lippage. Larger tiles NEED a flat surface for tiles

[NearlyDIY]

The wall itself is currently painted plaster, although an area has been damaged by damp I believe. Electrical work will be completed, removing sockets & putting new ones in. As for tile size, I'm not sure on that. It seems to be a case of the bigger the tile, the more the need to skim...or is it a case of, skim regardless?

Duncan

[hello23]

I would level the surface before tiling will be easier and quicker than adjusting as you go.

[royaloakcarpentry]

You can't tile onto backing plaster and so depending on how much chasing there is, you might want to get the electrician to make good with sand and cement although in reality, most of them are kin useless at making good. Depending on the tile size, some backing plaster will not be a problem.

You need to carry out a paint test prior to tiling, as the paint is what will be holding the tiles and adhesive up. Put gaffer tape on the wall in a few places and leave for a few hours, then quickly pull it off. If the paint comes away then you shouldn't be tiling onto it. If you get a small amount of paint come off then you should be fine.

It doesn't follow that the bigger the tile the better the wall has to be, it is just as true for smaller tiles too. Especially mosaic where the wall ideally want to be spot on.

A lot of you question is down to experience, but the above is generic advice which errs on the side of caution rather than what you can get away with at a push.