How to Install Brick Tiles on Cement Walls

Wash the wall using a pressure washer to clear away dirt and debris. Allow the wall to dry to a point at which it remains slightly damp. The small amount of moisture prevents the cement from leeching it from the thinset mortar used to mount the tiles.

Measure the wall length with a tape measure and then place a chalk mark on the center of the wall's base. Position a test row of brick tiles across the wall's base, lining the centermost tile on the center of the chalk mark. Check the brick tiles at the end for their fit. Adjust the center point until the tiles along the end are symmetrical, and then snap a chalk line on the wall to mark the new centered position.

Cover a section of the wall with thinset mortar using a notched trowel. Spread the mortar over an area about 4 feet square and then go over it with the notches on the trowel edge to create a ridged surface. Place the brick tile on the wall, pressing it in place, using the chalk line to center it. Build over the area from there. Place spacers between the tiles to create uniform joints. Put the tiles in a pattern that you find pleasing.

Move on to the next section of the wall, repeating the placement process across the bottom and working your way up in sections until the entire tiling surface is covered with brick tiles. Cut them when necessary in order to fit pieces along the wall's edges using a wet tile saw. Allow the mortar to cure overnight.

Remove the tile spacers. Fill a grout bag with sanded tile grout. Use it to fill the joints between the tiles, running the nozzle over the joint while squeezing the grout from the tip. Wipe off excess grout that spreads onto the face of the brick tiles with a wet sponge immediately.. Allow the grout and the mortar seven days curing time.

Spray the tile and grout with a concrete sealant to seal the pores in the material and prevent tile discoloration and the mortar from water stains. Wait three days for the sealant to dry before touching the wall.