How to Make a Ceramic Tile Mural on a Rough Wall

When you plan to apply ceramic tiles onto your wall into a decorative mural, you may be discouraged if the wall you are going to use is roughly textured. Applying tiles onto a roughly textured wall can cause the tiles to appear uneven. However, you can smooth down the rough wall using basic home improvement supplies and equipment that can be found inexpensively at any hardware or arts and crafts supply store. This enables you to create a beautifully tiled mural in the exact location you prefer.

Sanding buffer
Medium-grain sanding ring
Fine-grain sanding ring
Shop vacuum
Fine grout
Trowel
Ceramic tiles, various colors
Latex varnish, clear
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the area on which you'll construct the mural using a sanding buffer and a medium-gauge sanding ring. This will remove any sharp, jagged or raised areas on the wall. Buff to the width that you want the mosaic tiling to be.
- 2
  Sand the same area using a sanding buffer and a fine-grain sanding ring. This will smooth down the walls to create an even, level surface.
- 3
  Vacuum the entire area using a shop vacuum, which will remove any debris and dust from the area around the wall.
- 4
  Spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of fine grout using a trowel around the wall where you sanded. Spread the grout in an even layer.
- 5
  Press colorful ceramic tiles halfway into the grout, arranging the colored tiles into the pattern that you prefer for the mural. Space each tile 1/8 inch apart.
- 6
  Spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of fine grout over the ceramic tiles, then wipe off the grout from the tops of the tiles using a washcloth.
- 7
  Wipe your finger along the spaces in between the ceramic tiles to smooth down the grout.
- 8
  Allow the tile mural to air-dry for 12 hours.
- 9
  Cover the entire ceramic tile mural with a thick layer of clear latex varnish. Allow the varnish to air-dry for eight hours.

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