In short:<\/strong> a well tiled bathroom or kitchen depends more on the preparation than on the tile itself. The wall has to be flat, dry and sound; the adhesive has to suit the tile size; grout joints and the tile layout are decided before the first row goes up, and corner trims are bought together with the tiles. In Mallorca it also pays to think about humidity, salt air and hard water: porcelain wall tiles, with very low water absorption, are the most worry-free choice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tiling a wall means covering it with ceramic or porcelain tiles; tiling a floor is the same job on the ground. The difference looks small but changes almost everything: on a wall the tile hangs, with no weight on top to hold it, so the adhesive bond, the flatness of the substrate and the size of the tile matter even more.<\/p>\n If you are also replacing the floor, everything you need is in our practical guide to laying porcelain floor tiles<\/a>. Here we focus on bathroom and kitchen walls, the surfaces that get tiled most in a renovation.<\/p>\n Two kinds of tile are mostly used on walls. White-body ceramic<\/strong> (the classic wall tile) is light, easy to cut and very decorative, but it absorbs more water. Porcelain<\/strong> absorbs 0.5 % of water at most, stands up better to knocks and stains, and is the one we recommend for showers and kitchen splashbacks. To compare data sheets, see how to read a tile data sheet<\/a>, where we explain water absorption, PEI and rectified edges.<\/p>\n The tile size sets the character of the wall and also how demanding the job is:<\/p>\n In a small bathroom, large light-coloured tiles make the room feel bigger; there are more ideas in tiles for a small bathroom<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tiles with relief or an irregular surface, such as zellige or its porcelain versions, are laid differently: each tile has its own thickness and its own shade, and the charm lies in not trying to make them look the same. Ask your tiler to mix tiles from several boxes as they go. We explain how they are handled in what is zellige<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Spain, laying ceramic tiles with adhesive has its own standard, UNE 138002<\/strong> (revised in 2023). You do not need to know it, but your tiler should work to it. These are the four conversations worth having before the first row goes up.<\/p>\n A tile copies the wall behind it. If the wall bulges, the tiles will end up with lips at the edges; if it is damp, the adhesive will not bond properly. Before tiling, the wall must be flat<\/strong> (plastered or levelled), dry<\/strong> and sound<\/strong>, with no paint or loose material. If you tile over old tiles, check that they are firmly bonded by tapping them: if they sound hollow, they have to come off.<\/p>\n Porcelain barely absorbs water, so it does not bond well with traditional cement mortar: it needs an improved cementitious adhesive<\/strong> (type C2), and for large tiles or exterior walls, a deformable<\/strong> one (marked S1 or S2 on the bag). With large formats, adhesive manufacturers also call for back-buttering<\/strong>: adhesive on the wall and on the back of the tile as well. The Mapei adhesives on our construction materials<\/a> page state on their data sheets which tile sizes and substrates they are for.<\/p>\n No tile is laid with zero joints. Even rectified tiles need a minimum joint to absorb the small movements of the wall. The layout<\/strong> (where the first tile starts and where the cuts fall) is decided beforehand: ideally the cuts end up in the least visible corners, not in the middle of the wall you see as you walk in. On walls with a niche, window or mirror, it is worth drawing it out.<\/p>\n Outside corners, the edge of a niche or the junction with the shower tray are finished with trim profiles<\/strong> (aluminium or stainless steel, such as those by Schl\u00fcter-Systems) or with tiles mitred at 45 degrees. It is a small detail that changes the finish a great deal, and it is best bought together with the tiles so that colour and thickness match.<\/p>\n Not sure which material?<\/strong><\/p>\n Call us and we\u2019ll help you choose in no time, with no obligation.<\/p>\n Call +34 971 732 343<\/a>or write to us<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The shower wall gets the most water. Behind the tiles there has to be waterproofing<\/strong> (a membrane or liquid membrane, especially in the corners and where the wall meets the floor), and the joints in that area benefit from a good quality grout. If you also want a level, tray-free floor, we explain it in walk-in and level-access showers: which materials to choose<\/a>.<\/p>\n Between the worktop and the wall units, the tiles take splashes, grease and heat. Non-porous, easy-to-clean tiles and fine joints work well here. A large format tile, or the worktop material itself running up the wall, removes almost every joint. There are ideas in ceramic kitchen splashbacks<\/a> and, to coordinate it with the floor, in kitchen tiles and flooring by area<\/a>.<\/p>\n A house in Mallorca, especially near the sea, comes with three conditions worth keeping in mind when tiling:<\/p>\n Measure each wall (width by height), add up the square metres and subtract doors and large windows. To that figure add a margin for cuts and breakage: around 10 % for straight laying and a little more for small tiles, herringbone layouts or walls with many openings. Order everything from the same batch<\/strong> and keep a spare box for future repairs. For an idea of the total cost of the work, it is broken down by item in how much does a bathroom renovation cost<\/a>.<\/p>\n In our Palma showroom we have collections designed for walls, in every size:<\/p>\n And to get the installation right, our construction materials<\/a> page has Schl\u00fcter-Systems trim profiles and Mapei adhesives. You can browse all our porcelain in the porcelain<\/a> section or write to us<\/a> with your bathroom measurements: we will help you choose the tile, work out quantities and prepare the list for your tiler.<\/p>\n Wall tiling covers walls with ceramic or porcelain tiles; floor tiling covers the floor. On a wall the tile hangs, so the adhesive, the flatness of the substrate and the size of the tile matter even more.<\/p>\n For wet areas, porcelain, because it absorbs 0.5 % of water at most and resists stains and limescale well. White-body ceramic is a good decorative option on walls that get less water.<\/p>\n Yes, if the old tiles are firmly bonded and the wall is flat. Tap the tiles: if any sound hollow, that area should be removed. You also need an adhesive suitable for non-porous surfaces.<\/p>\n An improved cementitious adhesive, type C2, and for large tiles or exterior walls a deformable one (S1 or S2). With large formats, back-buttering is recommended: adhesive on the wall and on the back of the tile.<\/p>\n Around 10 % more than the measured area for straight laying, and a little more for small tiles or complex layouts. All from the same batch, plus a spare box for repairs.<\/p>\n At the Gomila Cer\u00e1mica showroom, Carrer de Cal\u00e7at 16, Palma, with wall collections in every size, mosaics, trim profiles and installation adhesives.<\/p>\n Can we help with your project?<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ll advise you with no obligation, by phone, by email or at our showroom in Palma.<\/p>\n Call +34 971 732 343<\/a>Write to us<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]Wall tiling and floor tiling: what changes<\/h2>\n
Choosing the wall tile<\/h2>\n
Porcelain or white-body ceramic<\/h3>\n
Size: small, medium or large format<\/h3>\n
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![\"Bathroom](\"https:\/\/www.gomila-ceramica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ragno-papers-optical-bano.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRelief, gloss and handmade-look tiles<\/h3>\n
What to ask your tiler before work starts<\/h2>\n
The wall: flat, dry and sound<\/h3>\n
The right adhesive for the tile size<\/h3>\n
Grout joints and layout<\/h3>\n
Trims, corners and junctions<\/h3>\n
Areas that need extra care<\/h2>\n
The shower<\/h3>\n
The kitchen splashback<\/h3>\n
![\"Kitchen](\"https:\/\/www.gomila-ceramica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ragno-papers-bianco-cocina.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTiling in Mallorca: humidity, salt air and hard water<\/h2>\n
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Five costly mistakes<\/h2>\n
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How much tile to order<\/h2>\n
Wall tile collections at Gomila Cer\u00e1mica<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
What is the difference between wall tiling and floor tiling?<\/h3>\n
Which tile is best for a bathroom wall?<\/h3>\n
Can you tile over old tiles?<\/h3>\n
Which adhesive is used for porcelain wall tiles?<\/h3>\n
How much extra tile should I buy?<\/h3>\n
Where can I see wall tiles for a bathroom in Palma?<\/h3>\n
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