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Wall or Floor Tile First?

| Posted in Construction Techniques on June 6, 2003 07:17am

In all the tile books I’ve read I’ve not yet found an answer to my seemingly simple question: do I tile the walls first, or the floor first? I’m planning on using coved base tiles. I’m guessing the walls go first, but I’d love your opinion. If the walls do go first, do I put down my floor backerboard before or after I tile the walls?

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  1. JohnSprung | Jun 06, 2003 09:12pm | #1

    I like to do the walls first so any glop I drop doesn't mess up the nice new floor.

    -- J.S.

  2. DaveRicheson | Jun 06, 2003 11:04pm | #2

    Walls first. Use a 1x4 straight edge screwed to the wall at the height that the sanitary cove base will finish too. Start the wall tile on the straight edge and go up.. After the walls are finished, remove the straight edge and lay the floorhen install the cove on top of the floor. Allow enough height when setting the straight edge for the flor tile thickness and the tile board beneath it.

    Dave

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