---
title: "Short note: Floor and wall tiles"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_6/building_technology:floor-wall-tiles"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/floor-wall-tiles
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Floor and wall tiles

Building Technology · Chapter 7: Flooring

- Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 4 marks
- Video: [6 TIPS For Laying Floor Tile With No Experience](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywpRn7sWdRs) — DIYwithMAX - 🇺🇦
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/floor-wall-tiles
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-7

## Question

Write a short note on floor and wall tiles.

## Short answer

Floor tiles, such as ceramic or vitrified, are bedded in 20-25 mm mortar, grouted, and cured. Wall tiles are glazed ceramic, fixed with cement paste on plastered walls and grouted, providing a waterproof, hygienic finish. Both are durable and decorative but can be brittle.

## Answer

**Tiles** are thin, flat, factory-made units of baked clay or cement, used to finish floors and walls. They are hygienic, durable, easy to clean and available in many colours and sizes.

#### Floor tiles
- **Types:** ceramic, vitrified, mosaic (cement-marble chip), terracotta, clay, and stone tiles. Sizes: 300 x 300, 450 x 450, 600 x 600 mm; thickness 8-12 mm.
- **Laying:** on a 20-25 mm cement-sand mortar (1:4) bed over the base; tiles are tapped to a level, joints 2-3 mm, grouted next day, cured for 3-7 days.
- **Qualities:** low water absorption, abrasion resistance, anti-slip finish.

#### Wall tiles
- Glazed ceramic tiles (150 x 150, 200 x 300 mm; 5-6 mm thick) used in kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, up to a height of 1.2-2 m or to the ceiling.
- **Fixing:** the wall is plastered with a rough coat (1:4, 12 mm), wetted, then tiles are soaked and fixed with cement paste or adhesive in true line and level, with spacers. Joints are grouted with white cement.
- **Merits:** waterproof, clean, decorative. **Demerits:** brittle, cost, hollow spots if bonding is poor.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How are floor tiles laid according to the answer?
   A. On a 100 mm thick lime bed with 10 mm joints
   B. Directly on bare soil with no bed
   C. On a 20-25 mm cement-sand mortar (1:4) bed, tapped to level, joints 2-3 mm, grouted next day
   D. With adhesive only, with no levelling
   Answer: C. Tiles are bedded on 20-25 mm 1:4 cement-sand mortar, tapped level, with 2-3 mm joints grouted next day and cured 3-7 days. (Key point: Floor tile laying)

2. Before wall tiles are fixed, what preparation is done?
   A. The wall is left unplastered and dry
   B. The wall is painted with oil paint
   C. The wall is plastered with a rough coat (1:4, 12 mm) and wetted, and the tiles are soaked
   D. Only the tiles are dried in the sun
   Answer: C. The wall gets a rough 1:4 plaster coat and is wetted, tiles are soaked, then fixed with cement paste or adhesive using spacers. (Key point: Wall tile fixing)

3. Which is a demerit of wall tiles?
   A. They are not waterproof
   B. They are brittle and may have hollow spots if bonding is poor
   C. They are difficult to clean
   D. They cannot be coloured
   Answer: B. Tiles are waterproof, clean and decorative, but brittle, costly and prone to hollow spots with poor bonding. (Key point: Wall tile demerits)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Ground floor with mosaic tiling and external wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amosaic-ground-floor-wall) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Floor finish, wall cladding, floor finishing materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Afloor-finish-wall-cladding) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Granite and tile floor finishes](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Agranite-tiles-finishes) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Basement floor and its waterproofing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abasement-waterproofing) — Building Technology, chapter 1, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Floor tiles and over burnt brick](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Agood-floor-tiles-overburnt-brick) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 3
- [Materials: 115 m² PCC floor, 110 m² plaster](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Amaterials-pcc-floor-plaster-i) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Slab panel 2 for BM and SF (floor plan)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdesign_of_rcc_structure%3Aslab-panel-2-for-bm-and) — Design of RCC Structure, chapter 9
- [Cross wall design, 120 mm slab, 3 m wide](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Ainterior-cross-wall-120mm-3-0m-slab) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 8, asked 4×