How to Install Wall Tiles in Container Houses

The installation of wall tiles in container houses should follow these steps to ensure construction standards and quality:

1. Base Layer Preparation Thoroughly clean the wall surface, removing dust, oil stains, and loose particles to ensure the base layer is free from hollow areas, cracks, or sanding. If the base layer is metal (such as container steel plates), apply an anti-rust paint first, then lay cement fiber boards or waterproof membranes as a transition layer to enhance adhesion and prevent rusting.

2. Tile Soaking and Drying Fully immerse the wall tiles in clean water for more than 2 hours. After they have absorbed sufficient water, remove them and wipe the surface moisture with a cotton cloth. This step prevents the adhesive material from losing moisture due to rapid water absorption during tile installation, thereby reducing the risk of hollow areas. If using low water absorption tiles (such as vitrified tiles), the soaking step can be omitted, but ensure there is no oil contamination isolating the adhesive material from the back of the tiles.

3. Area Division and Cutting Plan the tile layout according to the wall dimensions, starting from doors, windows, or prominent areas to minimize the use of non-whole tiles. When cutting tiles is necessary, use an electric tile cutter with a water cooling system. After cutting, promptly clean the burrs on the edges to avoid dust contamination of the adhesive layer. For irregular areas (such as where pipes penetrate the wall), measure and customize tiles in advance.

4. Selection and Application of Adhesive Materials

• Thick-set Method: Suitable for walls with poor base layer flatness. Use a 1:3 cement mortar, evenly apply a layer about 8-10mm thick on the back of the tiles, and simultaneously apply a thin layer of plain cement paste (about 2-3mm thick) on the wall to enhance adhesion. Note that the mortar should be used within 2 hours to avoid hardening and becoming ineffective.
• Thin-set Method: It is recommended to use C2-grade tile adhesive (high adhesive strength). Use a notched trowel to apply both on the wall and the back of the tiles simultaneously, forming a striped adhesive layer about 3-5mm thick. This method requires high base layer flatness (error ≤ 3mm/2m), but the hollow area rate can be reduced to below 1%.

5. Installation and Adjustment Press the tiles into the predetermined positions and gently tap them with a rubber mallet until they are flush with adjacent tiles. Use a level to check for verticality and flatness. Leave a gap of 1.5-2mm during installation to allow space for subsequent grouting. If tiles are found to be tilted or hollow, make adjustments promptly before the adhesive material hardens (about 30 minutes for the thick-set method and about 15 minutes for the thin-set method).

6. Inspection and Curing Within 24 hours after installation, gently tap each tile with a hollow sound detector. The hollow area rate should be controlled within 5% of the total area. Then, perform water spray curing 2-3 times a day for 3 days, avoiding direct sunlight or strong winds that may cause rapid water evaporation. After the curing period, fill the gaps with grout to prevent water penetration that could lead to adhesive layer failure.

Key Tip: Due to the significant difference in thermal expansion and contraction coefficients between the metal structure of container houses and tiles, it is recommended to prioritize the use of elastic grout and leave a 3-5mm expansion joint at wall corners to accommodate stress caused by temperature changes.