How to Install Wall Tiles in Container Houses

When installing wall tiles in container houses, it is essential to follow standardized procedures, focusing on proper foundation treatment, tiling techniques, and safety precautions. The specific steps and key points are as follows:

I. Pre-construction Preparation

1. Cleaning and Measurement
   Thoroughly clean the interior walls of the container, removing dust, grease, and debris to ensure the surface is dry and level. Use a laser level or tape measure to accurately measure the wall dimensions, calculate the required quantity of tiles based on their specifications, and reserve a 5%-10% allowance for waste.
2. Material and Tool Preparation

• Main Materials: Select tiles with a water absorption rate of ≤0.5% (superior moisture resistance), C20-grade tile adhesive (strong bonding strength), galvanized light steel keels (rust-proof treatment), medium sand, and 425-grade cement.
• Tools: Impact drill, level, rubber mallet, tile cutter, scraper, caulking gun, safety harness, and dust mask, etc.

3. Foundation Treatment
   Check the structural stability of the container and level any local depressions or protrusions with cement mortar, controlling the error within ±2mm. If the wall is corrugated, install a keel framework first to provide a flat base surface.

II. Core Tiling Steps

1. Keel Installation
   Nail light steel keels vertically along the wall every 40-60cm, with closer spacing (30cm) at corners. Secure the keels to the wall using U-shaped nails, ensuring tight contact without looseness.
2. Tile Installation

• Adhesive Application: Use a notched trowel to evenly spread tile adhesive on the back of the tiles, forming striped patterns with a thickness of 3-5mm.
• Installation Sequence: Start tiling from the bottom of the wall, working upwards row by row. Align each tile with the horizontal line and gently tap it with a rubber mallet to adjust for no hollow sounds.
• Corner Treatment: For external corners, use 45° bevel cuts for a neat joint; for internal corners, leave a 1-2mm gap to be filled with grout later.

3. Cutting and Grouting
   Cut non-standard-sized tiles precisely with an electric tile cutter and smooth the edges. Within 24 hours of installation, fill the gaps with specialized grout to a depth of at least one-third of the tile thickness, scrape the surface flat, and clean up any residue promptly.

III. Key Considerations

1. Moisture and Thermal Insulation
   Leave a 2-3cm gap between the keels and the container wall, fill it with rock wool or polystyrene board as a thermal insulation layer, and cover it with a moisture-proof membrane (e.g., PE film) to prevent condensation.
2. Safety Regulations
   Wear a safety harness during high-altitude work and keep materials stacked away from edges. Maintain ventilation in the construction area to avoid the accumulation of tile adhesive fumes.
3. Quality Inspection
   After installation, check the tile flatness (error ≤2mm/2m), hollow sound rate (≤5% per tile, ≤3% overall), and perpendicularity to ensure compliance with building decoration and renovation engineering quality acceptance standards.

Tip: If the container is intended for long-term residence, prioritize lightweight tiles (≤15kg per tile) to reduce structural load and regularly inspect the grout condition, repairing any cracks promptly.