How to DIY 3D Wall Tiles

1st step: SURFACE AND 3D BOARD PREPARATION.

3D BOARDS are made to install over flat surfaces that are clean, dry and free of loose debris. 3D BOARD can be adhered to the wall directly out of the box with your chosen adhesive.

Wall treatment before use: The wall surface must be clean and even. Any holes must be filled prior to application. If the wall surface is plastic or lacquered it must be fully sanded and cleaned prior to application. If the wall is made out of plasterboard, it is recommended that an undercoat primer sealer be applied to prevent the glue from being absorbed by the plaster.

Make sure your hands are clean and dry before you start and be careful not to let any adhesive come into contact with the front of the board.

2nd step: INSTALLATION AND ADHERING TO WALL.

It is essential for your layout to be well planned. Determine whether the installation will be wall-to-wall, a floating design that leaves an even border, a border strip around the room etc. If you are unsure lay the board out on the floor or prepare a sketch to confirm plans.

3D-BOARD should be glued directly onto the wall by using latex or multi-functional glue, tile paste or pre mixed heavy-duty wallpaper glue. If the board has a slight bow, it can gently be flexed to lay flat before adhering to the wall. If you have trouble with a stubborn area or corner, tack down with a finishing nail, leaving in until dry, and address hole(s) after priming. In addition to spreading the adhesive evenly on the wall, coating the back of the board on flat areas will help ensure an immediate bond. Leave 3-5 mm between the boards when you apply them to the wall (as you would with regular tiles). Run a thin putty knife or finger along joint to remove excess adhesive. Use a slightly damp rag to blot off excess adhesive. Minimize rubbing to avoid balling of the pulp on the board.

3rd step: PLACING 3D-BOARD ON THE WALL.

Regardless of the type of adhesive you use the application process is the same. Make sure the boards are positioned straight and level by using a level or marking lines on the wall. It is important to take the straightness of the wall and other obstacles into account early on. On a wall-to-wall installation, when at all possible, work across the wall from corner to corner starting at the top. This will reduce the need to cut the boards down in size and allow cut boards to fall into more inconspicuous areas.

It is essential that you make sure all the edges are properly bonded to the wall during the installation process. In any difficult area nails may be used with the indentations to be filled in after the adhesive has fully dried and the boards have been sealed with a primer.

It is important to make sure that you place all the boards an even distance from each other so the use of tiling spacers can be beneficial. This will give you an even and professional result. If working from the center out, all boards that fall at edges may need to be cut. Plan the design well to ensure the result you are after. Remember, measure twice and cut once.

4th step: PRIMER COAT.

After the 3D BOARDs are all placed on the wall and the adhesive has fully dried you MUST apply a prime sealer as recommended by the manufacturer before any finishing work is started to seal the 3D BOARD.

5th step: FINISH WORK.

A tiled wall will have seams. If this is part of your design plan there is no need for additional work. If you looking for a more seamless finish you can use plaster, caulk gypsum (with a neutral PH value) putty filler etc on all joints before final primer coat. Keep caulk cleaned up and smooth as you go as you can only sand lightly once completed. You will then need to apply a second primer coat before proceeding to your final paint colour application.

6th step: PAINTING.

If you followed the preparation and installation instructions carefully, you should now have a beautiful tiled wall ready for painting. 3D BOARD can be brushed or sprayed - although spraying will give you the most even finish. Painting a completed 3D BOARD wall is the same as painting drywall or plaster.