Lay the Tile. Mix thin-set mortar according to directions. Use the flat side of trowel to apply the thin-set and the comb edge of the trowel to create grooves (Image 1). This will give you a really tight connection to your slab. Set the tiles by gently sliding into place. Use spacers to achieve consistent gaps between tiles (Image 2).
The Costs. Minimum cost of bathroom wall tiling: $2.50-$3.00 per square foot. Maximum cost of bathroom wall tiling: $7.00-$8.00 per square foot. When considering a bathroom wall tiling project, homeowners are often most concerned with the costs associated with the installation.
1 Depending on the tile selected, do-it-yourself tiling of the floor of a typical bathroom can cost $100-$1,500 or more. 2  The tile alone can be $1-$40 or more a square foot; replacing backer board adds about $2 a square foot; and do-it-yourself tools and other material can be $60-$200 or more. For details see, How Much Does a Tile Floor Cost. 2  Retiling around a bathtub or inside a shower enclosure can cost $800-$2,500 or more, depending on the type of tiles, total square footage, the amount of repairs needed, any special pattern or border, and local labor rates.