I’ve recently tiled my kitchen with handmade Bejmat tiles from Otto Tiles (pr product) and thought I’d put together a handy guide as they are quite different to regular tiles.
Let me start by telling you a bit about Bejmat tiles. They are handmade in Morocco, are rectangular and extremely thick. They are renowned for their imperfections which adds to their charm. You can get them in a glazed or matte finish and they can be used on walls and floors.
I think it goes without saying that the first step is to remove your existing tiles (if you have any) this can be a messy job, so make sure you put down a dust sheet to make it easier to clean up afterwards. Oh and don’t forget your protective glasses.
Once all your old tiles are off (mine were on board which made it a lot easier to remove them) seal the wall with Acrylic primer as per the instructions on the back.
When selecting your tiles, take them from different boxes so you get a variety of tones, this way when the light hits them it will add to the dimension.
Be generous with the tile adhesive and place the tiles as close together as possible. This is how Bejmat tiles are supposed to be laid which is probably going against everything you have ever learned about tiling, but trust me, not only does it make it easier, it looks better too.
You will still need to use spacers in between some tiles as they have uneven edges and it ensures they sit straight. A spirit level is also very handy at this point.
It’s best to tile as much as you can first without having to make an cuts. My dad helped with the cutting as it wasn’t as simple as cutting regular tiles.
The tiles had to be cut with a angle grinder due to the thickness which created A LOT of dust, so make sure you wear suitable PPE and cut them in an open space.
Once all the tiles had been placed on the wall it was time to grout. Originally I wanted dark green grout but couldn’t find any so I went with a dark grey with a hint of green called ‘tornado.’
Grouting the tiles was the same as grouting others but with smaller gaps.
Once grouted, wipe off any excess grout to bring back their shiny glazed finish.
I hope this has helped give you some info about tiling with Bejmat tiles, I’m so pleased with how the finished look has turned out.
Until next time,
Hayley x
