Background
The wall or floor surface tiles are fixed to, such as plaster, plasterboard, render, screed or backer board.
Every background has a limit to the weight of tiling it can carry, and that weight is tile, adhesive and grout together.
It also has to be sound, flat, dry and clean before tiling starts. Most tile failures begin with the background, not the tile.
Keep learning
Sources
Sources checked 31 October 2026. Guidance and official pages can change.
- The Tile Association: tiling guide, weight limits for wall tilingThe maximum weight of tiling (tile, adhesive and grout) per square metre for common wall backgrounds.