Prefabricated tile wall and method

Abstract

A method of constructing a tile bathroom includes providing a prefabricated wall, wherein the prefabricated wall includes a planar substrate and a plurality of tiles secured to the planar substrate. The prefabricated wall includes at least one opening positioned between the plurality of tiles. The method also includes placing the planar substrate adjacent to a wall of a building and placing a fastening mechanism in the at least one opening to secure the prefabricated wall to the wall of the building. The method also includes covering the fastening mechanism and the at least one opening with a concealing grout.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a tile bathroom, the method comprising:
 providing a prefabricated wall, wherein the prefabricated wall includes a planar substrate and a plurality of tiles secured to the planar substrate, wherein the prefabricated wall includes at least one opening disposed adjacent the plurality of tiles;   placing the planar substrate adjacent to a wall of a building;   placing a fastening mechanism in the at least one opening to secure the prefabricated wall to the wall of the building; and   covering the fastening mechanism and the at least one opening with a concealing grout.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated wall includes tile grout disposed between the plurality of tiles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tile grout has a first color and the concealing grout has a second color, wherein the first color matches the second color. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening is located at least partially through the tile grout. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing the prefabricated wall comprises heating the planar substrate, the plurality of tiles and the tile grout to cure the tile grout. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tile grout is rapid set grout. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the fastening mechanism in the at least one opening to secure the prefabricated wall to the wall of the building comprises screwing the fastening mechanism into the wall of the building. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing an adhesive between the prefabricated wall and the wall of the building. 
     
     
         9 . A method of constructing a tile wall for a bathroom, the method comprising:
 providing a planar substrate;   providing a plurality of tiles;   applying an adhesive to be disposed between the planar substrate and the plurality of tiles;   placing a tile grout between the plurality of tiles;   heating the planar substrate and the plurality of tiles until the adhesive is at least partially cured; and   creating at least one opening through the tile grout.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising creating a plurality of openings located at least partially within the tile grout. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein creating the at least one opening comprises creating the at least one opening entirely within the tile grout. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein creating the at least one opening comprises locating the at least one opening so that the at least one opening overlaps a tile of the plurality of tiles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein creating the at least one opening comprises penetrating the tile grout and the planar substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a material of the planar substrate is selected from a group consisting of: a cement board material, an underlayment material, a fiber cement underlayment material, and a magnesium oxide underlayment material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising heating the planar substrate and the plurality of tiles until the adhesive is fully cured. 
     
     
         16 . A prefabricated tile wall, comprising:
 a planar substrate;   an adhesive;   a plurality of tiles secured to the planar substrate by the adhesive;   a tile grout disposed between the tiles of the plurality of tiles; and   a plurality of through holes, each through hole extending through the planar substrate and either the tile grout or a tile of the plurality of tiles or both the tile grout and a tile of the plurality of tiles.   
     
     
         17 . The prefabricated tile wall of  claim 16  wherein a material of the planar substrate is selected from a group consisting of: a cement board material, an underlayment material, a fiber cement underlayment material, and a magnesium oxide underlayment material. 
     
     
         18 . The prefabricated tile wall of  claim 17  wherein the adhesive comprises a thinset mortar material or a rapid setting modified thinset material. 
     
     
         19 . The prefabricated tile wall of  claim 17  wherein the tile grout is a quick set tile grout. 
     
     
         20 . The prefabricated tile wall of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of tiles are arranged in rows.