Can you do that?

[Avbytaren]

I haven't decided whether to paint the walls in the laundry room in the basement or to tile the walls.

The walls haven't been drained for a very long time, and there are no indications of moisture specifically in the laundry room, but in some other rooms in the basement, especially against the outer wall.

If it's okay to tile, what should I consider regarding the preparatory work on the walls, as they are quite uneven, and I would like tips on what I can do to make the walls as even as possible? If you are applying plaster to the walls, how should I go about making it as even as possible?

 

[sccarber]

As long as you don't use a moisture barrier behind the tiles, any potential moisture from outside shouldn't be a problem, right? It could then "breathe" through the grout? If you have a moisture barrier, there's otherwise a risk that moisture accumulates behind it, which could cause it to detach and the tiles to "bulge out."

http://www.bkr.se/branschregler/branschregler2007.pdf (see page 7)

To smooth plaster, use a long board to even it out. You might have to chip off the old plaster first.

If you're painting, you might want to use some type of plaster paint—check with the paint retailer. Plastic paint would likely cause the same issues as a moisture barrier.

These are just my experiences from our house where the tiles detached, according to the inspector probably due to the moisture barrier.