A Bit Of Inspiration Needed To Resolve A Poor Job Please

[chrisnic]

we had our kitchen replaced last year which included laying about 40sqm of tiles, the quality of the tiling was generally 'ok' apart from in the dining area which has ended up being unacceptably poor and I'm struggling to live with it.

We are left with polished porcelain with very regular 2-3 mm lips which when looked at from a distance look awful and it's easy to catch toes, chair legs etc on them which just continues to frustrate me and I just can't live with it.



My ideas so far are.....

1. Take up the area and redo replacing tiles that break in the process but there is no guarantee of getting the same tiles again and the pattern is part of the problem.

2. Replace the tiles in that area with 600x600 tiles in the same style/colour laid in a standard pattern but again no guarantee of getting something suitable.

3. Go for something contrasting in that area so no need to match but runs the risk of looking odd and loosing the flow between the rooms.

Some thoughts would be very much appreciated and then I need to find someone to complete the job.

 

[Luis Franco]

In my humble opinion even if you find the same tile and the tile is curved you will have the same problem .
Even if you get a good tiler e only can minimize the lippage, i think the best pattern for curved tiles is this one.
So... my opinion is to replace all the floor or your choice number 3 only if the tiles are curved, otherwise if the tiles are okay replace only that area.
PS: Sorry for my English

 

[Lithofin BOB]

Have you had the dude back who laid the tiles to possible rectifi the issues or comment on this rustic finish.
Are the tiles curved or just badly laid.

 

[chrisnic]

Have you had the dude back who laid the tiles to possible rectifi the issues or comment on this rustic finish.
Are the tiles curved or just badly laid.

Unfortunately that ship has sailed, I lifted quite a number at the time as they were truely awful and the remainder of the job was done to a reasonable standard but he is a jack of all trades. The area in question was also made more challenging by the state of the concrete base which was half original and half more recent (extension).

I should have pushed the matter more at the time but....

Having laid tiles on top of each other im confident that they were pretty flat so im putting it down to the job being rushed, insufficient leveling compound being used and the pattern chosen (by me).

 

[chrisnic]

In my humble opinion even if you find the same tile and the tile is curved you will have the same problem .
Even if you get a good tiler e only can minimize the lippage, i think the best pattern for curved tiles is this one.
So... my opinion is to replace all the floor or your choice number 3 only if the tiles are curved, otherwise if the tiles are okay replace only that area.
PS: Sorry for my English
View attachment 73133

Thank you for your reply and don't worry your English is fine!

What you cant see from the photo is the tiles then flow through into the kitchen, utility and downstairs shower room (hence the tiles being oriantated in that direction) so re laying in that pattern (which I now realise is correct) wouldnt really work.

 

[Dan]

Perhaps the contrasting tile option might be best?

 

[chrisnic]

Perhaps the contrasting tile option might be best?

The million dollar question is with what?

I briefly looked at a honed grey green slate which I thought could look nice as a contrast.

 

[Old Mod]

Maybe first thing to do is to see if the same tile is available, it'll probably be a slightly different shade, but u have to start somewhere. You've already realised to fix the problem the tiles have to come up.
If u think the tiles were flat then it's the fixing that's at fault, and that can be rectified, and your pattern can remain intact.
A lot of time ranges that come in 600x300 also come in a complimenting 600x600 so that would also be an option.

 

[chrisnic]

Maybe first thing to do is to see if the same tile is available, it'll probably be a slightly different shade, but u have to start somewhere. You've already realised to fix the problem the tiles have to come up.
If u think the tiles were flat then it's the fixing that's at fault, and that can be rectified, and your pattern can remain intact.
A lot of time ranges that come in 600x300 also come in a complimenting 600x600 so that would also be an option.

My thinking about doing it in 600x600 is that it would avoid having to walk 'against the flow' when moving from the living room to that area (photo taken from the door to living room). There is a natural divide where the old dining room joined the kitchen and the tiles reflect this also.

 

[Old Mod]

Well if u have a natural divide then with the proper prep u can go LARGE!
These are both wall and floor tiles!

 

[chrisnic]

A quick bit of digging reveals I can get the same style of tile in both 600x300 & 600x600 and at what I would consider a reasonable price (about what I paid previously).

Broken Link Removed

My wife wants to stick to the existing pattern but im nervous about whether it can be laid sufficiently flat. To rip it all up and still not a good finish isnt an option.

 

[gamma38]

Where are you based? why don't you get someone from here to come and have a look and give you some good eyes on advise.

 

[chrisnic]

Where are you based? why don't you get someone from here to come and have a look and give you some good eyes on advise.

Based in Thame, South Oxfordshire.

Good idea though, the reason for the original post was to get some pro opinions.

 

[Marvo]

I'd be inclined to agree with Gamma, you might get a satisfactory resolution on the forum to the technical side of your dilemma but the design and aesthetic side would be better advised by someone on site.

 

[Dan]

http://www.tilersforums.com/threads/looking-for-tiler-thame-oxfordshire.76511/

Just in case anybody can't find the thread.

 

[chrisnic]

I continue to ponder what to do as I obviously have to get it right this time, an idea ive had for a pattern is as follows



The 2 areas are similar in width so where the tiles would change direction would run nicely from corner to corner (right to left in the original picture).

Is there anything inherently wrong with this pattern?

 

[Old Mod]

I continue to ponder what to do as I obviously have to get it right this time, an idea ive had for a pattern is as follows



The 2 areas are similar in width so where the tiles would change direction would run nicely from corner to corner (right to left in the original picture).

Is there anything inherently wrong with this pattern?

Nothing wrong with the pattern, it's just a variation on what u have currently. So if u intend to avoid the half bond I'm afraid this doesn't solve the issue, sorry

 

[chrisnic]

Nothing wrong with the pattern, it's just a variation on what u have currently. So if u intend to avoid the half bond I'm afraid this doesn't solve the issue, sorry

Yeah, its more about creating a natural flow through the area as short of taking up the tiles in the whole area I dont think I can get something that ticks all the boxes.

In other area's the lips are far less significant so whilst the tiles could be bowed I think its more down to how the area was leveled and tiles laid.

 

[Old Mod]

Well u can easily check how flat they are by getting a rigid straight edge approx 600mm long and sit it flat on a tile across the centre on all axis and see if it rocks or by how much! So that would be lenghtways, and diagonally. If u don't posses such an edge then the edge of a spare tile would work, used on its thin edge. Obviously sight along the edge first to check if it's straight and true but generally they are, it's just the flatness that is questionable on occasion.