Calibrated tiles

[londonsurf]

Hi

I recently purchased 600x300mm 'calibrated' slate riven tiles. On receipt of the tiles, I note they vary in thickness from 5 to 15mm. My tiler has refused to lay them.

Please can you advise me if there is a British Standard that defines the term 'calibrated tile', and if so what it says. The tile supplier has said to me that calibration does not relate to the thickness of the tile, but its dimensions in plan form i.e. as long as the plan dimension is a consistent 600 x 300, then I have no case. Is this true?

Please help.

 

[tommyzooom]

Thats not what I would class as calibrated slate, I think the supplier is trying it on

 

[londonsurf]

They are absolutely shocking tiles - but I need to find the 'legal' definition of a calibrated tile, before I take the supplier to the cleaners!

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

I think the true definition of calibrated slate should mean even thickness and size, but I just Googled it and it seems some just calibrate the base of the tile, leaving a riven finish on the top.

That said I have used this type of tile very often, and if you grade your tiles in order of thickness, you can achieve a good result

 

[Stewart]

Calibrated slate from my store is based on the thickness of the tile....

 

[Gazzer]

Had a similar issue recently where the measurements were the same as your but also the tiles were different sizes. this made the 3 sizes unable to form the correct modular pattern without one joint being 10mm bigger than the others....Client wouldn't accept this of course so they were sent back.

 

[Ian]

I'd always class the calibration as the thickness.

 

[peteablard]

As phil says, an experienced tiler should still be able to lay these correctly however extra adhesive will be required!

 

[Gazzer]

I personally think it should be calibrated length, width and thickness. Thats what calibrated means to me.

 

[The D]

are they bad for size other than the thickness? as phil has said they can be fixed to a good standard by grading the tiles and starting with the thicker ones and then working to the thiner ones. *

 

[londonsurf]

Thank you for all the posts. Slightly confused now. The tiles have a riven finish. Should I be expecting my tiler to sort the tiles by thickness(167 in total) before laying? Isn't this asking too much? I thought the whole purpose of buying calibrated tiles was that they were easy to set out and lay!

I also googled calibrated tile and it seems to relate to tile thickness. The offending tiles are Indian Black Slate 30x60 - Slate - Natural Stone - Tiles

The tiler fitted about 4sqm of tile and then phoned me, said he couldnt work with them, took them up and went home. Tile Giant will give me a full refund on the tiles, but feel like the tiler should be compensated for working half a day with no end result??

 

[Perry]

calibrated' slate would mean calibrated to thickness riven would be split diamond sawn or chipped edge

 

[Spud]

are the backs ground flat or are they still riven, if they are unmanufactured they are not calibrated in my opinion just "sized" take them back and get your money back

 

[londonsurf]

Sorry further point - these tiles were £22sqm (reasonable for calibrated tiles). My view is these tiles are 'uncalibrated' as they vary in thickness and plan dimensions. I have been told that uncalibrated tiles are £12sqm. Have I therefore been ripped off?? Wouldn't trading standards have something to say about a uncalibrated tile being sold as a calibrated tile when it is clearly not??! grrrrrrrr

 

[londonsurf]

the backs of the tiles have a machined ribbed effect running along the length (600mm) of the tile........