Estimating adhesive / grout quantity?

[BrhTiling]

How do you guys estimate and quote the amount of adhesive or grout needed for a job?

So far I have only used the BAL adhesive they offer in topps tiles..... Do I just go by the back of the tub or what?

Is usually comes in 15ltr tubs? So what am I expecting that to cover in terms of m2?

Also, do you work out the cost of adhesive to you per m2 and then charge the customer per m2, say £5.99 m2 x 10m2 or whatever, or do you just say.....

'oh thats 10 m2, requiring 2.5 tubs, so you need 3 tubs at £24.99''

I can see doing it the first way you could end up with lots of half used tubs of adhesive that you haven't been paid for by anyone yet?


Sorry to sound slow, but I haven't actually quoted for any jobs properly yet, only friends / family.. and they don't count!

 

[DHTiling]

vary rarely do you get the coverage per mtr it say's on the bag or bucket because unless a sub-strate is like a bowling green you always use more. different size notched trowels and back buttering of tiles will use more aswell.
better to slightly over estimate qauntities and charge customer for what you use including half bags/buckets ..

 

[uug197h]

we give a price per m2 including adhesive we have a rough idea what the coverage is, Bal is one of the best but you can get cheap adhesives i have found some as low as £5.35 (trade) for a 15kg tub (it works but not the best to work with) you need to know what to charge for the area you work in

 

[BrhTiling]

CAn anyone give me a rough, really rough guess of what a tub of BAL adehsive would cover in terms of m2?

I mean, I seem to remember on my course that a new tub would cover maybe 5sq mtr, but it was probably being used all wrong... too much, badly spread, lot of wastage... etc etc

 

[DHTiling]

it says on the tub about 10mtrs but believe me never had that yet , 5mtrs is more like it... dave.......

 

[BrhTiling]

I dunno, sorry guys, probably asking a question I already know the answer too really.... Just a lack of confidence, I don't want to under / over quote.

Just measured up the area I have tiled in my own bathroom as roughly 6.5 m2 so far, used one tub of BAL grip with not much left in the bottom.......

 

[GazTech]

Hiya Ben, a general rule of thumb for pricing is 20kg powder will do 4/5m. 10litre adhesive will cover the same ,we use this rule at Topps and very little adhesive ever comes back.However take into consideration the surface to tile and add on never take away :wink_smile: