first big job

[pete k]

Hi guys, thanks for all the welcomes:smilewinkgrin:.
I have been asked to tile a friends house with 600x600 porcelain tiles across the entire down stairs, they want ufh put into 3 different places around the house and i was wondering if i would need to put tile backer boards down everywhere or even if i really needed to put them down as the floor is well insulated, also can i use sand/cement to fix them down rather than addy as its a big area it would cost them a fortune, sorry for all the questions:smilewinkgrin:, also what would be the best cutter to use with these tiles as i got lots of curved areas to do. I was looking at a ruby or even a makita cutter as been told there great, was told that i should use just the wire ufh rather than the matting, right thats it..........i think......:lol:

pete

 

[doug boardley]

ok Pete, whate substrate will you be tiling onto? well insulated, is it concrete or chipboard?, if chipboard, deffo hardie backer imo sand and cement a definite no no, use a flexible powder adhesive, We could do with more info to help you really, not only the substrate, but is it electric or piped ufh?

 

[pete k]

whoops forgot that bit. it is concrete in certain areas and then wood over what looks like concrete, it would be electrical ufh. i was told i wouldn't need the backer boards by a well known tile shop. can i use them just where the ufh is or will i have to do the entire house which would be very expensive.

thanks pete

 

[doug boardley]

don't like the sound of this now Pete, it's looking like you'll probably need a decoupling membrane too, ( with inconsistent substrates) any chance of some pics of the existing floor?

 

[pete k]

the floors are all level, cant get any pics as the floor is covered in laminate which i got to take up as well, there's no chipboard to go over its proper wood flooring with insulation under it already, the concrete area is from an extension that was done before they moved in, i know its going to be a ***** of a job

 

[pete k]

please excuse me if my terms for tiling are not right im on a very steep learning curve

 

[doug boardley]

when you say "proper wood flooring" do you mean T & G floorboards Pete?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

please excuse me if my terms for tiling are not right im on a very steep learning curve

As Doug has mentioned Pete - it would be helpful for a bit more information.
Like - How long have you been tiling - how much experience have you got - have you got a tool set yet - are you allowed to use anything other than crayons!

Because if you think that using 600x600mm porcelain tiles throughout the complete downstairs of a friends house onto different substrates with Underfloor heating without the correct tools and on a steep learning curve then IMO you want to be sectioned!

Timeless John.

 

[chris.tiling]

As Doug has mentioned Pete - it would be helpful for a bit more information.
Like - How long have you been tiling - how much experience have you got - have you got a tool set yet - are you allowed to use anything other than crayons!

Because if you think that using 600x600mm porcelain tiles throughout the complete downstairs of a friends house onto different substrates with Underfloor heating without the correct tools and on a steep learning curve then IMO you want to be sectioned!

Timeless John.

In other words Pete, it is a big job for a pro to do. I think from what you have said, it is best to get someone in to do it with experience. You will need to do all of what Doug has said and probably more to prep everything. 600x600 porcelain are not easy to lay for a novice - they may well be bowed / concaved if they have bought cheaper tiles.

if you go ahead...good luck and please ask as many q's as you need and post loadsa pics too

 

[pete k]

thanks guys, i have done quite a bit of tiling in the past and do alot of tiling over patios with french porcelain tiles so have the equipment to a degree but like everything another tool is always good to have, they have bought cheaper tiles from B n Q which is not good i know but they bought them before asking me, Doug the floor is not T and G its 2"x8" floor boards which they put laminate over the top for some strange reason, i know theres alot of prep work to be done with this job, they did have 3 quotes to do this and they were all to expensive for them and no im not doing it cheap. but want to give them the best possible job which is where you great guys come in.

 

[doug boardley]

thanks guys, i have done quite a bit of tiling in the past and do alot of tiling over patios with french porcelain tiles so have the equipment to a degree but like everything another tool is always good to have, they have bought cheaper tiles from B n Q which is not good i know but they bought them before asking me, Doug the floor is not T and G its 2"x8" floor boards which they put laminate over the top for some strange reason, i know theres alot of prep work to be done with this job, they did have 3 quotes to do this and they were all to expensive for them and no im not doing it cheap. but want to give them the best possible job which is where you great guys come in.

are they plank floorboards Pete? don't mean to sound pedantic, but we need all the info we can get on this

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Pete - the reason the other 3 quotes may have been too expensive for your customer could be because they were quoting to do the job correctly.
If your friends cannot afford to have the job done to a level of British Standards then hopefully they wont be posting a thread on the forum complaining about the standard of workmanship that they may receive.
My concern with this thread is should the forum be providing so much information to a Diy/novice tiler so he can undercut 3 estimates and not be able to provide the client with a professional job.
This is all about opinions and mine is clear!

Timeless John.

 

[pete k]

hi Doug yes plank floor boards,
John i have not under quote anybody at all. ive been running my own business for nearly 10 years so know how to quote correctly and not over price any job, and all im asking is if i can put the underfloor heating in without the backer boards through out the entire house to save the customer some money as he just lost his job so im doing him a favour if i can cut the cost to him but never the quality of the work to be done, i asked about using sand and cement as i read it on this forum from another tiler who used it, and yes i may not be a Pro tiler but i am very good at my work

 

[DHTiling]

And you did the right thing by asking here first rather than just going and doin it pete....


Some peeps have strong opinions but we don't all think that way....so keep asking till you sure you know which way to go....


Mixeds substrates isn't a good start..

 

[div]

hi pete
from reading ur last post u say u have been running your own bussiness for 10 yrs...is this tiling...
if so you should have a trade card with some company??
so you could pass on ur discount for materials to ur pal??
thus saving him a few bucks...