Floor prep..

[Stocks Tiles]

Further to the comments been given, if you have a agreement with the customer that if they go ahead it doing it your way with no joint in the difference of floors then you can't guarantee it won't crack and get this is writing! Because that verbal agreement would never have happened if it cracks! :yesnod:

 

[Rich Midge]

There's always got to be a level of trust between worker and client. They have to trust me to do the best job I can (which is in my best interest anyway) and I have to trust that they'll pay on time etc. There's risk in every job you take on.......maybe I've just been lucky! ;-)

 

[J Sid]

A letter from the customer telling you to do it in a manner not recommend by the material manufacturers, trade bodies, British Standards will mean s*** in a court if law, as a professional tradesman you have a responsibility to do the job the correct way.

 

[Rich Midge]

It's in no professional tradesman's interest to do a job incorrectly. I, as a professional wouldn't lay a floor as I outlined earlier, if I didn't believe it would last a lifetime. I, as a regular bloke also have a responsibility to my wife and family so I'm not in a position to walk away from a job over the use of expansion strips. If someone is absolutely adamant they don't want them, then this is the solution I present them with. Really don't think you should question someone's professionalism on the strength of trying to find alternative solutions.

 

[Ian]

Here's a question, if a floor like this was done without an expansion joint, how long would you expect it to be before a crack appeared of one was going to? A week, a year, after any UFH had been turned on?

 

[J Sid]

Rich, I hadn't read your post #12 as it was posted when I was formulating my post #13 which was in response Stocks Tiles post #11 and his comments about a verbal agreement being no good if it goes wrong, implying a written one would be ok.
I did not question your professionalism, I stated what I believe to be correct.
I stated that as professional tradesmen you have a responsibility to do a job the correct way in the eyes of the material manufacturers, governing body and BS
I believe that if a solution to a problem didn't work and there was a recommended way to do it that would have worked, a law court would not take into account a letter from the customer stating to do it the wrong way would stand up.

I loss many jobs each week when 'tilers' claim its fine to tile wet area's on plaster board, untanked, to put large format tiles on plastered plasterboard, tile directly on chipboard floors, to do away with expansion joints, this list goes on. If I have to sit at home because of it, so be it. Yes, I have a family and a mortgage and I would rather be working.

 

[Stocks Tiles]

I didn't say it's ok, I said get it in writing as verbal doesn't exist. Yes standards need to be met but how many customers want what they can't have without paying for all the extra work? At least with a written agreement you have SOME defence if done the work. I wouldn't carry out the work as first stated but it's not for me to say don't do it. I guarantee all my work and this is something I couldn't unless good money is paid to do right (edit: to avoid the expansion joint) and I quote for any works that needs doing regardless of a customer requesting or not, I explain everything in detail and if I don't get it then I don't get it. Hope that helps explains what I was getting at... If not never mind!

 

[J Sid]

Here's a question, if a floor like this was done without an expansion joint, how long would you expect it to be before a crack appeared of one was going to? A week, a year, after any UFH had been turned on?

This job has no ufh, anyway none mentioned.
To many variables to answer.
Ceramic, porcelain or stone?
How much movement / bounce in wooden floor?
How new is the concrete?
Is it a new build?

I've seen floors tiled onto ply with the correct adhesive, apparently, and the tiles have crack along every joint within months,

I've seen job tiled over two different substrates as this post last years.

I'm sure you're seen the same Bri

 

[J Sid]

Stocks

"but its not for me to say don't do it"

If a forum member / member of the public comes on this or any other trade forum and asks a question on a fixing method they propose to use and it is quite clearly no a recognised method to get over said problem, why would you not say anything?
I maybe wrong, and many say I often am, but I thought one or the objectives of these types of forums was to past on knowledge you have and ask for help or advice when you need it.

 

[Stocks Tiles]

You had already given the advice that's why I said further to the comments above, I didn't correct you are imply you are wrong - you are not and my personal opinion is you seem to know your stuff nothing I have seen over the forum or on another page that I would argue with. Don't know why you're trying to pick a argument though, I only advised getting any agreements in writing I had nothing to add to what you advised.