Forget the tiler, pearls of tiling wisdom required instead

[Sarah Rowley]

I'm looking for someone to tile the splashback area of my kitchen between the wall cupboards/extractor and worktop. The area is approx 2 sq metres and currently painted so there are no tiles to remove. The area covers one wall/plane and has 5 electrical sockets. The tiles are 45cm X 45cm, ceramic and 11.5 mm thick. It will require a strong, powdered, cement based adhesive and black grout to finish.

 

[Simon Dale]

You will also need a strong scraper to remove paint.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Gloves for black grout!

 

[Sarah Rowley]

You will also need a strong scraper to remove paint.

Will the paint have to come off the wall? Or do you mean for loose paint? Thanks

 

[Simon Dale]

Off the wall

 

[Sarah Rowley]

Off the wall

Ah, I wasn't aware of this so will make sure to mention it to anyone quoting. Am I right in thinking that because of the weight of the tiles the surface should really be sanded back to remove around 90% of the paint (something I read on a another thread on here)? Thanks

 

[Dumbo]

I can do it in August it will take about 2 weeks and I will need putting up in a hotel at your expense . But on the plus side I won' charge you much for the work

 

[Sarah Rowley]

I can do it in August it will take about 2 weeks and I will need putting up in a hotel at your expense . But on the plus side I won' charge you much for the work

Hotel is a funny name for a greenhouse in the garden, but that's ok stay as long as you want, I can provide your very own bucket and sponge for your ablutions and limited use of the outside tap. Oh and I was thinking of paying in off brand biscuits and conversation, ok?

 

[Simon Dale]

Glad people still have a sense of humour 😀😀😀

 

[Qwerty]

Thank you for taking the time to share your job requirement @Sarah Rowley

Would you like me to post it up on our Twitter page?

 

[Sarah Rowley]

Thank you for taking the time to share your job requirement @Sarah Rowley

Would you like me to post it up on our Twitter page?

Maybe not just yet, I would prefer to get someone from the forum if possible. Thanks though.

 

[Sarah Rowley]

So, nobody wants my job which is fair enough so I think we're going to do it ourselves. Could someone tell me if this plan is corect?

To recap, the tiles are 450mm x 450mm x11.5mm, wall is painted.

I'm thinking we sand back paint to 90% gone,
apply Bal Prime APD to surface,
cut tiles,
use a 10 mm (would 12mm be better?) notched trowel to apply Mapei Keraflex Maxi Flexible S1 adhesive,
stick tiles on, probably turn air blue in process,
regret ever beginning this bastard, lose will to live, drown sorrows.
Wait until next day for adhesive to set,
Mix and apply Mapei Ultracolour black grout while wearing gloves and make sure to clean it off super good using endless buckets of water and a normal sponge? Or some kind of special, magic sponge?

Does that sound right? Should ceramic tiles and grout be sealed with something afterwards? If so what would you suggest (brand name etc?)

Thanks all.

 

[Sarah Rowley]

Addendum, should I use Bal Primer APD or Mapei Primer G? The Mapei one is slightly cheaper but is it shitter/harder to use?

 

[John Benton]

So, nobody wants my job which is fair enough so I think we're going to do it ourselves. Could someone tell me if this plan is corect?

To recap, the tiles are 450mm x 450mm x11.5mm, wall is painted.

I'm thinking we sand back paint to 90% gone,
apply Bal Prime APD to surface,
cut tiles,
use a 10 mm (would 12mm be better?) notched trowel to apply Mapei Keraflex Maxi Flexible S1 adhesive,
stick tiles on, probably turn air blue in process,
regret ever beginning this bastard, lose will to live, drown sorrows.
Wait until next day for adhesive to set,
Mix and apply Mapei Ultracolour black grout while wearing gloves and make sure to clean it off super good using endless buckets of water and a normal sponge? Or some kind of special, magic sponge?

Does that sound right? Should ceramic tiles and grout be sealed with something afterwards? If so what would you suggest (brand name etc?)

Thanks all.

DO NOT over wet the grout, too much water will leave it patchy, particularly black grout.

I tend to let the grout almost set before washing off when it's Mapei Black

 

[Sarah Rowley]

DO NOT over wet the grout, too much water will leave it patchy, particularly black grout.

I tend to let the grout almost set before washing off when it's Mapei Black

Ok thanks, is it a good black grout or do you prefer any other?

 

[John Benton]

There'll be a few guys on here who hate the Mapei grout and most have there own preference of manufacturer. I personally like it and don't have any issues.

What colour are your tiles?

 

[Sarah Rowley]

There'll be a few guys on here who hate the Mapei grout and most have there own preference of manufacturer. I personally like it and don't have any issues.

What colour are your tiles?

Ok, good. The tiles are the Scintilla tiles on walls and floors so they are like a very pale grey colour with a black star pattern. Here's a picture,

I have considered grey grout, I'm not sure which would look better, plus there are quite a few shades of grey to choose from.

 

[John Benton]

Either Moon White (103) or Black (120) will suit these tiles IMO

 

[J K Tiling Cornwall]

Looking at the pic and seeing that the tile is 45cmx45cm, I'm guessing there are 4 stars per each individual tile? To keep the effect of individual smaller tiles it looks like you could get away with a cement grey coloured grout, personally I think black would be too stark against anything other than a black tile. I'm based in Cornwall but at the moment just so stacked out to take anything else on (will already be working Good Friday and Bank holiday Monday, plus have smaller jobs to fit in when I can). Sounds like could all be pretty much done in a day. If you were really stuck and could hang on I have some outside tiling during April. If the weather's really bad might be able to do it then.

 

[Sarah Rowley]

Looking at the pic and seeing that the tile is 45cmx45cm, I'm guessing there are 4 stars per each individual tile? To keep the effect of individual smaller tiles it looks like you could get away with a cement grey coloured grout, personally I think black would be too stark against anything other than a black tile. I'm based in Cornwall but at the moment just so stacked out to take anything else on (will already be working Good Friday and Bank holiday Monday, plus have smaller jobs to fit in when I can). Sounds like could all be pretty much done in a day. If you were really stuck and could hang on I have some outside tiling during April. If the weather's really bad might be able to do it then.

I think you might be right, now I'm considering silver grey or manhattan grout. I think we'll probably do it ourselves, I'm breathing, sleeping and eating tiling at the moment so I can't imagine going back to blissful ignorance as just a client now.
Could you comment on my plan of events? I'll recreate it below so you don't have to scroll back:-

I'm thinking we sand back paint to 90% gone,
apply Bal Prime APD or BAL bond SBR or Mapei primer G (anyone got any thoughts on picking between these, is price a good enough reason?) to surface,
cut tiles,
use a 10 mm (would 12mm be better?) notched trowel to apply Mapei Keraflex Maxi Flexible S1 adhesive,
stick tiles on, probably turn air blue in process,
regret ever beginning this, lose will to live, drown sorrows.
Wait until next day for adhesive to set,
Mix and apply Mapei Ultracolour silver grey or manhattan grout while wearing gloves and make sure to clean it off super good using endless buckets of water and a normal sponge? Or some kind of special, magic sponge?

Does that sound right? Should ceramic tiles and grout be sealed with something afterwards? If so what would you suggest (brand name etc?) I was led to believe by other thread that it should be Keraflex Maxi S1 and not Keraquick because of the size of the tiles, is this correct?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Mark Frost]

Ok thanks, is it a good black grout or do you prefer any other?

mapei is a good grout shake the bag before you open it as well.. good luck

 

[J K Tiling Cornwall]

That all sounds fine.. I always use a dilute SBR to seal nothing wrong with the others and I have used them alot but I just buy the 5ltr containers. As its a one off it might be better getting a 1ltr container of Mapei primer G. No need to seal if ceramic, unless crackle glazed.. which I doubt at that size. Good luck with it all.

 

[Sarah Rowley]

Thanks everyone who's commented, now the only thing left to do is start.....

 

[Mark Frost]

good luck

 

[Qwerty]

Maybe not just yet, I would prefer to get someone from the forum if possible. Thanks though.

The offer to post it up on our social media pages is still there

 

[Sarah Rowley]

The offer to post it up on our social media pages is still there

Nah, I feel suffused with the glow of all of your tiling knowledge and support and I'm pumped to do this thing! High five!

Just gotta remember to be careful and not to stick any tiles to my person, the cats or my lunch and we should be away, now where's my butter knife and sledgehammer?

 

[Mark Frost]

Nah, I feel suffused with the glow of all of your tiling knowledge and support and I'm pumped to do this thing! High five!

Just gotta remember to be careful and not to stick any tiles to my person, the cats or my lunch and we should be away, now where's my butter knife and sledgehammer?

13lb lump hammer will do but you'll need a steak knife 😉

 

[Qwerty]

Nah, I feel suffused with the glow of all of your tiling knowledge and support and I'm pumped to do this thing! High five!

Just gotta remember to be careful and not to stick any tiles to my person, the cats or my lunch and we should be away, now where's my butter knife and sledgehammer?

Ok. Do share the finished article with us. We love pics too!

 

[Sarah Rowley]

So I've finally got some time and all the gear but still not all the ideas. I have scraped all the paint off so the surface is back to 100% bare plaster and I have Mapei Primer G waiting to be put on but I just have a few questions I was hoping someone could help me with:-

should I abrade the plaster surface before priming?

also, should I loosen the sockets before priming so the stuff can go under them a bit? Or is that mental and the stuff is too runny for that?

also also, how many coats of Primer G should I do, it says to put it on neat with a brush to gypsum so that's what I was going to do, but it doesn't specify number of coats.

If anyone can help me out that would be great, thanks.