Found myself back at the tiling!

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi
Thankfully I have not been asked to do a lot of major tiling! Now have a job in a bathroom using 120cm by 60cm by 1cm thick porcelain tiles.The size and the adherence does not put me off but I will have to cut some of the tiles lengthways - I could do with angle grinder but wondered if there was a tile cutter able to do the job which came with positive recommendation? Many thanks.
Gavin

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Cutting the tiles could be the last of your concerns. What's the substrate?

 

[One Day]

Sigma 3E3M max cutter is what you need.
Forget anything else when you are over 75cm.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Cutting the tiles could be the last of your concerns. What's the substrate?

The substrata is 18 mm marine ply well secured to partition wall by screwnails at regular intervals coated with Bal sealer and two coats of "tanking" / WP1.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Sigma 3E3M max cutter is what you need.
Forget anything else when you are over 75cm.

Many thanks for this - I am assuming this device can be hired - will seek out local hire company stocks as it would not be cost effective for me to purchase considering the ratio of tiling jobs to other jobs I do.

 

[Perry]

Hi Gavin are you a chippy? Or is it for yourself?

 

[Flintstone]

I don’t think a hire shop will have that cutter unfortunately. Maybe a local Tiler contact might lend One? Ply isn’t the best choice for the walls !

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi Gavin are you a chippy? Or is it for yourself?

Correct guess - I am a chippy -but I get asked to do jobs on the basis of my wood skills but choose carefully and only accept to do if I can make a good job of it.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

I don’t think a hire shop will have that cutter unfortunately. Maybe a local Tiler contact might lend One? Ply isn’t the best choice for the walls !

Usually don't have much contact with guys in the tiling trade but will ask friends who might know friends who are tilers. As a chippy I like wood but realise that ply is not the preferred base to tile onto - it is already there and I have examined the stud walls the sheets are attached to - well studded, well secured and well prepared.

 

[Andy Allen]

I get why you like ply.... Your a chippy.
But from my experience I can't help but notice every builder seems to have a love affair with ply.....
I've lost count of the shower areas I've looked at that have been prepped using ply, instead of a more suitable water resistant board.
Why on earth would you use wood in a wet area, even if it is already there I would be replacing it...

 

[Perry]

This is why I stick to tiling and not orthopedic surgery.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

The substrata is 18 mm marine ply well secured to partition wall by screwnails at regular intervals coated with Bal sealer and two coats of "tanking" / WP1.

There are issues with the movement of wood no matter how well fixed - even 18mm plywood.
Then you've got a paint on tanking layer which is required to hold the weight of 1200x600x10mm tiles!
Ring BAL technical and see if they would guarantee this installation.

 

[Perry]

Gavin did you sbr the back and edges of the ply?

 

[Flintstone]

Overboard all the ply with 6mm wedi board of equivalent, and seal / tape all joints.

 

[LM]

The substrata is 18 mm marine ply well secured to partition wall by screwnails at regular intervals coated with Bal sealer and two coats of "tanking" / WP1.

Hi Gavin, it’s bad enough that the substrate is ply but to have it secured with screw nails instead of screws is a big risk also.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Hi Gavin, it’s bad enough that the substrate is ply but to have it secured with screw nails instead of screws is a big risk also.

Locally we used / use the word "screwnails" for screws before there were such things as "threaded nails". The ply is attached with screws. Thinking that maybe this is a job - removing ply and or installing wedi board - that someone else can do.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Gavin did you sbr the back and edges of the ply?

The ply was installed by the builders. I removed one sheet to reroute an electrical cable to reach a lighted mirror and yes both sides and edges are primed. The Bal tanking kit packaging is still in the bathroom.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Overboard all the ply with 6mm wedi board of equivalent, and seal / tape all joints.

This would save removing the ply. Thanks

 

[Gavin Robinson]

This is why I stick to tiling and not orthopedic surgery.

I stick to things I feel competent at which usually but not always involves wood as the material.I am not a tiler but know how to tile competently in the normal tile range of sizes but the large format of the tiles in this job is the reason for seeking advice. I think you are suggesting I stick with joinery/ carpentery in this case.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

There are issues with the movement of wood no matter how well fixed - even 18mm plywood.
Then you've got a paint on tanking layer which is required to hold the weight of 1200x600x10mm tiles!
Ring BAL technical and see if they would guarantee this installation.

This is a Bal overview statement about one of their products -:

BAL Rapid-Flex Fibre Plus is a non-slip cementitious tile adhesive for walls and floors formulated with BAL Fibre Strand Technology (FST) for improved flexibility, strength and grab. Fast-setting in three hours, it provides extended open time of 30 minutes and pot life of 60 minutes, and is formulated for easier mixing and application. A high polymer content allows for tiling direct onto plywood walls, while it is recommended for large format tiles, areas of total immersion, limited movement and heated screeds.

Their tech spec indicates
Use for

•  Fixing ceramics, porcelain and vitrified tiles, mosaics, most natural stone, terrazzo, rigid foam insulating materials and brick slips in dry or wet interior and exterior environments.
  
  
•  Recommended for large format wall tiles, areas of total immersion in water e.g. swimming pools and showers.
  
  
•  Installations subject to limited movement and vibration.
  
  
•  Heated screeds.
  
  
•  Recommended for plywood walls.
  

 

[Martyn Leeds]

Risky.
Nuff said.

 

[Andy Allen]

Not even the most experienced tilers on here would use rapid set in a bathroom.
I certainly wouldn't, you would be throwing more away than you use, and gives you no time to make adjustments.

 

[PaulSmith]

Shouldn't be to much of an issue to overboard the ply with a water resistant board and seal up.

 

[Perry]

Yes as you dont sound competent. And you may find yourself in trouble later down the line. I do not wish that with any tradesman. Even a chippy. But if you go ahead listen to everyone who's trying to help.

 

[Gavin Robinson]

Yes as you dont sound competent. And you may find yourself in trouble later down the line. I do not wish that with any tradesman. Even a chippy. But if you go ahead listen to everyone who's trying to help.

Sounding not competent when considering a job beyond my normal range is,I would have thought,a sign of competence and hence why I seek advice from professional tilers such as your good self.Even a chippy is prepared to listen to everyone with more experience in these matters!