hacked off with battens

[faithhealer]

got myself a 30 quid self leveling laser from screwfix. don't buy one that isn't self levelling because they are only as accurate as that little vial with the bubble in, AND you spend all your time setting it up every time you move it!
Actually seen a bathroom that was an inch out! not one of mine I hasten to add

 

[sc24]

good advice from dan, if i use battens i put a datum line around the room measure down to the last full tile then cut a staff so wherever you place the staff on your datum you know that the bottom of the staff is where your batten should be

 

[jabba]

yeah i got a laser level thats self-levelling, shines a complete 360 degrees and has its own adjustable tripod by black and decker for £50.. its the dogs.

 

[Fred]

I put up my first batten on wall 1, leaving enough room at the end of the batten and wall to slot the next batten on the next wall into.

Tile wall 1. Then, as above, slot batten 2 on wall 2 and up under the tile on wall 1. Level batten 2 and nail in place, again, leaving enough room at the next end for batten 3 etc.........

Perfect levelled and fit together tiles in the corners every time.

 

[geordie2013]

Cheers lads.

Good tip there Fred
Its all simple once you know it. Finished job now only ended up about 1 mm out in last corner. I was using wood a joiner gave me think it was a bit of old skirting board. Probably half the problem there
Once again cheers lads id be lost without this site.

 

[terrygrant]

The classic mistake that gets you about 50mm out is to transfer a line from the top of the level to the bottom when transfering a point across a room........I only did it once over 20 years ago.....It made me a lot more sympathetic to the two tilers I have seen make the same mistake since

Terry

 

[Brindle]

Terry - I nearly had heart failure on one job and momentarily couldn't fathom why last wall was 2 inches out!! luckily i hadnt tiled it before spotting the oversight!!
I know a guy who did tile a whole room though, customer wasnt fussed!!?

 

[White Room]

The classic mistake that gets you about 50mm out is to transfer a line from the top of the level to the bottom when transfering a point across a room........I only did it once over 20 years ago.....It made me a lot more sympathetic to the two tilers I have seen make the same mistake since

Terry

Nearly done the other day.....thats why I like lasers.

 

[Dan]

Another spirit level issue that catches loads out is to keep the level in your hand and keep sliding it around the room length by length and then find the lines are out by 20mm because the level is 1mm out and they slid it 20 times to get around the room.

You should always flip a level each time you do a length and then you can only ever be out by the amount the level is out (which is often less than 1mm to be fair) and only 50% of the time as the other time it's bang on as the level is back around the other way.

If that makes any sense at all.

 

[Plumbing Tiler]

A self levelling laser level is the best investment you will ever make!, I swear after using it a few times you will wonder how you ever managed without one!, I still check the laser line on the wall with a spirit level though- just in case lol!

 

[White Room]

Exactly the same mate....

 

[Breadbin14]

Laser, laser , laser all the way
And i also use rubi batten stands with the spirit level as my batten.

 

[White Room]

I bought a pair batton stands from kwik split, raimondi ones I think they superb but not cheap...

 

[ishi69]

Has to be a good quality laser every time, more accurate and quicker than any other method makes the job so much easier. PLS 180 (approx £190) will throw a line all the way around the room v. accurate and a good strong beam so you can stiil see it in even in bright light. Its worth the investment and will pay for itself in a few months. Keep the faith Geordie.