Help me choose tile trim

[stefanm]

Hello,

I'm coming to the end of my first job as a contractor(this is my display piece), generally i don't like to use tile trim, i prefer to mitre the externals, but what has happend the boys who done the tiling managed to chip the edges of some of the tiles, whilst doing the mitres, not happy with the results, i bevelled the edges and filled with grout, still i'm not happy with the result! although it looks ok to most people, in future we will be using higher quality blades which won't chip the tiles even when cutting dry. I have ordered more tiles to rectify this and have decided to fix tile trim, as this is a display of my work it has to look top notch.

I have the following options:
1) Use ivory coloured pvc trim (to match the grout)
2) Use natural coloured aluminium trim (more expensive than option 1 and much cheaper than option 3
3) Use stainless steel looks nice but damn expensive!

Any advice is appreciated.

Cheers,

Stefan

 

[DHTiling]

Stefan...!!

3..looks nice but damn expensive... doesn't that answer your question..?

Square edge stainless trims... .. mitering looks good but they still chip even after fixing..customer can chip them as they are not protected..

 

[stefanm]

Thanks Dave, square edge trim is not available here only quadrant, i'm in Goa, India, my supplier is based quite far aswell, as these trims are barely used here, trying to change that though, one English devoloper here insists on trims and i want to get some contracts with him, my partner has just got a contract to 8 kitchens with him, so if i can show some excellent work, i could be in with a shout for some good contracts. I guess i'm answering the question myself!

 

[DHTiling]

I think you are..lol lol...

Good luck on the kitchen contract..

 

[Perry]

if mitred properly i don't think you can get a better look and never had a problem with them chipping afterwards but porcelain can be difficult and you cant get such a tight mitre

 

[merlecollins]

In a bathroom situation, if I can't get a trim to match the tile properly I often look to see what finish the taps or accessories in the room are and if they are chrome I would use a chrome edge trim or stainless steel if the taps are brushed nickel, etc....

 

[Dontiler]

for me is always looks best mitered tiles, of course you cant do it everywhere, because they chip easy but other then that i would go for stainless steel, plastic trims looks really bad and cheap, it gives for nice tiles really cheap look

 

[stefanm]

if mitred properly i don't think you can get a better look and never had a problem with them chipping afterwards but porcelain can be difficult and you cant get such a tight mitre

Ummm, not had a problem with porcelain or vitrified as they are called over here, i have mixed porcelain with ceramic, the ceramic tiles have caused the issue with chipping with both dry and wet cutting, this boils down to the blade used on the cutter imo, the boys were using blades costing ao pprox 50pence, our local makita dealer assures me his blades which cost around 1pound a piece are far more supperior and are much more better than the premium bosch blades which are approx 7pounds a piece, we used a bosch blade dry, to try to rectify the job, it worked well, but not up to my standard, which is why i am looking to use trim instead. On a previous job we had mitred full bodied porcelain, chipping is minimal, but not noticable to most and the job looked fantastic and compared to using plastic trim which i had used back in the UK, it looks 10times more pro, but full bodied tiles are much more pricey.change

Trouble is, market forces here are stubborn to change(mostly due to expenditure, even though they will happily spend triple the UK price for a BMW, Merc or Range Rover), the use of tile trim could work either for or against. It's going to be difficult enough to persuade customer the necessity to use correct tile adhesive and grouts(we have excellent quality products from Bal and Laticrete at a fraction of the price you guys are paying) I feel in a dilema, if i go with my heart and use the stainless steel, cost wise will be similar to doing the mitres as the job would generaly be a day shorter as mitres for recesses, doorways and windows take up valuable time so saving on labour charges and time could also be an advantage and the finish will be good as a standard, which means less supervision by me, so i can generate more work.

Sorry for the rant, just weighing up the pro's and cons.

Cheers,

Stefan

 

[Jelthetiler]

Just my tuppence on the chipped tiles. Sometimes if there's not enough water going onto the cut, the tile will petrify and chip. I've been using the same tiles on a 3 part job and each time since the summer the tiles have behaved differently. I have to have my cutter outside and empty a hot kettle every 15 minutes into the resevoir otherwise the freezing (reallly freezing!!) water makes the cut harder.

Strange

 

[Perry]

they may of cut into the glaze which you cant do the blades i use cost me over £100 each