Help with Stacking tiles

[Crocotile]

Hi! I'm a bit of a silent member here. I'm fairly new to tiling, I'm a laborer and my boss, who's a builder has taught me what he knows about tiling and I've learnt the rest myself. I've done around 5 bathrooms now on my own and they're to a reasonable standard. I'm pretty slow compared to most, sadly, but I guess speed will come with time. Anyway I've just tiled a bathroom for the first time Stacking the tiles rather than half bond/brick bond and I really struggled with lines opening up slightly which was so frustrating. It looked nice when finished and grouted but I wasn't best pleased with it. I have another bathroom coming up, twice the sizend, and again this one will be stacked. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice? People have told me to maybe try using 3mm spacers rather than 2mm and someone suggested I buy a laser level to help, especially when doing my battons. Id love to spend time with a professional tiler to see how they work etc as I can only learn so much about tiling from my boss who doesn't specialise in it. I appreciate any help and advice you guys can give me!

 

[Flintstone]

Hello, any pictures ?

 

[Crocotile]

I literally only have this and my camera is terrible. I'll try and take some of this job next time I'm there.

 

[Flintstone]

 

[Crocotile]

??

 

[WetSaw]

Hopefully those blobs on the wall are remnants from the old tiles..

 

[GoneGuy]

Was you shown to put dabs on back of a tile?
Also if your using poor quality tiles you would need to use a bigger spacer to compensate for
Irregular sized tiles.

 

[Dumbo]

If your lines are opening up your bottom row isn't straight .

 

[One Day]

Look like BCT tiles for a start.
If they are, I've been tiling 11+yrs now and I couldn't get them straight after 3 courses!
Chuck 'em away and fix Royal Mosa instead.

 

[One Day]

Prep is EVERYTHING. As above, if your first row isn't 100% level i.e. your batton dips and raises even 1/4mm your next rows will be all over.

 

[Crocotile]

Thanks for all the replies! It's great that I can get advice from professional tilers. I aim to be a top tiler myself one day.

I did originally start combing that wall and then my uncle/boss told me to start dabbing them as it's the only way to get all the corners to line up perfectly apparently. I believe dabbing is better when the wall is all over the place? It's rare that I get to tile onto plasterboard really. How come dabbing is frowned upon anyway? Also what does BCT stand for? I always try and spend time setting up my battons, even bought a 120cm stabilia level. I also try my best to get all of the first row perfect and yet I still have the odd line open up slightly.

Thanks for all the help and replies, if anyone has any advice to someone starting out and learning or tools that I should buy etc please do tell me!

 

[Dumbo]

You should have quality levels of all lengths . Once you have your battens set using wedges under the tiles will stop them opening . It allows for a less than perfect batten or for less than perfect setting of batten . I will leave to someone else about dot and Dab.

 

[Flintstone]

My advice is, if our serious about wanting to be a tiler, find a good Tiler who will take you on as an apprentice and go from there, learn properly, not off some builder who obviously doesn’t know what he’s on about.

 

[GoneGuy]

Bct stands for British ceramic tile, they are a tile manufacturer producing budget tiles which seem to have a variation on sizes in each pack

 

[Crocotile]

I thought BCT might stand for that. I've noticed with a lot of B&Q tiles that they're all different sizes and shapes half the time and it only takes 1mm difference to ruin your wall. I'll definitely be investing in more levels. A customer just gave me a really good bosch 120cm electric level which just needs batteries. Are laser levels worth the money?

In regards to working with a professional tiler, I'd love to but I'd have to try and do it of a weekend or whatever as I need a full time job and I'm not paid too badly at the moment. I have children and bills to pay so an apprenticeship wouldn't suit me financially but I really would love to. I try to watch tilers on YouTube to see if they do anything differently and see what their routines are etc.

I'm wondering if I should give clips a go, again I know a lot of people hate them! I've read recently that backer boards are better than ply and have tried to convince my boss to try them. I don't know the pros and cons to using them over ply though really.