Hi all, got a question

[RosyB]

First of allI would like to say hello to eveyone on the forum.

Having some stone tiles fitted, got a tiler around today to give me a quote, he tells me its going to cost me a lot more for stone tiles because they need to be cleaned with a special cleaner then sealed then grouted and then sealed again, the tiles are natural beige in colour and are mosaic type on a 12 x 12 web backing and he is charging £600 to lay 20sq metres, he is supplying adhesive and sealers. I am a little concerned weather this tiler is pro. and that he knows what he is doing as the tiles are costing a lot of cash.

 

[Colour Republic]

What type of stone is it?

is it tumbled marble? His method is correct, I think that is a very fair price, where abouts are you?

 

[RosyB]

Its sandstone and I am in Oxfordshire, The way he was talking I am not entirely convinced he knows what he is talking about and I thought it would cost more as the tiles themselves are only 40mm sq

 

[Colour Republic]

Its sandstone and I am in Oxfordshire, The way he was talking I am not entirely convinced he knows what he is talking about and I thought it would cost more as the tiles themselves are only 40mm sq

As I said it's a very fair price and i would have expected to also pay more, but some tilers don't have lots on at the moment and are adjusting their price to suit. Just because he may not have much on doesn't mean he's a bad tiler.

He appears to have walked the job through with you and some tradesmen wouldn't even do that.

Is it just the fact he is cheap that makes you unsure of him? If so ask him if he has any pictures of previous work and take it from there.

even though the tiles are 40x40 they are on a backing sheet so it goes down fairly quickly but is harder than laying a standard tile

 

[Dan]

Those are not that small, and will need sealing. Often the lads will do it once before grouting to ensure the grout doesn't damage them when they apply that, and then once after as a final coat and to seal the grout too. It's a lot more work to do stone than ceramics as the tolerance in tile sizes can be much greater, and even thicknesses with some stone can cause headaches when tiling.

If he's supplying the adhesives and sealers, I'd have said that's a fair price too to be honest. Though whether you get instinct telling you otherwise, perhaps I'd follow that anyway and get another couple of prices from another couple of tilers and take it from there? I'd be gutted to hear you were right and he cocked it up after saying that.

Don't always go for the cheapest though!

Sounds like a nice floor, post some pics when it's done for us?

 

[Dan]

Ha lol.

I read 400mm x 400mm. They're 40mm!!!!!

Hmmm they wont be as tough to tile with as they'll be finished pretty well and probably on a backing as Colour says, but they'll take quite a bit more grout than usual, and it's a tile that could get messy at that stage.

 

[RosyB]

Thank you I appreciate your prompt reply, will ask to see pictures of prev. work, but I am always wary of people that try to blind me with science (being a female makes me feel a bit vulnurable as have no male person here) I dont want to be ripped off, but on the other hand want a good finish for my hard earned cash. Thanks :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Colour Republic]

Also is the floor in a kitchen? depending on usage, the sealer gets stripped away by aggresive cleaning over time and will need to be re-sealed ever so often

 

[RosyB]

Its a bathroom

 

[Colour Republic]

Thank you I appreciate your prompt reply, will ask to see pictures of prev. work, but I am always wary of people that try to blind me with science (being a female makes me feel a bit vulnurable as have no male person here) I dont want to be ripped off, but on the other hand want a good finish for my hard earned cash. Thanks :smilewinkgrin:

He's just being honest with you, so you understand there is more work involved than meets the eye. In fact he's only telling you this so you don't think he's ripping you off:lol: Hope you get the floor you dream of