Hints and tips

[Ian]

Gonna start a new thread for those of us who want to share those little trade secrets, it's in the arms so the DIY can't see it. It's those little tricks that make life as a tiler a bit easier.


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[Ian]

My tip today, drill all your holes for your fixings prior to grouting. It stops any dust from drilling discolouring grout. Drill the holes, cover them with tape, then grout. It allows you to put fixings back without the risk of getting brick/tile dust on your fresh grout.








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[bugs183]

Mine is next time you use Tradetiler, just add a bags of 2,3,and 4mm spacers to the order and a bag of spare silicon nozzles.
Saves lots of time and agro trying to clean nozzles and time wasted when you forget to buy spacers from your supplier.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Tell the customer you will be finished tomorrow and give them their Invoice now for payment on completion as agreed at the Estimate stage.

 

[On one]

Try and ensure pelmet lights/downlighters are fitted before you grout. They show every little fault in the grouting

 

[Peter]

When cutting checks around windows, rather than scribing a side and cutting the other side on the wetsaw, scribe both and run a diagonal saw cut into the centre point. Nice clean finish.

 

[Sean Kelly]

At the end of the day I clean out my adhesive bucket, then fill it to the top with water. Next day a quick rinse will get you a nearly clean bucket.

 

[Ian]

I have a small piece of 4 inch pipe in the van, great as a template for soil pipes.




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[macten]

Panel pins are great for fixing trim and for tapping into the wall if you have a tile that won't quite stand how it should.

 

[afright]

If you have a non segmented washboy sponge use your utility knife and just lightly score some lines thru the sponge to make it segmented.

 

[Ian]

[MENTION=36866]afright[/MENTION] I've never used a segmented sponge, is there a big difference from a non segmented one?


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[afright]

Bri do you use washboy sponges ? there is a couple of sponges one is a plain sponge and the other has segmented squares for better cleaning.

 

[macten]

Bri - go for segmented next time, I find it removes far more excessive grout per pass - but then I am a mucky pup when it comes to grouting.

 

[Ian]

Had the trade tiler wash boy floats for a few months, they are brilliant, just wondered what difference between the two types were, I'll give the segmented ones a go next time I order.


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[afright]

Bri if you have just the plain sponge just lighty score the sponge with a knife it does the job if you look at the sponges on tradtiler you will see the segmented sponge

 

[Two-Trowels]

Probably old hat to most of you but my tip is;

Use a chinagraph pencil to mark your cuts on tiles, wipes off easy and won't wash off when using the wet saw.

 

[Andy Allen]

get one of those litter picking grab thingys, great for getting out spacers near the ceiling...:smilewinkgrin:

 

[AliGage]

[MENTION=22801]Bri[/MENTION] the segmented sponges allows the sponge to get rid of the water quicker and easier i find.

Carry 6' of 10mm flex with you, use it to mould long curves such like shower quadrants etc

 

[On one]

Probably old hat to most of you but my tip is;

Use a chinagraph pencil to mark your cuts on tiles, wipes off easy and won't wash off when using the wet saw.

I haven't used a chinagraph pencil before,so are they accurate enough ie not too wide a mark

 

[Ian]

I haven't used a chinagraph pencil before,so are they accurate enough ie not too wide a mark

I didn't like them to start with, thought the mark was too big but, if you sharpen the end with a Stanley (like you would a pencil) they are brill, an essential for stone wet cutting.

 

[On one]

I use sparky/packing tape to wrap around tiles and tile trims on external corners until the adh has set(not gaffa tape as this leaves a sticky residue on the tiles

 

[Ian]

[MENTION=20486]wrighty[/MENTION] frog tape is good as well.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

i when to ALDI today ! and bought some diamond blades 4 £3.99 and a backing pad for a polisher £3.99, not sure how good they are going to be ! but for that price who cares lol.......

 

[On one]

I didn't like them to start with, thought the mark was too big but, if you sharpen the end with a Stanley (like you would a pencil) they are brill, an essential for stone wet cutting.

The reason I ask is because I am going thru too many felt tipped pens at the minute, after drying out or knacked after dropping from my lug hole

 

[On one]

i when to ALDI today ! and bought some diamond blades 4 £3.99 and a backing pad for a polisher £3.99, not sure how good they are going to be ! but for that price who cares lol.......

I got a couple of 115mm diamond grinder discs from Wilkos 3 years ago for under a fiver,still going strong today even after all the abuse they get!