I'm getting pro tilers in next time...

[TileThrustor]

Hello, I'd just like to say hello and would like to give you all a good laugh at my poor tiling efforts.

I started to completely renovate my bathroom last month as it hadn't been touched since the 1950's. I've replaced the old suite, installed all new plumbing and wastes complete with a new semi exposed thermo shower, taken old tiles off (and the inch of concrete that held them on) and stripped the bottom of the walls back to the brickwork with an SDS drill, and then plastered.

Never again will I take on such a huge job as an amateur. As my plastering was so uneven, I have ended up putting over an inch of adhesive on each tile in order to get them flush. I've gone through four huge tubs of the stuff and the room is only around 2m sq!

Also, without measuring up first, I foolishly started the first tile when fitting the shower and i've consequently ended up with a 12mm strip just above the bath. What a mess,

At least the plumbing is all perfect and very pleased with it, I guess I'm just not cut out to tile.

Other than fitting one of those awful strips around the bath I don't know what I can do other than starting again (not an option, been through too much blood, sweat and tears)!

I'm going for a long walk... via the pub. :mad2:

 

[Dan]

If you've used ready-mixed adhesives at a thickness of more than an inch, you'll probably find as it dried out it shrunk a little and the tiles may not be fixed as well as they should be.

Well done for giving it a shot though, but yeah, it can cost less in the long run to simply get a professional in. And I'm sure that applies to almost all trades.

 

[TileThrustor]

If you've used ready-mixed adhesives at a thickness of more than an inch, you'll probably find as it dried out it shrunk a little and the tiles may not be fixed as well as they should be.

Well done for giving it a shot though, but yeah, it can cost less in the long run to simply get a professional in. And I'm sure that applies to almost all trades.

Yep, Wickes ready mix, how did you guess?! I should find out if they're still on the walls when I get home tonight, I haven't been back for days as I needed to get away from it all...

I'll definitely get a pro in to do the work in future, on the plus side it has been a real insight and I really enjoyed the plumbing work. I now have total and utter respect for tilers. It really is such a skilled and dark art, if only I had measured up first it probably wouldn't look too bad!

 

[Dan]

Setting out is key to be honest. The time spent setting out will always be gained when tiling. And of course you'd guarantee a nicer look with less 'slithers' and whatnot.

Oh well, at least you know for the future.

 

[david campbell]

looks good for a first timer,lets hope the tubbed adhesive stands the test of time

 

[Dan]

Yeah, at least he cared to cut the slithers in above the bath and not gone down the 'oh, Silicon will cover that' route.

Nice even grout lines as far as I can see.

Could you not just lift the bath 10mm or whatever it is?

 

[TileThrustor]

Yeah, at least he cared to cut the slithers in above the bath and not gone down the 'oh, Silicon will cover that' route.

Nice even grout lines as far as I can see.

Could you not just lift the bath 10mm or whatever it is?

I did wonder that yesterday but, the bath is sitting very securely in its new timber frame, plus I used lots of batons for extra rigidity. Saying that, I might take a look tonight and see how feasible/easy it will be.

Another lesson learned - don't ever buy a plastic bath. The time spent to make it not creak is such a false economy.

It's looking like the only solution is to use a bath strip, I'd rather an unslightly strip bugging me than a slither of 12mm tile along the bath!

Thanks chaps

 

[DHTiling]

Hello and welcome..


Don't grout it yet..

That thickness of ready mix adhesive will take about a year to dry out... and when you shower wear a :builder2:..


All joking aside, it will take quite a while before that adhesive will dry.. tubbed adhesive should not be used above 3mm in depth..

 

[Dan]

I'm with you on that one. I don't like bathstrips much or similar strips used by dodgy window fitters to make up their bodged bits.

However, if you did ever go down the bathstrip route, sealux seals is a good make and does a good job.

 

[TileThrustor]

Hello and welcome..


Don't grout it yet..

That thickness of ready mix adhesive will take about a year to dry out... and when you shower wear a :builder2:..


All joking aside, it will take quite a while before that adhesive will dry.. tubbed adhesive should not be used above 3mm in depth..

Crikey, a whole year without taking a shower - i'll be totally minging by then.

It's probably only the first two tiles from the bath upwards that were packed out with adhesive due to the uneven wall (my bad plastering), the others had around 5mm.

Seriously though, how long should I leave them before applying grout?

I wish I'd discovered this site before starting the job, story of my life!

 

[Dan]

because you're waiting for the water in the adhesive to evaporate (unlike cement-based adhesives which cure by hydration which causes a chemical reaction) and you have largish tiles, I'd seriously give them a week or more. The longer the better. But in that time the adhesive will shrink.

It could be quicker and wiser to pull just those off, prime the walls with primer (NOT PVA!) and then use a cement-based adhesive.

This will ensure they'll be stuck for life (sort of) and not fall off on you in the future if the walls get damp for any reason (certainly by a shower, and especially near the bottom where the water that gets behind all the tiles above will end up) and fall of on your naked self which could damage the family jules.

 

[DHTiling]

Your best bet is to remove the bottom ones and stick back on with cement based thick bed adhesive... honestly the tubbed gear will take an age to dry at that thickness..

 

[TileThrustor]

(certainly by a shower, and especially near the bottom where the water that gets behind all the tiles above will end up) and fall of on your naked self which could damage the family jules.

You're right, it's not worth the risk and 'er indoors wouldn't be best pleased if I castrated myself.

It's just really annoying I made all these silly mistakes, the bottom three are coming off at the weekend and i'll raise the bath to avoid the slither.

Apart from the school boy errors, tiling sort of suited me as far as the cutting aspect/accuracy and using the spirit level on each individual tile was concerned - it was quite a job with all that adhesive let me tell you!:yikes:

Back to the drawing board...

 

[enduro]

I'm glad you enjoyed having a go at tiling. I just hope a few more DIY people read this and leave it to the experts...Not as easy as it looks this tiling game.

 

[DHTiling]

Make sure before you lift the bath that the bath panel will look ok.. don't want a huge gap under the bath panel... big spiders will get out.:smilewinkgrin: