P
PaulD
Our tiler (despite being the most expensive quote !!) did not turn up (apparently had his arm twisted by some one that he does a lot of work for who had a tight deadline). :mad2: Not enough time to line anyone else up (kitchen going in a week on Monday). I thought that I'd have a go myself..... :yikes:
It is a new extension (screed down over 6 months). Nice & flat screed. There is a 8x4M kitchen/dining area and a 2x2.5M utility room. No radiator pipes to worry about even, just a couple of patio door openings, so all straight/corner cuts.
We are using a large format unpolished porcelain tile (600x600). I have checked a fair sample of them and they all measure bang on 600, so they
seem well regularised.
I plan to use the Lash Clip system (not cheap, but hopefully will simplify things a bit) - I have done a couple of small floors before and half a dozen bathroom walls, but these 600's looked a bit daunting, hence we had opted to get a professional in.
I had a really helpful and useful chat with David from tradetiler - gave him the order for most of the tools that I'll need that I didn't already have.
One of the things that the Boss wants is tile skirting... about 60mm high. These could do with being cut really accurately. Are there places to get tiles cut, ideally leaving a good edge or is it a case of careful cutting and some diamond abrasives ?
The natural edges of the tiles are pretty good, and with the layout, most of the skirting should come off the 100mm offcuts from the walls. I may have to cut those with a wet saw (I had to get one to be able to cut some 400mm porcelanosa tiles that I put down in a small loo (1 x 1.5M) a few months ago.
I plan to use a 5-6 mm bed. I don't want to go too thin with the lash clips and I want to make sure that I am getting a good solid bed.
I also plan to use a standard set (overnight) adhesive so that I am not rushing and to hopefully cut down on waste adhesive.
The tiles are off white (fully opaque). The Boss reckons to use a white adhesive as she wants the option to put a light coloured grout in and that may make it easier).
It is a beam floor and there is some heating, so I am going for a flexible adhesive. BAL SP Flex seems to be a good option. Looks like that will take me about 15 bags at just over £30 inc a pop. There is a "local" deal on Biscem Stoneflex that also seems to be suitable. I'd need 20 bags of that, but it is still under half the total cost. Is BAL easier to use/better etc to justify the extra £250 ?
Any tips to avoid slumping of the edge tiles overnight or is this unlikely to happen ?
Anyone any idea approx how long it is liable to take me to a) get the tiles down and b) do the grouting (current plan is to use Mapei grout and seal it). I have 6 long 12 hour days set aside for this and I am hoping that will be more then ample.... I just hope my back holds out :smilewinkgrin:. The kids and the Boss can help with the mixing/tile lugging.
Any thoughts, tips or advice, comments etc would be much appreciated.
- Paul.
It is a new extension (screed down over 6 months). Nice & flat screed. There is a 8x4M kitchen/dining area and a 2x2.5M utility room. No radiator pipes to worry about even, just a couple of patio door openings, so all straight/corner cuts.
We are using a large format unpolished porcelain tile (600x600). I have checked a fair sample of them and they all measure bang on 600, so they
seem well regularised.
I plan to use the Lash Clip system (not cheap, but hopefully will simplify things a bit) - I have done a couple of small floors before and half a dozen bathroom walls, but these 600's looked a bit daunting, hence we had opted to get a professional in.
I had a really helpful and useful chat with David from tradetiler - gave him the order for most of the tools that I'll need that I didn't already have.
One of the things that the Boss wants is tile skirting... about 60mm high. These could do with being cut really accurately. Are there places to get tiles cut, ideally leaving a good edge or is it a case of careful cutting and some diamond abrasives ?
The natural edges of the tiles are pretty good, and with the layout, most of the skirting should come off the 100mm offcuts from the walls. I may have to cut those with a wet saw (I had to get one to be able to cut some 400mm porcelanosa tiles that I put down in a small loo (1 x 1.5M) a few months ago.
I plan to use a 5-6 mm bed. I don't want to go too thin with the lash clips and I want to make sure that I am getting a good solid bed.
I also plan to use a standard set (overnight) adhesive so that I am not rushing and to hopefully cut down on waste adhesive.
The tiles are off white (fully opaque). The Boss reckons to use a white adhesive as she wants the option to put a light coloured grout in and that may make it easier).
It is a beam floor and there is some heating, so I am going for a flexible adhesive. BAL SP Flex seems to be a good option. Looks like that will take me about 15 bags at just over £30 inc a pop. There is a "local" deal on Biscem Stoneflex that also seems to be suitable. I'd need 20 bags of that, but it is still under half the total cost. Is BAL easier to use/better etc to justify the extra £250 ?
Any tips to avoid slumping of the edge tiles overnight or is this unlikely to happen ?
Anyone any idea approx how long it is liable to take me to a) get the tiles down and b) do the grouting (current plan is to use Mapei grout and seal it). I have 6 long 12 hour days set aside for this and I am hoping that will be more then ample.... I just hope my back holds out :smilewinkgrin:. The kids and the Boss can help with the mixing/tile lugging.
Any thoughts, tips or advice, comments etc would be much appreciated.
- Paul.
