Irregular Winckleman 4x4 Tiles

[gothic-gaz]

Hi All,

I am proposing to tile my porch in a checkerboard pattern with red and black Winckleman 4x4 Quarry tiles purchased from Tile Giant....the problem I'm finding is that no 2 tiles seem to have the same dimensions, especially between the reds and blacks they vary by 1 to 2mm have some sides that are out of square and slightly curved on some too!!! I tried a dry run with spacers and it was terrible!....is it common with these sort of tiles to be like this or is it possible that these are seconds?? I am toying with trimming all the black tiles slightly to make life easier? and or set them out by eye.....there website talks about the quality of their tiles and shows them in really complicated geometric patterns, but I really don't see how that would be possible with the tiles I've got! your opinions would be most welcome....

PS. As a novice tiler I've found the forum really useful, as I've already had problems with what to do with the bitumen adhesive on the porch floor, after lots of reading on here and speaking to a couple of adhesive manufacturers, the only product that seems to be regularly used over bitumen and the manufacturer recommends is Ardex's Arditex NA self leveller.....blimey and I thought tiling was straightforward, talk about baptism of fire!!

 

[prceramics]

i would set them out by eye mate or take them back if your not happy with them

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I've always found the Winklemans to be very good tiles so I'd check the dates on the production and see how old the stock is. 2mm is too much to accept.

 

[Perry]

Never used them but never used spacers on floor tiles till a little while ago always gridded floors still do grid the walls nowadays but I use reclaimed brick tiles which can be up to 20pecent of their size different

 

[gothic-gaz]

Hi....thanks for your replies....I've taken a couple of photos too, so take a look. Also when looking at them, take note of the step/extra bit of tile after the bevel edge finishes? whats that about?? I love the colour and surface finish of the tiles but as for quality, seems abysmal or am I being fussy?

 

[prceramics]

oh my days good luck and no i dint think you are being over fussy

 

[Perry]

They should be the same size check the code as in calibar if not they can go back

 

[Perry]

Just to add only if they were brought together and I presume they were told they would be using them together

 

[gothic-gaz]

Thanks for your replies PJC....yes they were all bought together, but there is a variety of boxes, 3 plain boxes with no markings at all and a couple of Winckelman boxes but only one of which that appears to have a batch number, so could potentially be a variety pack!!

 

[Perry]

Tiles have colour number size number and type number on the box or should have

 

[gothic-gaz]

Update....Tile Giant have been very helpful despite the supplier saying they are within the standards specification and are ordering another batch of tiles to see what size they come in at and then try and get the best match in sizes between the new batch and the existing ones I have etc.....while I'm here what trowel notch size do you think I should use for these 100mmx100mm 8mm thick tiles on a self levelled floor?

 

[Dan]

Whatever trowel you use, as it's a floor, they should be 100% covered with adhesive. So really a thick-bed solid-bed trowel, you might get away with a 10mm square notch trowel (not a trowel I ever owned mind), don't use a 6mm though or anything like that you'll end up with air pockets I'd guess.

Might be messy using a thick-bed solid-bed as there will be a lot of adhesive that you're pressing the tile into, and as they're small, that means a mess oozing out of the grout joints. So work clean if you do. If the floor really is flat enough (you don't see many even if they look it) your 10mm square notch should suffice.

Great news with Tile Giant. It is a shame there are tolerances so great with things like this but it will be down to the tiles being made on different machines etc.

 

[Gazzer]

Update....Tile Giant have been very helpful despite the supplier saying they are within the standards specification and are ordering another batch of tiles to see what size they come in at and then try and get the best match in sizes between the new batch and the existing ones I have etc.....while I'm here what trowel notch size do you think I should use for these 100mmx100mm 8mm thick tiles on a self levelled floor?

I fail to see how the manufacturer can claim they are within tolerance as they can clearly get all the black one size and the red all the same size too ...but not the same as each other....Stupid !

 

[kilty55]

hi gaz i wouldnt accept that either regarding them gettig more in and seeing what ones match up with what you have at present

ask for an entire new load to be ordered all from the same batch no mixing