Is nothing ever simple??

[Gentleman Jim]

Afternoon chaps.
Another opportunity for you lot to impress with your expert advice! I viewed two new jobs today, both far from straight-forward.
Question 1 - do you have any tips/advice on how to set out for herring-bone tiling using 300x150 tiles (so that they're "on the point" rather than parallel to the walls).
Question 2 - are there any building regs that apply to a fire-hearth. The customer wants mosaics on the floor but so they are only the depth of the tile (about 6mm) above the floor level. The fire is a gas fire if this is any use.
As always thanks very much for your help.
Regards,
Jim

 

[DHTiling]

Hi jim......with regards to question 1...

To set out for 45dg herringbone the you take the width of the tile off the length of the tile...so the piece you take off then would 150 x 150 triangle if you see what i mean....or if you have a combination square then you set the first row off this..
but you need a square edge to keep it straight..I tend to put a header course around the perimter and then cut the inset tiles to this...sort of like picture framing it.........you still have a centre line to keep it straight along the points as you go......

Harder to explain than do...

Something like this...

 

[Gentleman Jim]

Thanks for your answer Dave.
I think I follow you, as you say it's much easier to do than to describe!
When you start you actually make the cuts as described and use the triangles as the guides by which you then lay the first row of full tiles. Is this what you mean? Using a square on the points of the full tiles away from the cuts would then maintain your line... I think.
How does this sound?
Regards
Jim

 

[DHTiling]

You got it.........then the points of say the left side follow your centre line etc....

it is really easy to do and looks well.........but a i said i tend to put in a straight course around the outside........looks good and makes cutting in easier......

 

[grumpygrouter]

You mean a bit like this Dave.....

 

[DHTiling]

YES!! Russ just like that but neater........:lol:

 

[grumpygrouter]

YES!! Russ just like that but neater........:lol:

Ha! ha!

 

[CLAYS TILES]

you can always rely on dave for quick & expert advice!:hurray:

good luck with it m8,post some pics when done!

 

[Olz]

Grumpy,

For my future reference, when doing herringbone like the pic, which would be the first tiles laid, obviously the frame first, but the herringbone pattern itself, where would your starting point be?

Oli

 

[grumpygrouter]

Grumpy,

For my future reference, when doing herringbone like the pic, which would be the first tiles laid, obviously the frame first, but the herringbone pattern itself, where would your starting point be?

Oli

The way I was taught, you need to start in the middle of the frame. i.e. if you take you rectangular tile, measure along the length the same distance as the width of the tile and square it off, you then effectively start tiling from the intersection of the frame using the square, corner to corner like a little diamond set, along your centre lines. Once you have the first tile very accurately set it is then just a case of following the pattern.