Nightmare tile from Topps

[afright]

I have recently done a shower with these tiles they are porcelain 600 x 300 split face lookalike from Topps you cannot give them a joint and its hard to grout them ,I have now got another shower to do but will not be grouting them, the walls are no more ply and primed with SBR you can't use a tile cutter so will have to be wet cut.I am just hoping that they don't catch on

 

[Stef]

I walked of the job this morning refused to fix them but the chap that I do a lot of work for convinced me into doing them, so going back tomorrow to start but will not be grouting them, got about 11 m2 to do.

Topps top tip is to grout them with your finger!!!

Make sure you get every bit of the grout off the face of the tile, if you don't then when it dries it sticks out like a sore thumb..
It's very hard too see when the grout & tile are wet..

 

[Gazzer]

Topps top tip is to grout them with your finger!!!

Make sure you get every bit of the grout off the face of the tile, if you don't then when it dries it sticks out like a sore thumb..
It's very hard too see when the grout & tile are wet..

Yeah thats what happened to me

 

[mz30]

Yeh i use rubi float , grout alomg joints , then rinse plenty with washboy

Yeah rubi floats are ok but the spongey ones from bright ideas are great and only a couple of pound ,and we hand sponged ,washboy was a nightmare on them.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

I done a small feature wall recently from a local supplier I just used my bucket trowel to fill joints then spent alot of time and alot if clean water ti wash off. Took me hour n half to grout 5m

 

[John Benton]

I just say to people, don't forget how much they will harbour germs and bacteria and how difficult they are to clean. When I talk to them about body oils and fats sticking to the tiles, joints and crevices (ooeerr missus) that usually scares them off enough!!!!!

 

[Sean Kelly]

Popped into Topps today with some of my cards......no work at the mo. I had seen this stuff on a flyer:
BAL Protective Sealer 2.5 LTR | Topps Tiles

The manager said you have to apply it (it's pink in colour). Wait for it to dry, then apply it on the tile again at a 45deg angle. Wait for that to dry too. Then you grout and wash off. I guess it is designed for these types of tiles. Anyone used it?

 

[andyb1]

I've not done any of them yet, turned one down, my mate fixed some he sealed them then grouted with charcoal! said it was ok.

 

[dave l and l]

yeah i use it every so often, fitted the porcelanosa version of theses tiles and used the washable sealant on the tiles also left a a grout line out to see the difference in grouting, it was alot easier to grout using sealer. silicone the internal corners and round shower was a disaster

 

[On one]

Popped into Topps today with some of my cards......no work at the mo. I had seen this stuff on a flyer:
BAL Protective Sealer 2.5 LTR | Topps Tiles

The manager said you have to apply it (it's pink in colour). Wait for it to dry, then apply it on the tile again at a 45deg angle. Wait for that to dry too. Then you grout and wash off. I guess it is designed for these types of tiles. Anyone used it?

Yeah, two or three times over the years...never with much success. Last time the grout haze wouldn't clean up on some 600 x300 riven porcelain floor tiles....I couldn't keep cleaning the floor because the grout was being washed out of the joints,so I had to give it up as a bad job,go back the next day and clean the tiles with increasing strengths of acid based cleaner.

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

look buy a tube of silcone now push it all out . now push the plug out using a long screw driver .now get some silcone remover put in tube leave for a while then push out cleaning the tube now put on new nozzel then cut to suit joint. now fill tube with grout half way put plug in make the grout a little wetter now run down the joints with the gun keeping close to the joints then clean as you go with hot water .you have done your best .its not your problem when the hard water clings to these tiles later .so leave them a touth brush to clean them should spend at least 4 hours a week

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

Sorry guys but you might have to get used to them.....

These are one of Topps best selling ranges.....

And judging by what the tile agents are showing us from products launched at cevisama, there are even more just like it coming out.

first quieston who making money first but not dealing with the conplaints later that same agent would be my guess fit for purpose spring to mind the first quiestion i always ask myself would i use these in my bathroom if not i wont sell them. so would you use them in your bath room nowing all the problems that they would cause later .

 

[afright]

I grouted the first job I did with them washed and washed but when it dryed it looked terrible ended up using linseed mixed with turps to mask it but wont be grouting this time and yes Topps told me to use my fingers but it still looked a mess I dont think any sealer or grout protector would make any difference to this type of tile

 

[dave l and l]

The protective sealer makes it easier to wash the grout of. I tested it with and without and there was a noticeable difference. Still they are bad to cut don't look very nice when up terrible to seal and not ideal for a bathroom

 

[John Benton]

look buy a tube of silcone now push it all out . now push the plug out using a long screw driver .now get some silcone remover put in tube leave for a while then push out cleaning the tube now put on new nozzel then cut to suit joint. now fill tube with grout half way put plug in make the grout a little wetter now run down the joints with the gun keeping close to the joints then clean as you go with hot water .you have done your best .its not your problem when the hard water clings to these tiles later .so leave them a touth brush to clean them should spend at least 4 hours a week

I can buy empty silicon tubes from my supplier and have used a similar method on a very textured porcelain tiles to keep the grout off the tile face. Works ver well and makes cleaning up a lot easier. Still a pain though.

 

[WetSaw]

look buy a tube of silcone now push it all out . now push the plug out using a long screw driver .now get some silcone remover put in tube leave for a while then push out cleaning the tube now put on new nozzel then cut to suit joint. now fill tube with grout half way put plug in make the grout a little wetter now run down the joints with the gun keeping close to the joints then clean as you go with hot water .you have done your best .its not your problem when the hard water clings to these tiles later .so leave them a touth brush to clean them should spend at least 4 hours a week

Or use something like this!
http://www.rubi.com/products/en-US...icators/electric-grout-mortar-applicator.php