Porcelain tiles???

[cityone]

Hi lads, i'm just about to finish my second large floor job in the last month, (42m2 floor, using 600x300 porcelain tiles) what i have noticed with the tiles on both jobs is that the tile is slightly bowed in the centre, if i put a spirit level across the tile it rocks from side to side meaning that when i level both ends of the tiles the centre is higher producing "lippage" has anybody else come across this problem with porcelain tiles???? and if so why are they bowed??? thanks in advance for any feed back.

 

[Qwerty]

Yes this can be common in some porcelain tiles. It mainly affects cheaper porcelain but over the last few years even some quality tiles have bowing. It's caused during the firing & curing process. I'm sure somebody else can explain the science behind it though! The trick is to pick two tiles up in the showroom and lay them flat, face to face. This soon gives a quick indication if bowing is present.

What tiles were they?

Any pics?

 

[cityone]

Thanks for your reply, in both cases the customers bought the tiles themselves on line, they were not cheap (£12 for a pack of 8) i take pride in laying tiles with no lippage but with these tiles (and they all seem to be bowed) it is impossible especially laying them brick effect.

 

[mache]

not cheap (£12 for a pack of 8)

Sounds cheap considering customer likely paying retail. £12 for 1.44m2

 

[White Room]

You want to make sure if the middle is bowed you allow extra addy to fill that bow on the tile....

 

[Time's Ran Out]

People want 2mm joints and brick bond with cheap 600x300 porcelain - you either walk or you stand your ground and stack them.

 

[Chalker]

Have seen a tiler bow the entitle wall to get over this problem. When using brick bond.
without a 4m straight edge you wouldn't have noticed.

 

[lewie]

If a customer is insistent that the tiles are to be laid brick bond, I've used the clip system to bring them together.