Porcelain Wall Tiles

[DHTiling]

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[guy1976]

for tiles that big you will probably need to wet cut all of them unless you have a rubi tx1200 radial cutter the wall will also need to be totally flat for that size tile i would use a 18mm u shape notch trowel or a 10mm u notch trowel and trowel the walls and back butter the tile.

 

[penno]

You have recieved some great advice so far mate but i think it may be a little too much for you (no offense meant). Having never laid porcelain before and then be faced with 1sqm tiles on a first attempt i would steer well clear, i really would. It could turn into a nightmare dealing with pocas that size but if you do get the job done hope it all goes well mate.

 

[Perry]

i have used a bench saw when i have laid them and thats on a floor i think you would have to use a grinder on some cuts as i said they are not easy to throw around

 

[mwss77]

Hi Penno
Thanks for your honesty, i have only been tiling for 2 months and this would be the first time I would deal with porcelain.

I have been wondering if this job would be too much for me so early on. What would you recommend if I do come across porcelain tiles again with another customer. Are the smaller porc tiles okay for me to go ahead with or do I need to take a course that deals with this type of tile??

Thanks

 

[grumpygrouter]

It is not the "Porcelain" that is the problem, it is the sheer size of the tile that Penno being cautious about. Smaller porcelain tiles are generally no more difficult than normal ceramics, bit harder to cut and a bit heavier, but the principles are the same, as long as you use adhesives and grouts suitable for porcelain.

To try to fix 1m2 tiles is a task indeed, to add porcelain into the mix makes the task that much more difficult. Each tile must weigh something like 25 to 30kg and when you come to cutting them what are you going to cut them on? They may well be curved as well because of the size!

I have been tiling about 9 months and I don't think I would take on a job such as that yet. I don't have the machinery to do it and I would be looking to enrol a"helper" if it was me.

If you take on the job, good luck, let us know how you get on.

Grumpy

 

[Fred]

Did 87 m2 porcelain wall tiles in August. I acrylic primed the walls, and used Bal single part white flexi & Bal flexi white grout. Nice job, took 3 weeks mind you. They were 600x600.

 

[mwss77]

Hi All

Thanks for all your input on this one, As I have only just started Tiling I have decided that this job would be too much for me to take on at this moment in time. Plus I do not have the correct tools to cut such large tiles.

I have squared it with the customer and advised them on what is involved on this job. The guys i was to wok with have now arranged another tiler who can complete this job.

Thanks again for all your thoughts on this

Mark

 

[frogeye]

Hi Mark

As a complete novice to tiling - and certainly excluding an extensive diy history of 30 years over 3 houses - I applaud your decision. On the course I did recently - for the final project one of the lads was given humoungous porcelain tiles. He was a quiet and careful chap who took his time and considering what he was given , achieved a very good looking result. However, when we came to strip off the tiles, the instructor stood us around his bay, one by one he removed the tiles to reveal massive air pockets that had prevented good contact. Some of the tiles were fixed to the walls with no more than 20% coverage. Okay he should have removed 1 in 6 to check and maybe his technique was off (we were all learning after all), but the same bloke also had the best laid floor, with no hollows at all.

A valuable lesson was certainly learned with refards to fixing large tiles. The same goes for my wet wheel cuts around the window - okay I know they said a wet cut tile needs time to dry - but I was shocked at the poor coverage when I used them far too early. At least I know in the real world to take this into account.

How on earth the ones in my bathroom (which I did 5 years ago) are staying on I don't know, but I will soon find out as it will be my next job

best of luck for the future
frogeye