Quartz tile cutting

[monkeyhanger]

Hello all - new member needing some advice.

The missus has set her sights on some black quartz tiles (305 x 305 x 10mm) from tiles porcelain for the bathroom and ensuite.

The ensuite job comprises of a shower cubicle with 3 sides tiled approx 760mm x 2100mm each, and a cutout for a mira thermostatic mixer shower, and one wall where the toilet and sink go, tiled 1100mm high x 1800mm wide.

The main bathroom comprises tiling all around the bath to about 750mm above the bath, and the rest of 1 wall projecting from 1 width side of the bath another 1600mm long beyond the bath.

I'm under the impression these tiles are a real pain to cut. I only have a big clinker and a tiny diamond wheel plasplugs cutter currently. I'm not expecting these to do the job.

I suppose my only option is to hire a big table wet cutter with a decent guide/rip fence for the straight cuts, do most of the big hire companies stock the decent ones? Which should I be looking to hire, or more importantly, which to avoid? Any blade recommendations?

I'm expecting to pay £80 - £100 for a weeks hire, including blade (not that I expect the cutting to take that long, but if I can hire for a week for not much more than the weekend charge, why not).

If I take my time and let the diamond blade do the work, can I expect clean, unchipped straight cut edges? Any idea how many cuts to expect from a blade?

For a few accessory holes (toilet roll holders, small corner shelf in shower etc), which diamond drill bits are recommended, and will these last 2 small jobs with plenty of watering for the cut?

 

[nybor62]

hss hire have wet cutters for hire , they do a large 1 for 120 for a week should be fine for the job. bit i should be making sure the walls you are tiling can take the weight quartz is quite heavy . heavier than granite. what is the surface you are tiling onto please

 

[monkeyhanger]

plaster board that has been tiled onto before (will need a good scrape when I pull the old tiles off). Not sure of the thickness yet, it'll be 13mm or 18mm. Its a newish build (8 years old), but it's a solid build, compared to my last Barratts house!

The only place i'm going higher than 1200mm tall is in the shower cubicle, I was hoping that such a small area (width wise) would take the weight.

Do you think the walls can handle the weight?

 

[nybor62]

have the walls been skimmed

 

[doug boardley]

I'd be inclined to replace the plasterboard with hardibacker 500 monkeyhanger. The chances of it escaping unscathed after removing existing tiles is minimal imo.

 

[monkeyhanger]

Not sure, haven't pulled the tiles off yet - will that make all the difference? If it hasn't been skimmed, is that something you'd insist on doing, for strength or adhesion issues?

 

[monkeyhanger]

Doug - what about aquapanel from Wickes? 12.5mm thick, not sure as to strength issues compared to hardibacker cement board

 

[doug boardley]

tbh monkeyhanger, I've never used aquapanel so I can't really comment. Hardibacker 500 is 12.5mm thick too though. If walls have been skimmed, then it's a deffo no to tile onto with quartz tiles as they will exceed safe load bearing limits.

 

[monkeyhanger]

The tiles are original fit by the housebuilders (house is 8 years old) - they generally just tile straight onto board don't they? If there is skim, it'll be extremely thin.

Not sure how easily the tiles and adhesive will come off - that'll depend on what they used for the original fix. The adhesive on the kitchen splashback came off pretty easily and smoothly. If the board was completely unscathed - could I tile straight onto it in quartz?

Would it be less of a bother to retile onto the original wall in the 1200mm high runs than in the shower cubicle?

I'd be tempted to reboard in the shower anyway, to get better access to the shower plumbing.

 

[doug boardley]

do you know the weight per m2 of your quartz tiles?

 

[monkeyhanger]

Not exactly sure, couldn't find the info on the website. An american site is quoting 1.sq.yd (0.81m2) for 10mm tiles as 18.8kg, so it should be around 26kg/m2. That ties in well with expected density of 2.4 to 2.8 tonnes/m3.

Going with 26kg/m2 weight, and assuming that the plasterboard is unskimmed and unscathed when detiled, could I leave the boards alone for the 1200mm wall runs and just reboard in the shower?

 

[doug boardley]

then there's the weight of adhesive and grout, typically 4kg per m2. It pushes it over the recommended limits even for unskimmed plasterboard. I know what I'd do

 

[monkeyhanger]

Thanks doug - looks like i'll be reboarding over the areas taking tile. This job just gets bigger and bigger.

Any suggestions for best price to pay for hardibacker (for a non-tradesman) at a national supplier?

Recommended adhesive brand/type also?

 

[united]

Think as Doug said it would be best to re board with Hardibacker to give you a max weight allowance of 45KG/m2 rather than the 32KG/m2 that plasterboard gives you

 

[doug boardley]

I get my hardibacker from Travis Perkins as they are the only local stockists in my area, maybe give them a ring to get the price. As or adhesive, I'd use mapei Keraquick with latex plus for quartz tiles