Questions!

[ag1975]

I've been looking around mainly this site and other sites for a few weeks trying to get as much useful info as possible. I plan to go into the tiling trade sometime in the future and have a little bit of practical experience that I have the chance to build on in the next few weeks with other projects for friends. Basically, I've got a few (more than a few) general questions to ask, I won't throw them all at you at once but here are a few:

1. Should you leave edge tiles as equal as possible on both sides...horizontal and vertical?
2. What do you do when walls are badly out, other than stripping everything down and building a new wall frame?
3. Do you leave your tile cutting till last or cut them as they come?
4. Do plasterboard walls ever need priming? (outside of shower)
5. Do screeds/concrete floors (old and new) always need priming?
6. Does BAL SBR primer work with all substrates/cementitious adhesives?

That's it for now

I posted on the bathroom I was tiling/plumbing/fitting on here a few weeks ago, I'll put some pics up soon.

 

[kendo1]

As for question 2, I normally swear. Silently.

 

[kendo1]

As for question 1
It depends. If you are doing a plain wall, you need to centre up. It then depends on the size of tile- where do they finish at the corner? The layout comes into account too, brick bond, pattern.
If you have a window the tiles should be centred on that,and of course you have to think about where the cuts wiil be depending on the size of tiles and window.
And if you are doing the whole room you have to start thinking about door frames and the other corners as you follow the pattern around.

 

[Bubblecraft]

1. Should you leave edge tiles as equal as possible on both sides...horizontal and vertical?

I do where possible. If there is a bath though, I do try to start with a full tile on the bath but depends how the cuts look top & bottom. I think it looks better having a full tile on the bath. For chases, I generally start with a full tile on the external edge & work back.

2. What do you do when walls are badly out, other than stripping everything down and building a new wall frame?

If they are that bad, re-sheeting is the way to go. There might be more time & cost to do this but better using your time sheeting it square than trying to loose it in the tiles. Just make sure to check it when pricing the job & quote it accordingly.

3. Do you leave your tile cutting till last or cut them as they come?

I always cut as I'm going, that way you can finish a wall & the whole side will be set & ready for grouting.

4. Do plasterboard walls ever need priming? (outside of shower)

Plasterboard - No, Plaster - Yes!

5. Do screeds/concrete floors (old and new) always need priming?

I always prime. It enhances the physical properties & performance of mortars including adhesion, durability, flexibility, waterproofing and workability.

6. Does BAL SBR primer work with all substrates/cementitious adhesives?

Yes. Works with plaster, screed, timber & vinyl surfaces.

Hope that helps. I'm sure other people will have their own take on it but that's mine.

 

[White Room]

3, cut as I go
4, if there is bare gypsum showing
5, I tend to on older type screed floors
6, sbr be it bal or other is quality stuff

 

[ag1975]

As for question 2, I normally swear. Silently.

:lol: funny

 

[ag1975]

As for question 1
It depends. If you are doing a plain wall, you need to centre up. It then depends on the size of tile- where do they finish at the corner? The layout comes into account too, brick bond, pattern.
If you have a window the tiles should be centred on that,and of course you have to think about where the cuts wiil be depending on the size of tiles and window.
And if you are doing the whole room you have to start thinking about door frames and the other corners as you follow the pattern around.

Cheers. I've noticed you need to be very careful when there are corners, recesses etc. So do you take everything into account and try what you think will be the best on the eye, not leaving any slithers? Are there any big do's and donts when it comes to the layout of the tiles?

 

[White Room]

Don't put your first tile up until you know when the last will be fixed..

 

[Gall.B]

I do where possible. If there is a bath though, I do try to start with a full tile on the bath but depends how the cuts look top & bottom. I think it looks better having a full tile on the bath.

.

I generaly set out for full tile or very close to at ceiling, never come of bath, half tile or cuts round ceiling I think look terrible.

If walls are not flat, sorry they need to be.

Mostly cut as I go (if walls are flat/plumb allcuts are same size) depends on my mood that day tho.

I tend to do the full room dado height, then take up the rest of the room to the ceiling.

Prime all floor types.

 

[ag1975]

3, cut as I go
4, if there is bare gypsum showing
5, I tend to on older type screed floors
6, sbr be it bal or other is quality stuff

4. there would be gypsum showing when a board's been cut?

 

[White Room]

On the edges and any scrape marks on the face of the board which could have broke the paper face...

 

[Gall.B]

Cheers. I've noticed you need to be very careful when there are corners, recesses etc. So do you take everything into account and try what you think will be the best on the eye, not leaving any slithers? Are there any big do's and donts when it comes to the layout of the tiles?

Setting out is VERY important and shouldnt be rushed. as Whitebeam says dont start fixing until you know where every cut is going and its size.

Normal bond: centre (for big cuts)

Broken bond or border: Cuts need to turn the corner (like wall paper) so the pattern carryr on round the room, more tricky and time consuming.

Wall & Floor tiles same size: I like to line thru the full room

Floors: I aim for full tiles at door thresholds where possible at the main door in to a room where the tiling starts.


Setting out is often a giveaway as to where the room was tiled by a pro or not.

 

[ag1975]

BUBBLECRAFT - that does help thanks. Just a couple of things:

1. What are chases?
2. How do you re-sheet? Would that mean evening walls out, then putting plasterboard, backer board whatever on them? How would you even the walls out?

 

[ag1975]

GALL B - Thanks, very helpful.

Would you literally know the cut size of every tile before you start fixing them?

 

[Ajax123]

Not all screeds need to be primed. It depends on the nature of the surface, type of screed and type of adhesive.

That said most good tilers prime most screeds.