Setting out advice - 600 x 300 x 9mm porcelain tile brick bond fashion?

[cornsack]

Hi,

Running a small bathroom job for a customer.

Customer really wants to use a particular 600x300x9 porcelain tile he has picked out in a brick bond pattern.

The back wall of the shower cubicle is awkwardly a little over 600 wide. It's also on the wonk in a proper pyramid shape, but all parties have acknowledged this!

By the time backer board and tiles are on the adjacent walls it will be about 662 wide at the top and 736 by the bottom (crazy I know).

Question is how best to lay this out. My customer says he would like to have a column of tiles on their side (portrait) running down the centre. To be fair the half tiles either side will match up for a wrap-around the corner full tile look with the adjoining brick bond so I get that logic but hard to imagine how it would look. Is there a better option other than new tile size? Customer set on the tile he has chosen.

I would be curious to see how else one would approach this from a setting out point or view or if anyone has seen this before and it looks good/bad.

Attached is a photo of how the awful previous tiles were done using a mosaic. This was done in a straight stack. God knows who by though, terrible work. I'll upload a couple some pictures of that too for those who like a laugh!

 

[Just Rizzle]

got no other jobs to do its always going to be a pigs ear.
wouldnt like to put my name to that job good luck

 

[cornsack]

got no other jobs to do its always going to be a pigs ear.
wouldnt like to put my name to that job good luck

Helpful, thanks!

It's not that bad. Customer fully aware of the geometry issues. It's just a small bathroom attached to a garage and part of a much larger project (whole house). It needs doing either way as tiles have come off now

 

[cornsack]

Any help anyone? Customer wants to get ordering so if I need to tell him to rethink or if anyone has experience with this look would be good. Not really seen it before. @3_fall @jcrtiling @Andy Allen @Plan Tec Tiling or even @antonio ?

 

[Boggs]

Does the customer want a layout similar to the existing, with a portrait tile in place of the mosaics?
If it works out and that’s what he wants just do it.

 

[Old Mod]

With such a small piece either side of a portrait piece, you can’t possibly hope to hide the rake.
It’ll exaggerate it if anything.
When you re board can you not make it plumb?
Or nearly anyway.
If not and it’s what they want, bite your lip and carry on.
Just make sure your centre piece is exactly that, dead centre so it shows an even graduation.
And don’t forget to plumb your line on the wrap from the smallest piece. 😁 (bottom to the top)

Another way is to use an 800+ tile, so it spans across whole width.

Or the best way is to get one 2400 x 800 x 6mm slab, and use that on back wall, one piece.
These are 2400 x 800 from Florim 😁

Or if you wanted to create an optical illusion, get tiles wider than back wall and grind two lines parallel to the outside walls in centre to give illusion of a portrait piece, only they would rake by 74mm off the centre line too. 🤣🤣🙈

 

[Tony_C]

Try for a different feature tile on that back wall only and tile it in a random stagger bond. That will help throw the eye off how wonky it is

 

[Dumbo]

As @3_fall if you're putting backer boards on square it up
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To be honest you're customer is nuts . It's going to look like somebody can't set a room out . They should keep the bond and work it so you don't get the problems . Tell them it's not clever and will just look wrong .

 

[cornsack]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I will square it up somewhat before I put backerboards in but can't do it completely because the shower tray is down already and not being replaced.

Customer knows exactly what they are asking for and exactly what they will (and won't!) be getting. It's an unused basement conversion they are getting it ready to rent out as an Airbnb. Tiles weren't even going to be changed until we found leaks and moulding boards behind the tiles.

Thanks again guys

 

[cornsack]

@3_fall you're right, that does make for an optical illusion. Your photo looks like it was taken inside a doll house!

Also I hear you're the man to talk to about mitred corners. I have been practicing them at home with off cuts and feel confident making the cuts now. I heard one is meant to fill the joints with resin but this is the bit I don't know much about. What kind of resin? Where do you buy it? How do you colour match it? How best to apply it? Is it used in conjunction with any other product?