victorian tiling job opinions please

[oldgit]

i looked at a job yesterday (hallway) see pics.


the cardboard relates to roughly where they want 5 x 600x600 panels placed, panel as shown in pic 2.
the rest is fill filled black and red 150x150 tiles apart from a border (on sheet) 1mt x 125mm (see link) Classic Brown Red & White Border Tile Victorian Border / Inset Black & White Tiles 1000x125x10mm (Sold Per Linear Metre) from Walls and Floors - Leading Tile Specialists - Over 20 Million Tiles In Stock - Sold Per pack of 1which they want to hug the skirting, there is 24 ish internal and externals.
i basically said it cant be done this way as many of the internals and externals wont meet when cut.
im looking for some suggestions of how it can be done, there are no shop made internals and externals.
the only way i can see it being done with the border tight to all edges and in and out of 5 doorways is to use a 150x150 tile cut too suit on each internal and external but frankly this would look rubbish.
another issue is the substrate which is pamments 225x225mm and 50mm thick, they feel solid and tap sound has no hollows but generally these are laid either on sand or a very very weak mix screed.
if sound can be latexed over but if there actually on a live bed there could be moisture issues etc etc, opinions on this as well please.
i should have done a few more pics but thats all i have.
there opinion is well the internals and externals will have to look the way will look ie bad matching but personally i would turn it down if they insist on that as it will look terrible.

thanks og.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Can't help with the sub floor as only you can tell how solid it will be for over tiling.
However looking at the border tile it's a simple design to be able to flow into and out of the corners as you only have to 'make up' a distance of 20/30mm over a length! However hugging the skirting is not the way I would approach it and there will be some work to explain the set out to a client with an opinion on how you should do the job. It's not a difficult job but as with many geometric designs the time spent in setting out can take a period of time that is imperative for a good job.
Although I'am pleased to be able to help where possible, you have to be confident that this job is within your capabilities and you can't be led totally by a customers views as they are looking for professional advice as well as a professional job.
Other comments will follow and I may add to them.
Hope you go for it and look forward to further pictures.

 

[oldgit]

thanks john.
although ive been tiling 35 years ive only done a hand full of Victorian/geometric and all fairly simple or from a fully set out diagram, that said i dont have any concerns with doing them, just didnt think it will work hugging the skirting.
that said i did only spend 30 mins looking at the job, there were no borders on site as yet.
you say 'make up' a distance of 20/30mm, i take it you mean remove from the webbing and stretch them, this would work if the distance allowed but some externals to internals will be very short runs.
i can see ways of doing it bringing the border off the wall but with the 600x600 panels there is very little scope for fitting a border because of the way they want the panels to be lined up. see pic 2.
there is around 75mm between the border (tight to skirting) and the panel edge in a few places, if you expand pic2 you can just see some white chalk lines the client had put down @ 125mm from the skirting.
the chap was very old with a hearing aid so it did become a bit much trying too get things across too him.
i will go back when the borders arrive and layout some options for him, i never really considered the stretching, as you say you only have to make up X, it might work that way albeit it will mean laying lots of them if not all the border individually rather than on the sheet they come as.

og.

 

[DHTiling]

I hate it when a customer tries to say how it should be done..

I have a designer on a job in an Orangery and she wants basically the same but is adamant on a 50mm infill hugging the room perimeter and i like you have said it will not work ..

Stand your ground and explain politely which way that it will work and not a compromise that will look pants..

 

[Spud]

take up the slabs and screed the floor in sharp sand and cement

 

[oldgit]

thanks dave, gary.
a screed probably is the way to go, i think i will try to find a solution for the tiles first though.
if i cant do the job in a way that i find looks great then i wont do it.
personally i think they should lose the panels and bring the border out and use a smaller field tile on diamond.

og.