What do you use for battens when wall tiling?

[Ric]

Morning all, just wondering what people use for battens, if you use them at all, and where you get them from? Have been using my spirit levels but finding i need something easier to work with. Do you recommend using something like bal grip to start with at bottom then normal stuff as you go? I have found using a couple of screws good when using large format tiles especially behind sanitary ware where there are lots of pipes etc - limited access, but when a smaller tile is used this is time consuming!!!.....anyway, any ideas appreciated ta

 

[tysfoot]

i get my battens from b&Q 1.5 metre peices of wood for about £1.50. i then nail them on to the wall and work up from there. Other might do it differently

 

[grumpygrouter]

If I need to use battens and if the surface is suitable, I have 3 or 4 U shaped shelving mountings made from steel. You can get them from any DIY place and they cost a few pounds depending on the size. They are re-useable and because of their construction, straight! I screw them to the wall/floor with screws!

Make sure you clean them every time though as soon as you take them off!

Grumpy

 

[sharps58]

I use U shaped shelf mounts as well, available in different lengths from B&Q and all the other usual suspects.

 

[abskiing]

There are also adjustable stands available, with large tiles I use these with a straight edge....no screws, timber, brackets needed, the main reason i chose stands is that many walls with hard brick or rotten plaster will be awkward and time consuming to batten,

abskiing

 

[frogeye]

I had a full sheet of 9mm exterior ply sliced and diced at Selco on their big cutter - first 5 cuts free then 50p a cut. Full length battens at about 3 inches wide, although 2" would have been okay - but probably not as robust. Cost about £22. Split the cost with 2 blokes on course. Was going to varnish to make cleaning easy - haven't got round to it yet :whatchutalkingabout
frogeye

 

[White Room]

There are also adjustable stands available, with large tiles I use these with a straight edge....no screws, timber, brackets needed, the main reason i chose stands is that many walls with hard brick or rotten plaster will be awkward and time consuming to batten,

abskiing

I agree with the above, I chose stand's as well, You nail a batton on the wall two row's of tile's later and the nailed batton dislodge's with heavy tile's sliding down with the help of gravity.

 

[davy_G]

Im with Frogeye on this one. Cut a sheet of marine ply at the local builders yard to suit. They cut it so all straight lines.
One word of caution, i put a small nail through a pipe once. The water was off and it was noticed soon after the water went on. It did mean taking a tile off and the plumber sorting it before i could retile and regrout in my own time. Choose nail locations carefully or use stands if uncertain.

 

[bigdaz]

These stands sound interesting, where do you get them?

 

[davy_G]

tiletrader.com

[DLMURL]http://www.**************/acatalog/tilie_cutter_setting_out_and_tile_marking.html[/DLMURL]

 

[brian c]

Darren at NETT sells them but im sure Neil at BUYBRANDTOOLS.COM will be able to sort you out with a set.

when i do use battens i use 2X1 FROM b&q.

 

[bearwithme]

i use plasterboards. include 1 or 2 in the price and take 2/3 " strips off either side. gives me a nice straight edge.
kept having to trawl through wood at bandq to find stuff that wasnt slightly warped. u shaped brackets sounds a good idea though

 

[rossy]

i have seen the brackets thought they might just be a gimic are they good and steady...

 

[GazTech]

I designed tubular square steel sectional battens various lengths which interlocked.I pre drilled them so they could be nailed...I.had an engineering mate make them for me.....very handy.....Gaz

 

[brian c]

since you dont need them anymore GAZ any chance you can pass them on to me,lol