What tips have saved you time or money?

[hmtiling]

Here's an oldie but goodie.
When I was contract tiling and doing large areas of wall tiles,
We would purchase 2mm yarn used on yatchs.
Reason being was that it would not absorb moisture and swell like ordinary string.
Then we would use it as one continuous spacer!
So laying the first course to batons (always done that way then)
Then pin one end of the yarn with the first tile of the next course at one end, then pin the yarn the other end with another tile, and maybe one or two in the middle, depending on length of the wall.
Sometimes they'd be 30,40,50m long (that's a lot of spacers) once pinned in to place, away you go.
Repeat the same every course leaving a little loop each end.
Use periodic vertical lines chalked on the wall to keep the tiles plumb.
Sorted, 60,80, 100m2 walls all done with one spacer.
Next day, piece of baton, and wind all the yarn back in.
No spacers in tiling, (shouldn't be left in anyway) as you retrieved the yarn it also cleaned the joints of excess adhesive, simple but effective.
Just don't let it slip behind the corner of a tile at the ends, otherwise the entire corner courses can be pulled off! Haha
Saved masses of time over using spacers.

a guy i work with on occasion uses this method. i'd never seen it before a couple of years ago

 

[Kyle Knowles]

One of the best tips I ever got was about tools and it go's "buy cheap buy twice "

 

[kevsalt]

cross line laser...dont know how i managed without one before..briil tool...chalk line another great bit off kit ...****...coffee,,,site radio...great job tiling

 

[Joseph Kover]

Clean your buckets out before you leave. Buckets are gold dust in the tiling industry.

Plastering bucket easy to clean, even if you forgot to do it in advance

 

[Italy]

I do not know what to say......
from October, I learned many things, the first thing I learned was to raise prices. hahaha
misstiler, introduced me to vinegar for Epoxy. other small things, I have stolen, here and there. I do not remember .....
marc administrator (the Samaritan) ....... I thank you .... if there was no marc, I do not think that I'm still here.
So, for a few months, you have to endure. haha

 

[Old Mod]

Thank you Antonio, now everyone will blame me!

Antonio, you at the one that has endured,
You are the one that has perservered,
And because of your determination,
you have more than earned your position on the forum.
Thank you for being stubborn!
Because now, we possess some of your knowledge.

 

[Italy]

Thank you Antonio, now everyone will blame me!

Antonio, you at the one that has endured,
You are the one that has perservered,
And because of your determination,
you have more than earned your position on the forum.
Thank you for being stubborn!
Because now, we possess some of your knowledge.

yes marc , you're right.
antonio now send invoice.
for all the time spent to read posts...ahahah
your downfall, was my phone number

 

[Kyle Knowles]

Plastering bucket easy to clean, even if you forgot to do it in advance

If when u say plastering bucket u mean a flex tub I can't get on with them I don't think u can beat a 25L paint buck for slow set and 10L for rapid set

 

[Flintstone]

Best way with buckets is to remove any major amount in the bottom, then let it set and knock it out next day.
I've learnt quite a few bits on here!

 

[John Benton]

Go to your local caf or chinese, and ask for the tubs that the mayo etc comes in, great for grout mixing.

 

[Kyle Knowles]

I clean my bucket and tools between every mix with a old dustpan and brush brush just like plasterers and that way u don't have to mess about knocking them out I usually have a bucket till my mixer wears it paper thin then it go's to old bucket dump in the sky

 

[hmtiling]

If when u say plastering bucket u mean a flex tub I can't get on with them I don't think u can beat a 25L paint buck for slow set and 10L for rapid set

same here. needs to be a rigid bucket for me too

 

[hmtiling]

Go to your local caf or chinese, and ask for the tubs that the mayo etc comes in, great for grout mixing.

have a few of those

 

[One Day]

Best thing I have learnt which has saved me time and money is when and how to say "no", and also how to stand my ground when it comes to doing a job MY way.

 

[Flintstone]

oops