Ceramic tile project -- and there are a few issues... years ago I did
some ceramic tile but the stuff then was thin and flat. Now I'm
feeling out of date. The tile I have now is 4/10 inch thick (maximum)
with a slight texture on the front surface and a grippy crosshatch
pattern on the back side. Scoring and breaking seems fairly
unreliable. What success rate should I be seeing? Also the serrated
trowels they sell now have big square notches. I'm doing a wall so
these square-notch trowels seem like a bad idea. Why the switch to
square notches? Any hints? Thanks.

Davej wrote in news:46345739-225f-4719-9d15-
:

Ceramic tile project -- and there are a few issues... years ago I did
some ceramic tile but the stuff then was thin and flat. Now I'm
feeling out of date. The tile I have now is 4/10 inch thick (maximum)
with a slight texture on the front surface and a grippy crosshatch
pattern on the back side. Scoring and breaking seems fairly
unreliable. What success rate should I be seeing? Also the serrated
trowels they sell now have big square notches. I'm doing a wall so
these square-notch trowels seem like a bad idea. Why the switch to
square notches? Any hints? Thanks.


You can get an inexpensive 7" wet tile saw for like $85 at the Borg. Even
less at Harbor Freight. It'll come with 1 or two diamond blades. I kick my
ass for not getting one long ago.

I cut through some tile pretty thick stone tile (not glazed clay) quite
easily. Trimming slivers off and notches is also a breeze.

On Jan 5, 3:00*pm, wrote:

When tile starts to get out in the 10mm range, particularly in higher
grades of tile, scoring and snapping will require a very good tool,
not the el cheapo at the home store.

And still, there will be a certain minimum learning curve.

Most pros will be using a wet
saw.

"Pros" use nothing but a wet saw (and snips), notwithstanding those
many if not most who might be paid to install tile.

If scoring glazed tile doesn't chip the glaze, it risks it, and
unglazed edges can be hit or miss too, usually miss. Even a cheap
saw, per Red (or rented), is better than scoring, and a homeowner
probably shouldn't try any significant snipping... unless their tile
is cheap and/or they've got plenty extra.
-----

- gpsman

On Jan 5, 2:00 pm, wrote:
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:45:31 -0800 (PST), Davej
wrote:

Ceramic tile project -- and there are a few issues... years ago I did
some ceramic tile but the stuff then was thin and flat. Now I'm
feeling out of date. The tile I have now is 4/10 inch thick (maximum)
with a slight texture on the front surface and a grippy crosshatch
pattern on the back side. Scoring and breaking seems fairly
unreliable. What success rate should I be seeing? Also the serrated
trowels they sell now have big square notches. I'm doing a wall so
these square-notch trowels seem like a bad idea. Why the switch to
square notches? Any hints? Thanks.

Square notch trowels are for thin set mortar, V notch are for mastic.
What are you using?

I'm using the adhesive mastic from Lowes and installing it on ordinary
wallboard in a kitchen.

When tile starts to get out in the 10mm range, particularly in higher
grades of tile, scoring and snapping will require a very good tool,
not the el cheapo at the home store. Most pros will be using a wet
saw. I had zero luck scoring/snapping the Lea Acero I put all over our
house.

I'm using a cheap wet saw for every cut when I originally thought I
would use the score and snap tool for most of the simple edge work.

On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:14:25 -0800 (PST), Davej
wrote:

Square notch trowels are for thin set mortar, V notch are for
mastic. What are you using?

I'm using the adhesive mastic from Lowes and installing it on
ordinary wallboard in a kitchen.

You should ve able to get a V edge trowel at Lowes.

If the big-box places don't have the right trowel, check with flooring
stores. Since Lowes sold you the mastic, they _ought_ to carry the
trowel, but they're Lowe's....

The mastic container will tell you what trowel to use. It's usually
something like
1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4
meaning the notches are 1/4" deep, 1/4" wide, and 1/4" apart.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA