Newbie tiling: more questions
 

My wall tiles are 150 x 150 mm.
I have bought some "fancy" border tiles, but they are 148mm wide. After
putting a couple up on the wall it is obvious that the grout line is
going to be slightly wider when it meets these tiles.
* Is this something that will be less noticeable when I grout up all
the tiles?
* Similarly, some tiles are slightly off the level (bumpy wall) and
there is a slight jump from one tile to the next as you run your finger
along the face of the tiles. Will this be less noticeable after
grouting?

Thanks
Bruce

wrote:

My wall tiles are 150 x 150 mm.
I have bought some "fancy" border tiles, but they are 148mm wide. After
putting a couple up on the wall it is obvious that the grout line is
going to be slightly wider when it meets these tiles.
* Is this something that will be less noticeable when I grout up all
the tiles?

If you line the smaller tile up so that it aligns with the middle of the
bugger one, then it will be less noticiable. Especially as the change in
pattern will distract the eye a little.

* Similarly, some tiles are slightly off the level (bumpy wall) and
there is a slight jump from one tile to the next as you run your finger
along the face of the tiles. Will this be less noticeable after
grouting?

That is harder to hide... the usual cure is to use a thicker bed of
adhesive - rather than just spread it with the usual "ribbed line"
pattern, lay it on about 3mm thick and then add the ribbed lines to the
top. That way you can even out the bumps a bit more as you go since you
are in effect re skimming the wall.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wrote:
wrote:

My wall tiles are 150 x 150 mm.
I have bought some "fancy" border tiles, but they are 148mm wide.
After
putting a couple up on the wall it is obvious that the grout line
is
going to be slightly wider when it meets these tiles.
* Is this something that will be less noticeable when I grout up
all
the tiles?

* Similarly, some tiles are slightly off the level (bumpy wall) and
there is a slight jump from one tile to the next as you run your
finger
along the face of the tiles. Will this be less noticeable after
grouting?

That is harder to hide... the usual cure is to use a thicker bed of
adhesive - rather than just spread it with the usual "ribbed line"
pattern, lay it on about 3mm thick and then add the ribbed lines to
the
top. That way you can even out the bumps a bit more as you go since
you
are in effect re skimming the wall.

Indeed, when you're laying the tile, you should ensure there's no
proudness with the neighbouring tile in both north/south and east west
directions (for 4 adjoining tiles). Run your finger over the join to
check and build up with adhesive where necessary.

This is especaially difficult when you lay a set of tiles then down
tools for the night, best to lay sheets of tiles in one wall stretch as
much as possible.

Rgds

Paul.

Indeed, when you're laying the tile, you should ensure there's no
proudness with the neighbouring tile in both north/south and east
west
directions (for 4 adjoining tiles). Run your finger over the join to
check and build up with adhesive where necessary.


Yes, thanks. There are some tiles where the edges stand "proud".
I should have spent more time on surface preparation...I'll know better
next time.

Incidentally, if I was laying larger tiles than 15 x 15cm, would I be
right in saying that ensuring a flat surface was even more essential?

Bruce

bruce_phipps wrote:

Indeed, when you're laying the tile, you should ensure there's no
proudness with the neighbouring tile in both north/south and east
west directions (for 4 adjoining tiles). Run your finger over
the join to check and build up with adhesive where necessary.

Yes, thanks. There are some tiles where the edges stand "proud".
I should have spent more time on surface preparation...I'll know
better next time.

Surface preparation is really not the answer, as long as it's 'nearly
there' rough walls just take more adhesive, really !

Once the tile is bedded, just peel the tile back by one corner and put
a blob behind, there's enough adhesive there to hold the tile firm.

Incidentally, if I was laying larger tiles than 15 x 15cm, would I
be right in saying that ensuring a flat surface was even more
essential?

Yes, I found this out on my first tiling job in the bathroom. I bought
the biggest tiles imaginable (about 30 by 50cm) to make sure the job
went quickly. I said so on here and the first response back was 'I hope
your walls are straight' !

They weren't and it was a bit of a game to get them on.

Cheers,

Paul.

Yes, I found this out on my first tiling job in the bathroom. I bought
the biggest tiles imaginable (about 30 by 50cm) to make sure the job
went quickly. I said so on here and the first response back was 'I hope
your walls are straight' !

They weren't and it was a bit of a game to get them on.
Big tiles are better in a way because they rock about more obviously on the
high spots and force you to correct things as you go. By contrast, 4" tiles
are a dream to put up and you don't see the wave effect till you've
finished.