Bathroom re-tiling quote

mondays

We live near Croydon on the outskirts of South London and need the slate tiles pulled from the walls of our bathroom in our loft conversion as they are too heavy for the walls and the movement is causing all the joins to constantly crack. As a result we want the shower screen, radiator, shower, toilet, and basin taken out, the tiles taken off, and new (lighter!) porcelain ones put on, and everything put back again.

It isn't a big bathroom (floor = 190x180cm) and so wanted to know if anyone has any idea of what we should be quoted and whether we would need a plumber and tiler or just a tiler.

I know this is a fair quote thread but i'm hoping someone may have an idea or experience in this/similar situation......

:-)

Razor

I would find it unusual for the weight of tiles to cause this, sounds more like movement in the roof structure, have you got any other cracks in the plaster?

If it is due to the tiles it sounds as if you have plasterboarded stud walls, you will not get these stripped without wrecking the plasterboard.

If it was me I would strip an area of tiles and board and check the quality of the studwork, (uprights at no more than 450mm centres at least 2 rows of noggins etc)

If there is movement in the underlying structure you will not get anyone to retile the room and guarentee the work from cracking again, best to check it out properly now.

Hope this helps

mondays

Thanks for the quick response!!

It is definitely plasterboard underneath which is why we know the tiles are too heavy for the walls. We got sold the wrong tiles then had a tiler agree to put them on despite our concerns (long story, stupid mistake!). I'm sure the cracks are a combination of the movement and the heaviness but as the shower is in the corner it is making it extremely difficult to keep the cracks sealed, especially on sealed slate tiles that sealant seems to hate.

A builder we know seems to think they would be ok for a time but since then the sealant seems to be moving with the appearing cracks. He suggested using a mastic strip which we did along the bottom although that isn't looking too trustworthy either.

Any suggestions?

Razor

I've PM'd you with a bit of advice.

As I said I would want to make sure the underlying studwork was ok, the plasterboard will come off with the tiles anyway, (unless they are not firmly stuck in which case thats your problem).

The 'wet' areas like the shower should be boarded in something like Wedi board or Aquapanel rather than plasterboard.

Did the tiler tell you it would be ok? Do you have anything in writing, as a professional he should have given you better advice. Of course if he advised you not too..........

andyhop

natural stone tiles can be heavy

plasterboard when fitted correctly will only take something like 32kg per sqm, depending on the thickness of the tiles you could be well over the limit on the plasterboard, also take into account the weight of the adhesive and grout