Tiling (floor & wall) quotes & a technical question…please help!

catt_2

Hi DD,

Hmmm, lots to consider. I will talk to him about the panel on Monday. It is just an option at the moment.

Thanks for the reassurance on prices. We have chosen something neutral so hope to keep it for years. Maybe brick pattern will date...

catt_2

Hello again,

Well I bought a very nice bath panel over the weekend. It is MDF so is solid and rigid. The tiler will fit it for me but has to make a frame.

The tilers started today.

They fitted the WBP 12mm ply with lots of screws and then coated it with glue. They got as far as cutting and fixing down the floor tiles. They wanted to start on the walls but had to leave it because the quick set floor adhesive hadn't set. They said this was because the house was too cold and it was a wet day but that it will be set and ready to walk on tomorrow.

I was asked to choose a new wall grout colour. It was supposed to be white with a white tile but now that I have cream tiles a cream coloured grout was recommended. The tiler also said I should have cream plastic strips.

point3

Blimey! That was quick. This guy's work looks good, but sadly they are booked up until after the new year:

http://www.craigmooreuk.com/

catt_2

Yes quick!

When they had done, I was called to look at the floor and I did with a really critical eye and couldn't fault it. I told him it looked really good and he replied wait 'til you see it grouted, it will look even better! He told me the large floor tile was a good choice as it makes the bathroom look bigger...

ailuro2

The area of tiles you need to buy is normally the area of the room plus 10% to allow for breakages, half tiles round the edges etc. to make it symmetrical.

Ask if you can take unopened boxes back,though, and if there is a time limit.

Personally I'd wait for the tiler that's booked up till Christmas, or ask around at work for a personal recommendation - tiles are great when done well, but they are there for a long time if not done right and will bug you every time you see them.;)

catt_2

Well, the tilers have finished the bathroom tiling and it looks great!;)

They wiped it clean as you suggested Canucklehead. They bagged up the rubbish and carried it out front but said they don't remove rubbish and conceeded that they should have mentioned that at the beginning. Fortunately, it isn't much for us to deal with as there were no old tiles, etc.

We went with grey grout on the floor and ivory (bit lighter than the tiles)grout on the walls. The tiler recommended we paint the walls in ivory to match the grout rather than beige to match the tiles. Any suggestions?

The MDF panel (not cheap) was a real pain for him to fit as it turned out to be warped from incorrect storage at the shop.

It seems our tiler is as satisfied with his work as we are as he has asked if he can take some photographs for his portfolio.....

catt_2

We have asked for a quote for the kitchen floor....I will post a new thread...

TomsMom

catt wrote: »

It seems our tiler is as satisfied with his work as we are as he has asked if he can take some photographs for his portfolio.....

And for us to see Catt.......please....... I'd love to see what it looks like.

catt_2

Will do...but photos will have to wait....bit rushed off my feet what with kitchen-diner floor being done now!;)

catt_2

Our kitchen diner comprises 2 rooms combined into one, so there are floorboards in part and concrete floorboards in the other.

We thought a tiler would want to ply over the floorboards and screed the rest to match the height. Our tiler said he will ply the lot or else it would split at the join line. Is that a good move? The floor is not level and he said he can adjust his tiling to level it so we would not notice. Is that possible?

He recommended a large 600x600mm tile in gloss porcelain. He said it has to be porcelain for this type of floor as it is stronger than ceramic?

Won't each glossy tile reflect light in different directions if they are not absoutely level? They are light cream colour with slight mottling in cream shades.

The tiler wants to use flexi adhesive & flex grout.

The ply is down. Lots and lots of screws in the ply over floorboards just as he did in our bathroom but far fewer over the concrete part of the floor. Sounds right?

We have now decided to have an electric underfloor heating mat which he said is not a problem. Yes, we are a pain for deciding late! But should we have had foam insulation boards under the ply or does the ply suffice as insulation (it is wood after all)...We want to avoid too much height difference to our hall.

Any thoughts on all this would be appreciated.

By the way, those interested in costings for your own projects, our tiler is charging us the same price as the bathroom floor of £32m2 which is his price for ceramic; he normally charges more for porcelain, so he says.

This job is costing us a good deal more than the bathroom, due to the much bigger area and so I'm really a but anxious it well turn out alright.

He said we could save a bit by not tiling under where the units will be but he wants to tile under appliances and said if there are enough tiles we should just tile the whole floor. Thoughts?

Please post your advice on this.;)