Thin Cuts / Slithers

[padtheplumber]

Hi guys

I was wondering what the general consensus is when setting out - do you avoid slither cuts like the plague, or are they just part and parcel of the job sometimes and you don't worry about it?

As an example if you had a fairly standard bathroom, decent size ceramic tiles would you be happy to leave a thin cut (30mm) in a corner over a bath so you could start full tile from a window or would you look for another option?

Just curious to see what your opinions are on a situation like this.

Cheers

Mart

 

[Old Mod]

Hey Mart, (ah ha! I got ur name now!)
This 30mm cut, is it on the window wall?
Is it near the window?
Pic may help if u have one.
Thing is, on entering any room our eyes are always drawn to the biggest light source first, so if u have any small cuts in the vicinity of the window these will be magnified.
So for me if I have to compromise with a small cut for any reason I do my utmost to hide it in an opposite corner or behind a door.
Probably don't help your setting out much tho haha

 

[Qwerty]

Avoid if possible but sometimes unavoidable despite hardest efforts to re-jig layout.

 

[Andy Allen]

Always look at getting the biggest cut possible. .....my pet hate is seeing slithers when all it needs is maybe halfing the tile from the center of a wall.

 

[padtheplumber]

Cheers guys,

Maybe I could ask the question in a different way;

If starting full tile from one side of a window (which means a bit less cutting) would leave a 30mm cut into the corner of a wall over a bath (on the same wall) would you start here if there was another option which left better cuts into the corners, but meant more cut tiles around the window?

Just trying to gauge whether you would rather have less cuts around the window, but a thin cut in one corner, or more cuts around a window but a bigger cut into a corner,
or does a thin cut not worry you either way?

thanks again
Mart.

 

[Old Mod]

Center your window, don't be lazy haha

 

[padtheplumber]

Center your window, don't be lazy haha

Haha, thanks mate! There is a reason why I'm asking, just wanted a few "second opinions" if you like.....

 

[Dan]

Setting out is always key. If you ended up with a 30mm cut at the top of the window, pull it down 30mm so it's a full tile and then check everything else to see how that's effected. If it leaves 30mm somewhere else, pull it down another 30mm so you're now full tile on that (the bath or floor or whatever) and cutting 30mm off the tile above the window.

If that then leaves 30mm above something else, pull it down again.

You need to check the level of everything too because you want full tile on the lowest point of the floor, as full tile on the highest point is going to leave a slither on the lowest point.

So you go in a room with a level and marker / pencil first. Then your tile guage staff. Then your tiles.

Actually you probably go in with other stuff first to make everything good for tiling. But that's the order you go in when that's all prepared.

It makes life a lot easier when you've planned it all well.

Makes a change from going in with a pipe bender and gas gun eh? Hehe

 

[Andy Allen]

Mosts small cuts are due to lazy tiling...full tiles from corners, full tiles from windows, full tiles from door frames etc.
Should get into the habit of what looks the best rather than what's easiest to do.

 

[widler]

I go in, close my eyes, spin around and wherever my finger lands i start
Just spend a few hours seting out, 9 times out of 10 you can avoid slivers

 

[padtheplumber]

Thing is, I've done my own tiling for quite a few years, but I've been off work with an injury for 6 weeks, so I've had to employ a tiler for my last few jobs.

Now, I am really happy with his work, he's done a couple of lovely floors for me, he's quick, tidy, cracks on with it which is great, but on a bathroom this week he has done what I described above, full tile from one side of window leaving a slither on the corner where the bath is.

He had only got 5 tiles on when I popped in to see him, so we agreed on a different set out on that wall.
I was, however, wondering if I'd been a bit harsh about it, thin cuts / tramlines in corners, especially wet areas, have always been something I've personally disliked, but that doesn't necessarily mean its wrong, so I thought I'd get an opinion for some of you fine fellows!!

Cheers
Mart

 

[Old Mod]

Thing is, I've done my own tiling for quite a few years, but I've been off work with an injury for 6 weeks, so I've had to employ a tiler for my last few jobs.

Now, I am really happy with his work, he's done a couple of lovely floors for me, he's quick, tidy, cracks on with it which is great, but on a bathroom this week he has done what I described above, full tile from one side of window leaving a slither on the corner where the bath is.

He had only got 5 tiles on when I popped in to see him, so we agreed on a different set out on that wall.
I was, however, wondering if I'd been a bit harsh about it, thin cuts / tramlines in corners, especially wet areas, have always been something I've personally disliked, but that doesn't necessarily mean its wrong, so I thought I'd get an opinion for some of you fine fellows!!

Cheers
Mart

So u mislead us Mart! *shakes head with disappointment!*

 

[padtheplumber]

So u mislead us Mart! *shakes head with disappointment!*

Sorry, it was unintentional if it comes across like that.

I was trying to avoid it sounding like a rant or a having a go type thread, thats not my style at all. I was just wondering how some of you trained / time served guys judged those type of decisions that we all have to make on the job - i'm a plumber who's picked up tiling (amongst other things) along the way.

Tiling is one of my favorite parts of the work I do, but at the moment I can't do it, so this is something I've not come across before.

Appreciate the input
Mart

 

[White Room]

Slithers in corners just never looks right, as said the setting out is paramount.

 

[Old Mod]

Sorry, it was unintentional if it comes across like that.

I was trying to avoid it sounding like a rant or a having a go type thread, thats not my style at all. I was just wondering how some of you trained / time served guys judged those type of decisions that we all have to make on the job - i'm a plumber who's picked up tiling (amongst other things) along the way.

Tiling is one of my favorite parts of the work I do, but at the moment I can't do it, so this is something I've not come across before.

Appreciate the input
Mart

Hahahaha Mart was just pulling your pipe bender!
I'd never publicly offend someone intentionally!
I'd send a PM!

 

[Andy Allen]

One thing I always do is involve the client in the setting out....saves any 'I didn't want it doing like that' discussions when it comes to pay day...