Hello All....New Member here.

Rather than just saying "hi" in the new members section, I thought it was worth asking a - hopefully - sensible question. Would gratefully receive any informed views.

We have had some tiles laid recently on a timber subfloor. The tiler overboarded with ply (9mm on top of a fairly substantial t&g 1930's floor (i.e. no modern chipboard floor panels etc.) before starting.

Although generally the tiling looks great, he used grout around the edges where the tiles meet skirting, and - unsurprisingly according to a couple of posts I've already read here (....why didn't I register before? ...) - the grout is cracking pretty much all the way around the perimeter.

Is using a matching silicone imperative as opposed to grouting to prevent this? If so, what's the best way to go to remove & apply silicone? Are the Dremel & grout removal attachments any good?

Will probably re-approach the tiler to do this anyway, but always like to be informed if possible when dealing with professionals.

Thanks for your time. Jon.

the best way to remove silicone is with a silicone eater that can be bought in any diy store! removing grout can be done using the dremmel attachments but i think it is prety costly for just 1 job you can also remove the grout using a grout rake and plenty of elbow grease unfortunately!

hi think the tiler should have used siligone to start with davids advice is spot on

9mm ply a bit thin for my liking even if its screwed down at 4in apart. 18mm best but 12mm ok IMO. Hope you are lucky and do not suffer any movement failure.

Siliconing the edges not imperative in my opinion but I always do so to prevent the unsightly problem you have. Fortunately very easy and quick to resolve. Silicone is available in a miriad of colours these days to match your grout.

Call your tiler. If he's a pro and proud of his work he should come back and sort it out without grumbling

I'am glad you remarked that the tiling was generally great - that is the main criteria -in my opinion.
Around a wooden sub floor you will always get movement between the vertical and horizontal planes - whether due to additional weight, vibration, or shrinkage in the plywood. In new properties this is normally rectified in the 6 month snagging period by the builder.
A movement joint is provided around the perimeter of the tiling filled with a rubber silicone and the skirting on top. In your case the skirting has been tiled up to and this is generally grouted first to fill any gap. When movement occurs as above it can then be sealed after settlement or filled with decorators caulk and painted in with the skirting colour.
Silicone around a floor area (unless a wet room) is not included in my estimates as standard and if I was asked back I would certainly expect to be paid as a extra.

Guys,

Thanks for all the advice. Somewhat disappointing is the fact that the tiling was part of a major refurb and we had every opportunity to leave the new skirting off until after the tiling, but were advised that this wasn't necessary and we'd get as good finish tiling up to the skirting (....by the builder, not by the tiler I hasten to add..). You live & learn I guess.

Oh well, the tiler seemed a decent sort, was going for his teaching qualifications at the local college/uni and had his "inspector" round to look at his work as part of this. Hopefully this means that he's capable & honest rather than a fly-by-night numpty. We'll see......

Cheers again.

He was going to college for teaching qualifications or traning qualifications!
Most tilers are decent sorts - ask Dave which comes first the skirting or the tile, to seal or not to seal - that is the question.

If the choice is there, then deffo leave the skirting off....

But seen as it hasn't then you will need to silicone around...

Originally Posted by rawdon51

Guys,


Oh well, the tiler seemed a decent sort, was going for his teaching qualifications at the local college/uni and had his "inspector" round to look at his work as part of this. Hopefully this means that he's capable & honest rather than a fly-by-night numpty. We'll see......

Cheers again.

sounds to me like he was spinning you a line and he was in fact training for an nvq 2 and needed assessing. wouldnt of thought some one would need an on site assessment to get a job teaching tile standards.

Originally Posted by cool4cats

sounds to me like he was spinning you a line and he was in fact training for an nvq 2 and needed assessing. wouldnt of thought some one would need an on site assessment to get a job teaching tile standards.

Then maybe I'm the numpty?!........though things are always strange in Yorkshire......

Leaving skirtings off on site work is something I have not seen. The decorators do their bit and are not enclined to wait for the tilers

i would agree with whitebeam skirts are finished then tiles laid neatly to it would not recomend grouting then silicone over the internal joint is classified as a movement joint (expands and contracts) best to silicone skirting over tiles is just lazy on tilers part (as they dont have to worry about there cut quality) should be interesting to see the comments from that

i will be laying some tiles soon in my new flat and have thought of this aswell whether its best tiling next to or under skirting
i went into a show home the other week on the site that i bought my new flat from and thought id have a look at the tiling quality, anyway the tiling looked brilliant,
except when i went down and looked at the tiles meeting the skirting,
they didnt tile underneath the skirting and the grout was cracking away and this in my opinion looked really poor as this is a show home and really they should have tiled under the skirting
and that answered my question.