hi, can anyone give advice on my first small victorian/geometric tiling job?

its a 2 meter sq. porch area made of concrete.
the final tile/design choice is yet to be made but it will consist of a border running around the perimeter and geometric tiles in the center.
its a completely sqaure area too.. which is nice.

i would say i am a semi pro tiler (and always learning) so i have a fair idea but could do with a nudge in the right direction.

so.. do i fit the border around the perimeter first or start from the hallway door wall and work back to the front door, fitting the borders as i go?

is there anything i need to know about spacing? trowel size? adhesive? grout? etc.

any advice would be very helpful tiles will be monmouth and cardigan design

i would definately do the field pattern 1st and then the border last..

theres some top experts in this area of tiling on here mate

ed

Originally Posted by AstonTiling

i would definately do the field pattern 1st and then the border last..

theres some top experts in this area of tiling on here mate

ed

Bang on there Ed, I alway do field first. Setting out is all important, take your time

thanks, but would that not make it more difficult to fit the border especialy if the area is not completely square. if i get the field tiles in first then come to fit the border and the walls running in i would then have to cut into the border?

i think am just trying to see any problems b4 i start.
thanks again.

if you set out correctly, then you should allow for you field pattern to have enough room to accomodate the border and then an area around the edge to blend in...

If you search victorian floors, you will find setting out by timeless John. Or look at my albums

also, spf adhesive & 2mm spacers and grey grout as the predominant colour.
as i stated, there are people on here with masses of knowledge in this particular area ie designs, restoration, cleaning so hand about and i am sure you'll get the answers you need mate
hope its helped you a bit
ed

thankyou very much for all your advice. i will spend time and time setting out b4 i start. if i stumble on anymore problems i will be back mithering anyone.
once again thankyou.

And pics..

Hi Russ,
I usually measure everything inc borders and then set out using a long border and short run unless all the sides are equal then doesn't matter which sides you pick. you must also inc for a variable this is the tile set against the wall or skirting failure to do this could mean shaving part of your border tiles which is a bad look .

You can then start with a tile in the corner which should be a precise 90 degree angle most geo floors are set out so they run as a 45 degree angle and yes you are correct if you don't get the border & variable tile set properly then you will end up with a lousy job.

Also if the field is put in first which is the usual way most tilers do all floors starting from a centre point and hopefully having done a parrellel measure ? then snapping lines to form 4 equal squares.

That is fine for the likes of 300x300 but doesn't work very well on a geometric of any size.

You need to ascertain the border position and allowing for the size of the variable then put your best two sides in this may mean the the cut variable differs slightly on the other side to allow for a curve or run in a wall or skirting but thats why it's called a variable.

hope this has helped and i have ben laying & setting these out all over the planet for over 38 years so i think i may have a good idea on how to do them by now.

Small ones are just as difficult as you see the floor in it's entirety.
Cheers Steve
check pics in album

whoooo.. after reading that am just going to get a paper round! big issue anyone?

thankyou for the pro advice you def sound like youve done it once or twice. i do have an understanding of what you mean. I am going to copy and paste what you have writen and use it along side me when i start. i think only experience can teach how to do this type of work professionaly. But we must all start somewhere. thankyou once again.

Originally Posted by Russw77

whoooo.. after reading that am just going to get a paper round! big issue anyone?

thankyou for the pro advice you def sound like youve done it once or twice. i do have an understanding of what you mean. I am going to copy and paste what you have writen and use it along side me when i start. i think only experience can teach how to do this type of work professionaly. But we must all start somewhere. thankyou once again.

So so true... measure and measure again before you stick em..

just had a look at techmans pics. very well done mate is all i can say you must very proud. i will post some pics when finished. still waiting for there choices. thanks again for all the help. cheers lads.

Thanks Rob ref kind words on my pics If you have the pattern picked send details to me i'll give you more specific info then.
Cheers Steve