Help!: Large tiles

[homelink]

I am new to tiling and have just completed a tiling job using large 500x250 porcelain tiles. The customer wanted a brick design and as the walls were not completely flat I found it difficult in keeping tiles from laying evenly on the wall especially where they but up to each other, without any pocking out. Have you any advice or is there a special way of fitting this type of tiles and design.

[kilty55]

personally if using a large tile its important for the wall to be in good condition as if they are off and bumpy it will show through on the larger tiles mate i always advise the customer to get them sorted before starting as they will get a much better fibnished product

[SlateR]

The key is as stated above mate, larger tiles show up any discrepencies in the wall so its much better to sort the wall before you lay this form of tile.

if you fancy adding a little more to your job quote then account for the wall preperation and use a render called "Ardex AM100" which is ideal for levelling walls off without plastering it.

[CJ]

The bigger the tile............The flatter the wall needs to be

[bigandy]

The boys have said it all really only thing i can add is laying any tiles brick bond increases the need for flat (or a lot of prep) walls.

[TilingLogistics]

A further complication with large format porcelain is it can be prone to planimetric tolerances (Tile bending). It is always worth checking how flat each tile is prior to fixing. The problem is usually worse if the porcelain is cheap and has been stacked flat as opposed to on its side. It becomes even more apparent when laid brickbond

Kev

[SlateR]

A further complication with large format porcelain is it can be prone to planimetric tolerances (Tile bending).

That is a very good point kev

This guy knows his stuff

[homelink]

Will check every tile from now on. My main trade is carpentry so i do like near perfect joins

[fergie]

also make sure you use the right trowl the larger the tile the larger the notch in the trowel needs to be as to give you more play when pytting on the wall

[whitebeam]

Try to get an adhesive which can a thicker bed if needed, Mapei Keraflex maxi will allow 15mm max beds

[365drills]

Kilty nailed it in point 2. In my own bathroom with the shower I've had a bit of natural movement on the wall so the tile grout has "snapped" or cracked on the top tile row.

Well out of the way for water ingress so not worth disturbing and its hairline so nobody can see it as a flaw.

Oh yes and about the walls, flatter the better for large tiles. Some of mine have kicked out but luckily not too much, Better prep of the wall is always key to large format