I'm struggling with getting a level tile finish, please help!

[TheTileCouncil]

Hi Guys and Girls, Sorry I haven't posted before but I usually find what I need using the Search facility!

I've been tiling for a couple of months now and see my results get better with every job (started with friends and family etc). There is one area that I am struggling with though. Could you give me some advice on getting a good flat finish please. When I apply the adhesive it seems uniform but I cannot seem to get a level finish when the tiles are applied. My floor work seems better than my walls.

Overall the finish is satisfactory but that isn't good enough for me, or my customers.

Look forward to your words of wisdom,

Mark, The Tile Council

[kilty55]

hi,maybe checking the walls/floor with a straight edge or a spirit first will highlight any lumps and bumps in the walls/floors then you can skim them off first off all and prepare it for tiling giving you a better finish,,walls always seem to be out as far as im concerned so checking first should definately help you out

[doug boardley]

Hi Guys and Girls, Sorry I haven't posted before but I usually find what I need using the Search facility!

I've been tiling for a couple of months now and see my results get better with every job (started with friends and family etc). There is one area that I am struggling with though. Could you give me some advice on getting a good flat finish please. When I apply the adhesive it seems uniform but I cannot seem to get a level finish when the tiles are applied. My floor work seems better than my walls.

Overall the finish is satisfactory but that isn't good enough for me, or my customers.

Look forward to your words of wisdom,

Mark, The Tile Council

what trowel do you use mark, don't mean to be patronising but are you getting enough adhesive on your substrate to fill minor discrepencies? Bit baffled about the extract I've highlighted!

[cornish_crofter]

I would second that. I had the same problem when I first started. The job I'm doing now started out with a few crooked walls. I used some SPF (Single Part Flexi) adhesive to level one area out this evening.

The target, because I asked on here last night, is 3 to 4mm deviation in 2m.

[whitebeam]

Are you using tubbed or powdered adhesive, Also what size tiles are talking about here

[TheTileCouncil]

what trowel do you use mark, don't mean to be patronising but are you getting enough adhesive on your substrate to fill minor discrepencies? Bit baffled about the extract I've highlighted!

I use a regular 6mm notch trowel, nothing special.

The bit you highlighted was that the customer was satisfied, so the job was ok, but I wasn't. I have pretty high standards which I see as a good thing

Thanks for your reply

[TheTileCouncil]

Are you using tubbed or powdered adhesive, Also what size tiles are talking about here

I've tried both adys but with similar results.

Tiles have been quite large, 30x45's and 25x35's which I know will exagerate any discrepancies in the wall etc.

[davy_G]

hope you use a 10mm notch for floors or even a u shaped 20mm for large formats. Makes bedding them in level easier......unless they are rectified, then its just always difficult!

[whitebeam]

I Would use powder for that size and depending the walls, If there bad I would use 10mm trowel, Have even used 12mm because they were all over the place and the tiles were large. The customer did'nt want the plastering done but paid extra for adhesive and my time

[TheTileCouncil]

hope you use a 10mm notch for floors or even a u shaped 20mm for large formats. Makes bedding them in level easier......unless they are rectified, then its just always difficult!

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that!

Cheers matey

[TheTileCouncil]

I Would use powder for that size and depending the walls, If there bad I would use 10mm trowel, Have even used 12mm because they were all over the place and the tiles were large. The customer did'nt want the plastering done but paid extra for adhesive and my time

I might give that a try,

Cheers

[Dave Ramsden]

laser level, range of good levels and maybe a 6' ali feather edge.

Keep persevering buddy and you will shine through, if I can do it... anyone can :P

[AllurePTS]

I know where you're coming from mate ....I'm not that experienced myself but here's what I've learned that's really improved my quality -

1) There is no substitute for a Full Asessment and Proper Preparation ...get your substrate as square, level and straight as you possibly can ....You'll normally be able to sort out a lot of problems at this stage and at least then if there's any parts you cannot do anything about, you'll know in advance and have a plan for them.

2) Assess your tiles before you use them ....couple of boxes at a time maybe (depends how you need to work) .....I never cease to be amazed at how many tiles can be warped, out of size etc ....you don't necessarily notice how bad some of them are when you first put them on ....so - best to check first and reserve the worse ones for cuts

3) Personally I always use an 8mm Trowel for walls ....I would only use a 6 if they were exceptionally good ....as the others have said - always be prepared to go up a notch if it makes sense.

4) Always use a good quality powdered adhesive (Bal or Mapei for me) ....I might get shot down in flames for saying this but, personally - I would only consider using tubbed addy on smaller tiles with exceptionally good walls nowadays.

5) Good quality spirit levels make a difference too ....personally, I use Stabila Girder series

Cheers

[Oli]

A bit of a basic but good tip is to mark your level, a on one end b on the other. or 1 and 2 etc, then as you use it to mark a line around the room, flip it round from end to end as you go, this will compensate for the degree of error on the levelness of the level so to speak.

[bigandy]

some cracking advise for you there pal it really is in your initial look and preparation.

[tile55]

In my opinion the best thing that you can do, is to make sure that the wall is as level/flat as possible before you start to put tiles on the wall. It is much harder to get tiles to lay flat by relying on the tile adhesive. The more level the wall is, the easier it is to get the tiles to be laying flat.
There has been some excellent suggestions on here already, and the only thing that you can do now is to practice and get the experiance.

[whitebeam]

Look at this site for angle plane for reducing high spots Refina Ltd Scrapers Scarifiers & Planes

[mike62]

how much time did you spent working as apprentice

[J4CK THE RIPPER]

i always lay a row of tiles then use my level to gently push the tiles flat.