1st Job: Tester project pic

[DIYwoman]

Hi all,

Its been awhile since I posted. Finished my porch sometime ago but didn't get round to taking a picture. Here it is. I know, I know! the gap between the tiles are a tad too much but this is what was suggested by the Toppe Tiles guy. I was left with a 4.5cm gap and had to spread this.
I haven't cleaned the grout properly - you only notice it when the ground is dry so now I must spend time scraping off the bits that have dried on forever!
Anyway, I can now move on to tiling the toilet - a small room but many challenges and I certainly will be back with a host of questions.
In the meantime, I brace myself for your comments - I am thick skinned enough to handle the most negative!
cheers!

[doit4u]

Well done for having a go. Bit difficult to give a verdict on the result when as you say there is still grout on the tiles. You said you had to spread the gap, presumably across the narrow section of the porch that has the smaller edge tiles. It would have probably looked better if you had tried to achieve the same gap between the large tiles on the longer run.

[DIYwoman]

Your right. It would have looked more balanced if I had done it along the length. Also, the lines do look wobbly and thats because everytime I wiped the grout, it kept leaking out and eventually I gave up and now it has set over the tiles. Might have to go to work with a chisel as it has been a while.
cheers

[user123]

Hi all,


I haven't cleaned the grout properly - you only notice it when the ground is dry so now I must spend time scraping off the bits that have dried on forever!

Hi, diy woman well done!, never as easy as it sounds is it.
As to cleaning the bits of grout, get yourself a bottle of LTP grout stain remover (cement, limescale and efflorescence remover, as it says on the bottle) and follow the instructions which are very straightforward. I have used this lots and you'll find it easy. Chisel? no don't go there...

Good luck with the toilet, helps if you are a contortionist, but just keep picturing the final end result and it will get you there, vision is everything.....



And if you find you really enjoy tiling, why not go to a course to learn it all the much easier way straight from the experts? You never knwo where it may lead...People go on cooking and allsorts of hobby courses just because they want to improve their skills in something they enjoy doing, tiling courses can have that place, too, I loved every minute of mine...

[doug boardley]

onwards and upwards,well done for having a bash!

[DIYwoman]

Hey, Mosaic girl, you are the culprit getting people to do courses!The husband would divorse me as I am already neglecting the domestic chores and spending my time tinkering with details sanders and scewdrivers. He is disappointed that I have put power tools on my xmas list instead of lace underwear and killer heels! (personally, I am the trainers and rucksack type!).

After the bathroom, I wonder if I would need to tile again. I will be moving to the outside painting and might have to abandon you guys and join a builders forum!

Thank you for the suggestion re grout remover. Xmas list?! I'll certainly need it for my next project as well.
And tell me, since your course have you done much tiling? I am certainly going on a electrics and plumbing course. Let me know if there is good basic one around.
cheers!

[garretridge]

well done i wish my wife would tile are house leave me more time to earn some money best of luck !

[user123]

I am already neglecting the domestic chores and spending my time tinkering with details sanders and scewdrivers. He is disappointed that I have put power tools on my xmas list instead of lace underwear and killer heels! (personally, I am the trainers and rucksack type!).

Thank you for the suggestion re grout remover. Xmas list?! I'll certainly need it for my next project as well.
And tell me, since your course have you done much tiling? I am certainly going on a electrics and plumbing course. Let me know if there is good basic one around.
cheers!

Hey, Diy woman,

as to husband, christmas lists and trainers - SNAP SNAP SNAP! Went shopping with hubby in Topps Tiles yesterday where I now have a trade account, oh yummy a bag full of goody tools for Christmas, with my man not knowing whether to laugh or shake his head, but proud of his somewhat unusual woman!

As to how much tiling I have done since, well it's just beginning - I have been given a small kitchen job with feature (perfect!!) for February, and am just starting an extremely ambitious art mosaic and tiling combination project in our own ensuite, where everything has to be ripped out, basin moved etc, no idea what's behind the walls yet..but have started the mosaic work and can hardly sleep with the excitement of it, seeing the finished picture in my mind in detail already, so I'm having a ball! (Pictures of before and after will be posted when it's done, or half way through as well, don't know yet.)

Went into Topps Tiles and was so chuffed recognising the products, understanding what I need and don't now and in future and the staff there were so enthusiastic about a woman tiler offering something unusual as well they want me to put cards and leaflets on their reception top, so that was really good, kind of jumping up and down about it all.

As to plumbing and electrician course, know nothing about the latter and only of the bathroom plumbing course in South Shields which will be too far for you I imagine. Oh, but good luck to you, doing up your place is just so satisfying isn't it? And tools, well you can't have enough of them, can you...yummy things making dreams possible...

Keep in touch!

[Dave]

I am certainly going on a electrics and plumbing course. Let me know if there is good basic one around.
cheers!

This will be perfect for you where you are based... Plumbing course | Construction Training | Electrician Courses | DIY Skills

[user123]

This will be perfect for you where you are based... Plumbing course | Construction Training | Electrician Courses | DIY Skills

Isn't he amazing? DIY woman, Dave is like the Tiler's God talking to you..he knows everything.... just look at the number of his posts... and he actually does tiling too, probably wears an anorak, but who cares?....

[Dave]

Errr..... Less of the anorak .... ..... ....

[user123]

Errr..... Less of the anorak .... ..... ....

thought that might cause outrage

No offence intended as we all know that God has a sense of humour

[doug boardley]

more of a flasher mac!!

[user123]

more of a flasher mac!!

ah, you obviously know him better than I do....hmm...but interesting nonetheless ....Sorry DIY woman, we are ruining your thread here,

[DIYwoman]

Garret, the hubby does appreciate what I do after all who wouldn't want to save a bit of money. He is the sort that would buy a new car if the windscreen wipers are not working so my enthusiasm (don't know about the skills) keeps him in awe. However, I do wish I was a domestic goddess- I so hate house work but I am a fantastic cook, though. I make the best sticky toffee chocolate pudding in the world!

Mosaic girl, I am mighty impressed to say the least. I aspire to be like you but with a shoulder pain (from carrying a heavy rucksack for a whole week) and tennis elbow(from wallpapering), heavy work is out at least for the moment. Did some of the skills come from Osteopathy?! ( I guessed right?).

As for anoraks and flasher macs, who cares. A guy who can tile is mega cool!!!

Dave, thanks for pointing out the courses. If I became semi skilled, I might just be hanging on around here a bit longer.

[Dave]

No probs........we have members on here who are multi skilled and can advise on most trades...so don't just dissapear yet..lol lol

[365drills]

Well done!

Good first attempt. For my two penneth I would just say that I would not have done the borders. Just the tiles.



Your my favourite DIYwoman. Just dont tell the others....

[user123]

Mosaic girl, I am mighty impressed to say the least. I aspire to be like you but with a shoulder pain (from carrying a heavy rucksack for a whole week) and tennis elbow(from wallpapering), heavy work is out at least for the moment. Did some of the skills come from Osteopathy?! ( I guessed right?).

I thought I had answered this?! Wow, thanks for the compliments lol (hubby was groaning in response and is thinking of starting a tilers' husbands anonymous support group) and yes, you guessed correctly...so if your shoulder and elbow or any other joints are still troubling you from basic strain, go and get yourself (from Hollands & Barratts or similar):

the homeopathic Rhus Tox C6 and Arnica C6,

take them, placed under your tongue, alternately three daily doses each (two pilules each time) spread over the first two days, then, if improvement is noticeable which it should, reduce down to two doses the next two and down to 1 the next two.

Must be taken with at least 20 minutes gap either way from any food, drink, toothpaste, and smoking in general seriously impedes effectiveness, so does alcohol really....but worth going for anyhow, you'll find it an amazing, safe and effective standby. Brilliant for soft tissue injuries including whiplash etc... Arnica cream directly on the joints is good, too, especially in support of above suggestion. Or there is the old ginger compress - any questions just send me a private message (click on my name, then profile, then contact....)

Merry Christmas to you and a happily busy 2009!

[MICK the Tiler]

To be fair it looks like you have chosen a 600x300 porcelain tile with a mosaic border, a combination that would test a pro's patience. So well done for having a go with this type of tile.

I think if it were up to me I would have chosen a smaller format say 200x200 in a darkish shade to maybe match the crazy paving just outside the doorway, they would also been less trouble for you to fix as well. Larger format tiles are always harder to fix.

Practice makes perfect so on the next tiling project triple check your set-out and perhaps choose a smaller format tile which will be alot easier to master, you could even cut and lay them out dry to check your set-out before commiting to fixing them down.

All in all a good effort for having a go with larger format tiles.

[DIYwoman]

Hi Mick, I know what you mean. I was wondering why I was struggling with it! The complications involved in the types and sizes of tiles are not obvious to you until you start working with them. The colour is wrong - I have to keep cleaning up the footmarks. Now a large door mat covers most of my work! If I was to read up on every tiling issue, I'd never get anywhere. However, I grin from ear to ear when friends gloat over how beautiful it looks!

(stop laughing your pros)

Mosaic girl, you are really going to laugh now. I am a qualified homeopath amongst other things! Have tried the rhus tox, arnica and many besides. On Devil' claw, glucosomine and Baileys right now. Rum with ice is not bad either.

Drills, the border is a girl thing. We aim to be artistic. Thanks for making me your favourite diy women. Looks like I have very high standards to maintain!

[user123]

Mosaic girl, you are really going to laugh now. I am a qualified homeopath amongst other things! Have tried the rhus tox, arnica and many besides. On Devil' claw, glucosomine and Baileys right now. Rum with ice is not bad either.!

Weyhey!! We are obviously of similar ilk, women of many talents :-)... strongly approve of your choices following the arnica and rhus tox... I like Baileys, and rum, too, actually, I think my shoulder is hurting a bit.... ouch, and my elbow, too.. OUUCHH....pass us a glass.... quickly.....

(Devils claw is fabulous stuff IMO, never get on with glucosamine, though...mystery to me, never does a thing....)

[Dave]

AHHH!!! thats 2 of them now..........ones even tried to get me to have Ginger.......I ain't goin anywhere near WIVERS......

[user123]

AHHH!!! thats 2 of them now..........ones even tried to get me to have Ginger.......I ain't goin anywhere near WIVERS......

lol...yes, but honey, we're cute as well as clever... lol....and why Wivers??

DIY woman, your presence is much welcome on this forum

[Dave]

.. lol....and why Wivers??

You mean to say you don't know!!!!!...



He's a GINGER!!!

[DIYwoman]

couldn't resist coming back!
Wivers? Is that a northern expression, a typo or tilers jargon? I have been called worse things...

You certainly don't avoid us. We are the sort that can lie under the stars and not complain about roughing it, great to take out to a pub and can fix your stomachs (remember the ginger...), backs whatever.

Tell the husband to join us. We offer a different perspective!

[Dave]

No wivers is a member on here.....and he's a GINGER and proud of it...lol lol lol lol...

[user123]

You mean to say you don't know!!!!!...



He's a GINGER!!!

No, I never!!! lol

[user123]

couldn't resist coming back!
Wivers? Is that a northern expression, a typo or tilers jargon? I have been called worse things...

You certainly don't avoid us. We are the sort that can lie under the stars and not complain about roughing it, great to take out to a pub and can fix your stomachs (remember the ginger...), backs whatever.

Tell the husband to join us. We offer a different perspective!

Couldn't resist coming back - that's EXACTLY how it starts, you know....

The rest - right on....now where is the baileys....

[DIYwoman]

very cryptic indeed! Ginger is fine, Wivers isn't. Wivers needs to come onboard to unravel this one. Shame it didn't mean something really intriguing.

[Dave]

This is wivers.......




and if you ask him nicely he will show you his mankini..lol