Floor or Wall First

[cowgomoo]

Hello everyone out there, a quick question if you please. I have 4 ensuite shower rooms to do after Christmas requiring full height tiling on the walls. On the floor the spec is for a rubberised insulating matting, then underfloor heating matting then the tile, so this is a walls or floors first scenario. I reckon the lowest tile on the wall will be a full tile leaving a 120 ml cut to the ceiling or would you put this cut on the floor leaving a full tile to the ceiling. Wall tiles are 600x300, floor 300 x 300 and the lines have to match. I am supervising the job on site and would like to look like I know what I am talking about ( there is a first time for everything ). Thank you in advance and Merry Christmas David.

[whitebeam]

Me personally would tile the floor first to protect the ufh, Sheet/cover the floor tiles then proceed with walls, Then no problem with your tile lines

[RITE TOUCH]

Same as whitebeam for me too!!!

[chris.tiling]

Agree...floor first, then cover it and do walls

[doug boardley]

yes me too,have you tried striking a datum round the centre of the wall and working it so you have equal cuts at floor and ceiling line?

[medlar]

yes me too,have you tried striking a datum round the centre of the wall and working it so you have equal cuts at floor and ceiling line?

i would mark it out same as Doug

[user123]

i would mark it out same as Doug

Yes, me, too, (we all went to the same course, obviously...;-) but, sticking my neck out here, I would start with the walls, as I understand the underfloor heating matting isn't down yet and could be put down after the walls are done?

[tile55]

yes me too,have you tried striking a datum round the centre of the wall and working it so you have equal cuts at floor and ceiling line?

It would depend on other factors aswell, ie. where does the tile fall regarding the top of the window and window ledge, you don't want to end up with a 1/2 inch cut tile under the window.

Personally I would tile the floor first as specified in a previous post, then line up the wall tiles.

[medlar]

Yes, me, too, (we all went to the same course, obviously...;-) but, sticking my neck out here, I would start with the walls, as I understand the underfloor heating matting isn't down yet and could be put down after the walls are done?

ya not sticking ya neck out,as you are not on your own here,i would start with the walls but leave the bottom course of tiles off,then complete the floor,then finish the walls off

[user123]

ya not sticking ya neck out,as you are not on your own here,i would start with the walls but leave the bottom course of tiles off,then complete the floor,then finish the walls off

Yes, exactly, medlar, that's what I would do, too, but was worried I was sounding too girly ...

[medlar]

Yes, exactly, medlar, that's what I would do, too, but was worried I was sounding too girly ...

Tiling is a feminist sport anyway

[user123]

Tiling is a feminist sport anyway

Not quite , but sentiment is appreciated...

[medlar]

Not quite , but sentiment is appreciated...

well mum said if i was a good boy i would get lots of goodies off santa

[doug boardley]

It would depend on other factors aswell, ie. where does the tile fall regarding the top of the window and window ledge, you don't want to end up with a 1/2 inch cut tile under the window.

Personally I would tile the floor first as specified in a previous post, then line up the wall tiles.

i agree,jsut as a rule of thumb i suggested that, there are windows, door heights etc to take into account

[Dave]

It's all in the setting out......either way is fine.......which ever way you find easiest is the way to go......

[user123]

It's all in the setting out......either way is fine.......which ever way you find easiest is the way to go......

hmmm, asking the Master here, isn't it more time efficient not to have to wait for the floor tiling to dry before you can get on with the walls? Seems unnecessarily risky to me to trample all over a newly tiled floor and having to be careful no to drop any adhesive or other debris from cutting tiles etc if starting at the top makes it all much more logical? The proper setting out takes care of all the obstacles anyhow...so from that point of view I agree it doesn't matter, but starting with the floor just seems weird to me....

[Dave]

I do walls first Gisela......but like i said...no 2 fixers work the same way...so what ever gives a fixer his/her desired result then it is fine.....

As long as you set out and double check all meeting points for wall and floor will match joint wise then no probs..

[user123]

Dave -...no 2 fixers work the same way...so what ever gives a fixer his/her desired result then it is fine.....


A perfect example of 'Experience breeds Wisdom, Wisdom breeds Tolerance', (sign of the Master...)

[doug boardley]

Yes, me, too, (we all went to the same course, obviously...;-) but, sticking my neck out here, I would start with the walls, as I understand the underfloor heating matting isn't down yet and could be put down after the walls are done?

not me Gisela! on site learning for me!

[user123]

not me Gisela! on site learning for me!

Ah, wow, reassuring to know then that what you say makes sense to me:-), must have learnt something:-)

[MICK the Tiler]

Floors first for me, But as Dave and others have said you can do walls first, I've found, however there is more pressure on you as regard to set-out, which will need to be spot on if you intend to line the walls with the floors.

I normally have alot more than 1 bathroom floor to tile at a time, so as far as time goes it isn't a concern for me I just pack up and move to the next bathroom floor.

I can fix a standard bathroom floor in a couple of hours in ceramics, so even if I have just the 1 floor to do for the day I've still made money.

My advice would be try it both ways and find out which suits your syle of tilng and stick with that.

[doug boardley]

Ah, wow, reassuring to know then that what you say makes sense to me:-), must have learnt something:-)

yes, along the way lol, but since I've been a member on the forums I've decided to unlearn some of my old ways, and I believe I'll be a better tiler for it! nisi dominus frustra!

[Dave]

yes, along the way lol, but since I've been a member on the forums I've decided to unlearn some of my old ways, and I believe I'll be a better tiler for it! nisi dominus frustra!

That's the type of comments i like to hear doug.....This forum even keeps lads/lasses who have been in the trade a lot of years upto date on new methods/materials and products on the market.

This to me is a very good thing, this keeps you one step ahead of the guys etc that won't budge from their old school methods.. including the phrase .OH !! I have always used pva and never had a problem...or i have used dispersion adhesive on 600x400 tiles for yrs never had a problem, mmmm you have never had a problem coz you have never been called back...I know lads who use dispersion on large format porcelain on walls and won't be told any different....thats where this forum comes in and helps those that will listen that THIS is the way to do it..

I know we all have our little ways that we like to do things but in an around about way it is still the same methods used...CORRECT methods used...

And i don't think you will be the last to say , i didn't realise that it should be done that way etc.....

thanks doug nice comments....the members on here do try very hard to make us number one for advice...

...

[mark l]

walls but leave out bottom course, then floor, put in bottom course after, cut at ceiling cant trust it to be totally level ceiling to leave a full tile ..but as been said, each to their own!!

[user123]

yes, along the way lol, but since I've been a member on the forums I've decided to unlearn some of my old ways, and I believe I'll be a better tiler for it! nisi dominus frustra!

lol I meant I must have learnt something, to understand people like you :-) !!

[cowgomoo]

Thank you all for the feedback, to illuminate further - there are no windows in any of these areas but there are areas that have to be left out for mirror fixing later and also bathroom cabinets that are sunk in the walls that have to be tiled around making it all a basic middle and out job. My main concern is the overall depth of all matting, adhesive and tile which could take 20mm off the bottom tile. So after reflection and your helpful comments I think I will set out the walls first, but not tile them, to get the floor lines, do the floor and then finish with the walls. I have access to a ton of Corex so protection will be no problem. What do you reckon ?? David.