1st Job: Help advise please

[STINGRAY30]

Hey guys need abit of advise.

My mate and i have been doing a tiling course and are goin to start his kitchen on this weekend. Just asking to double check everything before we start.

Tiles are 10 x 10 and are 6mm thick. Is a 6mm trowel ok to use for them????

3 different coloured tiles and my mate was wondering should he do a pattern or just put them on at random?

What size of gap should be left between worktop and tile for the sealant?

He was going to buy unibond adhesive from homebase, is it any good??


Guys was trying to upload picture to give uns a idea but wouldnt let me upload.

Guys thanks for the advise and any erxtra advise would be much appreciated.

Thankyou.

[marc1106]

stingray hello and welcome<

6mm trowels is fine if the walls are smooth!
go for random by making equal numbered stacks of 3 the tiles mixed ( you will probabaly remove and replace as you go cos youl notice a pattern start to form)

i leave the same size gap as the grout line (just check the worktops are level first) and adjust your gap accordingly make sure the grout line doesnt change !

AND no no no no no no no no no no Go to a topps and get the BAL grip expensive but GOOD!

[david campbell]

stingray hello and welcome<

6mm trowels is fine if the walls are smooth!
go for random by making equal numbered stacks of 3 the tiles mixed ( you will probabaly remove and replace as you go cos youl notice a pattern start to form)

i leave the same size gap as the grout line (just check the worktops are level first) and adjust your gap accordingly make sure the grout line doesnt change !

AND no no no no no no no no no no Go to a topps and get the BAL grip expensive but GOOD!

totally spot on except to save ££££ they could use the green star

[Jimpad]

All the above is dead on
But as far as the Three Tile Pattern gos, ask the client what she wants but i would push using some kinda pattern as getting it truly Random is harder and if you agree a pattern with the client there can be no come back and she feels like you value her option.
O yea an wear shoe covers (B&Q) its the small details that build up your rep.

[marc1106]

jimpad forget shoe covers as they get dirty when you step outside the door! give packexe a try self adheisive roll of tough floor covering, its so good it cleans the carpets you stick it to!

[mikel]

I will get this in before someone else does. If you have been on a course,wasn`t this covered? Also if you have paid them good money phone them up with any questions as well to get your moneys` worth. Then post question on this forum to get opinion of others. This way you get a broad cross section of ideas.

[STINGRAY30]

hey mate. already ready did ask the course tutor. just asking you guys to double check b4 we start and hope to get some extra tips.

thanks for your help so far guys.

knew we should be using bal but was just asking to see what yous thought.

[alib103]

6mm trowel no problem

[alib103]

I'd go for some sort of patter, getting it to look totally random is tricky and pattens always start to appear somewhere along the line. As for addy, avoid B+Q, Wickes crap, go for BAL like the guys have said or try Mapei D1, been a bargain at CTD recently and does a cracking job.
I tend not to leave a gap above worktops if they are absolutely level, this has been discussed before and opinions differ.
Good luck anyway

[garretridge]

6mm trowel is fine and i always leave a 2mm gap at worktop for silicone. i would use the mapei addy its as good as you will get as for the pattern stack each colour seperatley and use one at a time or go for a pattern of your choice!

[village tiling]

id go for a staggered pattern for example if the tiles are red,white and blue. go....

W,B,R,W,B,R,W,B...
B,R,W,B,R,W,B...
R,W,B,R,W,B...

its hard too explain it on here. but looks really effective if you continue the pattern round the whole kitchen, plus you tend too use equal amount of all colours coz ya dont want half a box of one colour left over wen u finish.

[div]

mark center off cooker space then check how ur cuts around sockets if all ok start from center off cooker ....spend most off ur time there cooking so nice an equal tiles both ends especially if there is a cooker hood ..best of luck

[STINGRAY30]

hey div, have everything marked and centred out. we are ready to go now we had some great tips from you guys.

thanks everybody.

will try to get pictures up when finished!!!

[davy_G]

I never leave a gap between my first tile and worksurface, bath etc. As over time (years & years) its the surface that moves down and the gap will only get bigger.
Personal choice but im sticking with no gap!

[alib103]

I'm with you there Davy, it seems like a 50/50 split, some leave a gap some don't, personal choice i guess......certainly don;t think it would lead to any failure in the future

[doug boardley]

6mm trowel...fine
silicon joint....3mm
pattern.... ask customer, if going for a random remember that you're going to get clumps of same shade together, this is random,anything else and you inadvertently work a pattern in.
adhesive....go for a decent one, if you use a rapid set powdered you could get grouted same day!

[STINGRAY30]

thanks all you guys!

at least i wont get the mitre cuts wrong!! got a quansol mitre box!!

looks the part!!

shouldnt mess it up!!!!