Pictures: Just the tiling/working with other trades

[macten]

Just finished tiling a little bathroom in a 3rd floor apartment. Had to cut all the tiles on a little balcony and lugging all the tiles/tools was a right pain.
This will be a full refurb when complete but I wish they'd gone straight to me for the lot, blank canvas/correct prep and all that. They've got a builder, a plumber, a spreader and me for just the tiling.

The old toilet had been leaking for months so half the chipboard floor was rotten and it didn't look to clever under the old bath. I advised them to take the lot up and replace with 22mm ply.

The old bath and tiles had been letting water through to the wall and rotted what looked like boards made of straw - never seen them before but if you come across them DON'T drill into them! I advised the wall be removed and rebuilt with Hardie500.

The shower/tap end of bath was PB with too much flex in, I advised this be removed which will allow the plumber good access to the pipework and then restud with new PB. I also suggested that whilst the floor was up that the rad pipes that were running along the wall (all pipework was surface mounted) be run under the floor for a new towel Rad.

Go to start the job and end up taking all the 1st day putting right all the prep by so called pro's

[macten]

They'd only removed the damaged bit of floor and replaced with 18mm ply.
The plumber looked like he'd spent 5 mins bending pipe with his knee.
He's supplying the Rad and although the centers look OK I know for a fact that they're too close to the wall (this wall will be skimmed and painted)

So first job was to spend 2 mins widening the notch in the joist to give the pipes enough play, then I have to go off to get wood and NMP to sort floor.

[david campbell]

working with other tradesmen you don't know is always a total hassle,everyone seems to blame each other when anything goes wrong,everyone seems to know the other trades better than there own and everyone leaves things hoping the next person will sort it out for them! ultimately you as the tiler are last in and draw the short straw! i now insist to customers they use plumbers and joiners(trusted friends and tradesmen) that i know,it works quite well as they know what each other expects and theres no excuses because they will get the urine extracted from them the next card game we all meet!

[macten]

Was about to make a start on the bath panel frame and noticed the silicone around the bath felt wrong and it looked like it was pulling away from the wall. I filled the bath and all this cheap fake silicon failed as the floor sagged under the weight. So had to remove all this 'silicone', raise bath a little by putting off cuts of wood under the feet to help spread the load and re-silicone.
Back to starting on the bath panel frame and realise although the shower wall has been reboarded the studs just finished 6'' above the floor. They must have removed the old foot plate when repairing floor but not bothered putting a new one in, so now the wall flexed more than ever!
Back to Wickes to get more wood.

I know my solution ain't pretty but it did the job and I was losing out on an entire day.

[macten]

working with other tradesmen you don't know is always a total hassle,everyone seems to blame each other when anything goes wrong,everyone seems to know the other trades better than there own and everyone leaves things hoping the next person will sort it out for them! ultimately you as the tiler are last in and draw the short straw! i now insist to customers they use plumbers and joiners(trusted friends and tradesmen) that i know,it works quite well as they know what each other expects and theres no excuses because they will get the urine extracted from them the next card game we all meet!

Totally agree mate - and this I have now learned. I don't particularly enjoy tiling but I like refurbishing bathrooms and the tiling isn't so bad if I've done all the rip out, prep and first fix myself as I know what causes tilers problems.

[macten]

One thing they did that was good was replacing the old damaged bathwall:

[macten]

5th job in a row using these tiles now, they see them in my portfolio and decide they want them too - at least the wave cut put pay to brickbond

[macten]

Finished my bit though I don't like leaving things incomplete but I've done what I was employed to do and then some.





Although I was annoyed at all the extra work it has definitely paid off.
They want me back for full ensuite and kitchen floor and splashie.
Add to this the customer's Dad popped by and I have landed his full bathroom refurb including knocking through into toilet and the floor tiles will run through bathroom, part hallway and kitchen so a lot of work there!!

[david campbell]

very nice work! looks well smart
"5th job in a row using these tiles now, they see them in my portfolio and decide they want them too - at least the wave cut put pay to brickbond " are you getting commision from topps lol

[macten]

Cheers David,
Cheaper at Tile Giant

[Fred]

very nice indeed. Must have been a pain that brown / cream tile in the corner wall.

[kilty55]

thats the trouble being last man in so to speak,,iv come across it a lot especially doing work for builders and joiners the trades before you couldnt care less as they aint finishing the job,,oh by the way nice bathroom

[Dave]

Thanks for the pics and nice job...get it entered into aprils job of the month...

[faithhealer]

very nice indeed. Must have been a pain that brown / cream tile in the corner wall.

Were you thinking the same fred, wall would have to be dead square for a full tile?

Looks the biz Mate

Is that an extraction fan near the floor?

[macten]

Thanks for the comments guys - just split with GF so anything positive helps right now.
There was a powered extractor fan on the opposite wall by the ceiling. No windows in the room so I assume the bit I did near the floor was to allow enough air into the room with the fan on and the door shut.

[Rob Z]

Macten,

I the wave tiles in the corner.

[macten]

[stevee]

fair play mate ,looks the biz,steve