Tiling over alternate days

[mikeybhoy]

Hi all,

first time 'tiler' here looking for some advice. I am tiling the kitchen floor in a Wimpey new build. Have prepped the floor with some Wickes SLC (to their destructions, inc their recommended PVA), and although not as smooth or as flat as I had hoped (I thought it would be like glass) it's not too bad. I'll be taking a sander to it later today.

Anyhows, the kitchen is L shaped and the missus has picked some various sized floor tiles which together form an irregular pattern.

Q1) I would like to lay as many of these complete irregular patterns as I can on Day 1, then finish the job (cutting of the tiles to the wall, laying etc.) on Day 2, when hopefully the tiles from Day 1 should be good to walk on. Are there any obvious problems to this approach?

Also, the kitchen previously had lino down, and the living room and hall both have laminate. There was quite a big gap (over 1cm) when stepping down into the kitchen. I have a problem now in that the current door trims are secured to the floor on and under the laminate side (nothing on the lino side - pic here http://www.snugsflooring.co.uk/images/P/23012008238%20(Custom)%20(2).jpg - if this is against forum rules, please delete ), so I have no easy way of removing it for something suitable for both tile and laminate, short of dismantling the laminate floor (not going to happen).

Q2) Do I have any other options other than just tiling up to the present door strips and grouting?

Thanks in advance

Mike

[david campbell]

this would be possible to lay a large part of the floor on the first day and doing your cuts on the second(occasionaly done this myself)just make sure you only leave tiles that neeed cut to the next day,however i think it would save you time to grout the entire floor in one go,it shouldn't be a problem as you can use rapid set for floors that allow them to be grouted and walked on in 3 hours!

could you use a hacksaw blade(removed from hacksaw) to cut the screws under the laminate allowing you to slip out the door bar?

[chris.tiling]

I agree with David re the hacksaw blade - just make sure you wrap something round the end of the blade you are holding!

As for the approach of laying the main field on day one then the edge tiles on the second day - i have done this several times. I would also suggest that you grout the whole lot in one go - use a rapid set adhesive as David says and you can grout in 3 hours after laying them, or grout the following day.

[mikeybhoy]

Thanks for the advice guys.

The missus has had her builder brothers round to inspect my handiwork with the floor so far. They have a 6 foot spirit level (compared to my titchy 1m) and this has highlighted a significant slant from the living room door down towards the adjacent hall door.

They reckon because of this, its not a job they would like to undertake, never mind me attempt it.

On hearing this, the missus was straight on the phone to a recommended tiler.

I'm having to content myself with doing the wall tiles now.

Cheers again

Mike

[faithhealer]

Thanks for the advice guys.

The missus has had her builder brothers round to inspect my handiwork with the floor so far. They have a 6 foot spirit level (compared to my titchy 1m) and this has highlighted a significant slant from the living room door down towards the adjacent hall door.

They reckon because of this, its not a job they would like to undertake, never mind me attempt it.

On hearing this, the missus was straight on the phone to a recommended tiler.

I'm having to content myself with doing the wall tiles now.


Cheers again

Mike

Off the hook then, put your feet up mike