Replacing skirting before or after tiling floor?

[Newtiler723]

Hi - I have followed these boards and just laid a new floor in the kitchen and although not perfect it isn't bad.

I removed the skirting and tiled up to the walls. The old skirting was just that cheap 2.5 inch pine stuff that seemed to be nailed into the walls with 4" nails for some reason. As a result lots of the plaster came off as well.

The new skirting is about 4" MDF. When the chippie came to fit the new skirting - mitres etc he said that I should have had the skirting fitted first in case I have to replace a tile. I personally think it looks better not seeing the cut edges at all but I can see the point. Skirts were gripfilled and a few masonery nails where the walls were so far out.

MY QUESTION IS? What is the correct practice as I am just about to follow through into the hallway and I am a loss as to get him back to fit skirting first or just do as I have in the kitchen?

My thoughts are there are less chances of breaking - by dropping something then there are in the kitchen. Can anyone help please as it will determine my setting out?

The tiles are PEI rated 4 - but they were bought as Ceramic tiles for heavy domestic / light commercial use.

Also wanted to ask about the porcelain rubbers that was in Dougs post about PEI rating. I have a black scratch on my basin and toilet from careless plumbers - rings / tools? Will they get rid of them?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[doug boardley]

I prefer to sit skirtings onto tiles mate, if you get a breakage you're going to have to break the tile into bits to get it out anyway. The only problem being is if only half the room is tiled and the skirting would have to be ripped down to sit on the floor tiles

[Newtiler723]

Thanks a lot of the quick reply! I guess that is sorted then. I will go with what a tiler says than a chippy.

That is kind of what I thought - if it breaks - which I hope they won't, for a long while anyway - then it will need to be hacked out even from underneath the skirting.

As regards the porcelain rubber thingy - do you know if they will get those black marks off my basin and bog? Tried all sorts, even some "magic sponge" by JML that appeared to do that. I may write to the ASA to let them know it is false advertising!

But the porcelain rubber seems like the ideal thing but I don't really want to shell out £20 for 2 scratches. I guess it may be an investment for the future.

Cheers

[frogeye]

just a thought newtiler

have you tried a product called PEEK - it is a polishing paste sold in a tube and is ideal for ceramics etc. I had a black tool mark over a few tiles (caused by a poor tiler raking out the grout - okay it was me!) It works a treat, needs a bit of elbow grease and perseverance but it removed a nasty black mark that had resisted all other attempts. I used it with the polishing bit on my dremel. Although I haven't tried it I bet Solvol autosol ( chrome cleaner) that I use on my classic car would do it.

frogeye

[Newtiler723]

Thanks for the advice - I don't own a Dremel but I did find a product earlier - a porcelain rubber and can't remember the name of it or where to get it, that seems like the ideal thing.

China rubber, porcelain rubber - something like that but with a brand name!!! Doh..

Thanks for your help anyway

New

[Tubsy]

get some astonish paste from betterware (£2.50) works a treat on china me old china , i'm always marking sinks and stuff with my wedding ring and it just rubs off with that.

[Newtiler723]

Thanks for the reply - I know that our local discount DIY store sell astonish products so they probably sell that too. Will give it a try. That is probably what the plumbers marked it with in the first place.

Cheers

[Dave]

If the plumbers marked it then get them to sort it..

[dnnyby111]

hi mate, you can buy a bath rubber from local plumbing merchants for about £5 i've used mine a few times works well and lasts for ages hope that helps!

[jay]

hi just out of curiosity for the tilers that lay first skirt later do you go back and silicon or not

[Newtiler723]

hi just out of curiosity for the tilers that lay first skirt later do you go back and silicon or not

In my case there is no real need. I ain't a pro and the levels are not perfect but the skirt covers up - not bad, to 3mm cuts - and looks a hellava lot better.

I cannot see any real point in siliconing under the skirts - any dirt or grub can easily be sucked up.

Cheers

[frogeye]

depends whether you have an open void behind the wall. At ground floor level in an old house you will get draughts and dust. If you have open or real fires the air transport throughout the house will result in loads of dust.

Seal if you can is my advice - plus it's one less place for those £1 coins to roll!

frogeye

[Newtiler723]

depends whether you have an open void behind the wall. At ground floor level in an old house you will get draughts and dust. If you have open or real fires the air transport throughout the house will result in loads of dust.

Seal if you can is my advice - plus it's one less place for those £1 coins to roll!

frogeye

God almighty - I think we are on different levels here - quite literally!! Fit a £1 coin under there??!! I have gaps where at max you would be able to squeeze 10 rizla papers - that's it.

As to skirting boards keeping out drafts in old houses I do not agree - unless you have holes in the walls!! You are more likely to get draughts from flooring boards - if tiled no probs - and doorways.

Thanks for the reply though. If tiled properly then you can lay the skirting on top and fix - and there should be no gap.

To seal or not to seal - that is the question!! Entirely up to you. I choose not to as I can't fit £1 coins under and I have a decent hoover who sucks the dust up well.

Cheers

[frogeye]

I live in an old house. It was originally designed for open fires. There are air vents below the damp proof course front and back and vents in the gable end at various heights. There is good air circulation in the void. Most of this is not really required now with central heating etc
With the amount of settlement my house has been through, believe me a £1 coin will easily disappear under the skirting where I have solid floors

It is a lovely fine but draughty old house. Building standards will have certainly improved ventilation and heat loss now

But as you say each to his own.

[bluesky]

well laid flat floor = skirting on top with minimal gaps - no need for silicone - perfect

[whitebeam]

If your working on new development the place would be decorated first, so no skirting coming off

[Gazebo]

I love my bath rubber.



Gary the usually very careful plumber.