Do I need to use Battens?

[cass]

i have only been tiling 2 years would you advise me to keep to the batten method or just use a Strong grip adhesive if so what brand of adhesive would you recommend

[Dave]

If the battens work for you then why change cass.....

[larmar]

Better sticking to the battons unless they are very small light tiles

[davy_G]

Im fixing 600x300 porcelain to walls at the mo. Id like to see an adhesive keep them from slipping! Portrait, not my choice!

[cass]

thanks guys first computer can see me using this forum a lot in the future

[CDS]

Always use battens, prob don't need to now but I know once they're up and 'level' I don't need to worry about grout lines being 'out'. Maybe adds to labour / setting out time but it's peace of mind for me.

[doug boardley]

not very often I use battens these days, but you need to be spot on with your datum line if you're going battenless

[david campbell]

not very often I use battens these days, but you need to be spot on with your datum line if you're going battenless

you make it sound sooooooooo dirty!

[doug boardley]

LOL @ David

[Fred]

With the ever increasing demand for these heavier porcelian tiles stick with the battens mate.

[tedley34]

Stick with battens mate level em up away to go.

ted

[doug boardley]

if you work down from your datum,doing your bottom cuts as you go, there's no reason at all that you'll lose your level

[simonb43]

Thats the way i do doug. Works a treat, no need for battens

[CJ CERAMICS]

i use battens with large tiles/heavy tiles

[robbbin]

Never use them I use my cross line poll laser level witch will send line round room .......work from floor up and those coloured wedges to pack up from floor if necessary

[tedley34]

i always make the bottom row the last job after ive tiled the floor usually each to their own i say tho.

ted

[whitebeam]

Battons for me, the karl dahm ones

[silver]

Battens for me too.....I used to use the 8mm ply cut ones till I reduced them all to be too small to be useful...I then got others cut at a wood yard. And found to my annoyance that they all bowed slightly..guess the saw was knacked..tapered vertical groutlines aint good !
I still use battens and like tedley make the bottom row the last. But I now use MDF architrave instead of ply. You can get quite a few for a similar price to a sheet of ply. But I have found them always to be absolutely "perfectly true" as they are manufactured and dont need cutting into strips where bows can be introduced or they dont have a natural grain that will make a softwood batten deform even if it is PAR. They are good and sturdy too.

Degs

[mistral]

Battens every time (2x1) and do bottom row last.

[groucho]

Im same as robbin never used a batten in my life and do it the same way lasers and wedges

[smokey1234x]

Same for me,Battens every time (2x1) and do bottom row last.

[d noulton]

as above bottom row last could use rubi stands though

[Sean fsy]

seen a tiler once using adjustable batten things, looked a bit like acrows with a level going across them, sat on floor and he adjusted them to the desired height and sat the tiles on them. anyone else seen some one using this sort of thing. i myself use battens, got a van full of them! surely when tiling behind a cooker where the worktop isnt present you need to support the tiles. it must be a nightmare taking measurements all the time because the tiles have slipped down.

[doug boardley]

I've posted a thread Sean about an alternative use for batten stands, with pics!, will have a look for the link

[hunters tiling]

i use a lazer level but always put a batton on. just piece of mind a imo quicker not goin back worrying about them moving

[whitebeam]

The tiles are getting big and weighty thats why I use battons