Tiling a splashback above bathroom basin

[angedup]

I'm a DIYer who has just managed to tile above the sink in the ensuite bathroom - an easy job as the sink top was level and flat and I used this as my first row of tiles and tiled up from there with a batton on the side

I now want to do the other bathroom -
width = 5 10x10 tiles height = 2 or possibly 3 rows

BUT the basin in this bathroom is shaped at the top
legend

Where should I start my tiling to get a good flat finish at the top and make my cutting job as 'easy' as possible.

Any advice welcome. Thanks

[CJ CERAMICS]

is the basin screwed to the wall? if so unscrew to a desired distance ie enough to allow the tile and adhesive bed to sit behind but not too far so that the screw comes out, tile behind the basin allow to set, grout and rescrew basin back to the wall...hope this helps
chris

[angedup]

Certainly an idea I hadn't thought of. What will stop the tiles slipping as the adhesive sets if there is nothing for them to rest on?

thanks

[david campbell]

yep!
the way to do it is unscrew the basin and tile behind,you will do it in 1/2 the time it would take to cut around it and it'll look much more professional

if the tiles aren't coming up from the floor you can attach a baton or use baton stands

[CJ CERAMICS]

Certainly an idea I hadn't thought of. What will stop the tiles slipping as the adhesive sets if there is nothing for them to rest on?

thanks

what adhesive were you planning on using? if you can buy mapei p9 from a supplier this is a white powered adhesive that is mixed with water, it has a very good initial grab i use this alot of the time. if you press your tiles into the adhesive in a slight twisting motion and hold in pplace for about 20 seconds the tile should not slip. if you are using a tubbed adhesive i would batton behind the basin to support the tile.
chris

[angedup]

It's a ready mixed tub of ahesive grout in view of the fact that I'm a 1st timer and not doing that much tiling. Will go and investigate the basin now to see if there is room for my batton - pedestal might be in the way!

[CJ CERAMICS]

you can batton down to the level you need the tiles to go i.e 1 inch below the lowest point and use the basin to hold it in place by tightening the screws to hold when the adhesive has cured(possibly day after) loosen screws and remove batton.
chris

[angedup]

Thanks CJ Ceramics.

Still just a little bit worried about the look of the whole thing. My width of tiles overhangs the baisin edge by about 3 cms on each side. Think it will look ok with this overhang extending out below the top of the basin?

Perhaps I'm being too fussy in view of my lack of skills . . .

[DJT75]

Or get a profile gauge, a pair of nippers & give the cuts ago yourself.

[CJ CERAMICS]

Thanks CJ Ceramics.

Still just a little bit worried about the look of the whole thing. My width of tiles overhangs the baisin edge by about 3 cms on each side. Think it will look ok with this overhang extending out below the top of the basin?

Perhaps I'm being too fussy in view of my lack of skills . . .

when tiling a splash area above a sink basin i usually allow the tiles to overhang the outside edge of the basin unless i am using an edging profile
in my honest opinion i think that leaving the oerhang will look fine but make sure that you set your first tile in the middle of the basin.
chris

[larmar]

Try making a template from a piece of card and copy onto your lies scribe the tiles and get the nippers and a tile file and away you go

[CJ CERAMICS]

Try making a template from a piece of card and copy onto your lies scribe the tiles and get the nippers and a tile file and away you go

easier said than done especially if you are not used to tiling could waste quite a few tiles getting it right, but can be worth ago though personally i think unscrewing the screws to the required distance and placing a full tile in is easier for some one with little or no experience in tiling..
chris

[angedup]

Ok, so removing the sink from the wall isn't an option as it is GLUED to the wall - no screws through the holes! Figure there must be a reason for this so will leave it as it is.

Back to my orginal question - planning to cut the tiles (I have nippers and guage), should I start with the row that is being cut or start higher and work down?

[faithhealer]

Ok, so removing the sink from the wall isn't an option as it is GLUED to the wall - no screws through the holes! Figure there must be a reason for this so will leave it as it is.

Back to my orginal question - planning to cut the tiles (I have nippers and guage), should I start with the row that is being cut or start higher and work down?

I would make a template and get them to fit around the basin first

[CJ CERAMICS]

Ok, so removing the sink from the wall isn't an option as it is GLUED to the wall - no screws through the holes! Figure there must be a reason for this so will leave it as it is.

Back to my orginal question - planning to cut the tiles (I have nippers and guage), should I start with the row that is being cut or start higher and work down?

hi there sorry my connection went down so i could not reply earlier, if your basin is not screwed on but glued(most likely the plumber has used silicone to attach to the wall) as you say there is probably a reason for this....if i was you i would start the tiling above the row which is going to nipped after planning to make sure that you have left enough distance to cover the scalloped edges. i hope this makes sense
chris

[DJT75]

I'd do the row above first so you know it's level before you do the cuts below..

[S6 T1L3R]

Hi,
I agree, Should start with the row above first as then you can fix a batton (if needed) and once the adhesive has set, remove batton and measure the exact distance needed for the cuts. As far as cutting them, nippers will work but if done incorrectly could cause nasty blisters!! Have you got a scribe cutter? If so you can always give a curved scribe a go!

[angedup]

Update - bathroom basin splashbacks 1+2 are now tiled, grouted, sealed and looking suprisingly good.

My shaped basin now has a row of tiles above a batten and I have cut and shaped paper versions of the tiles I need to cut for the bottom row. Tomorrow I will begin the process of scoring and nipping these tiles. It looks so easy on YouTube videos . . .

[angedup]

project completed. thanks guys for all the help. I'm very proud of my first tiling experience

[doug boardley]

Ok, so removing the sink from the wall isn't an option as it is GLUED to the wall - no screws through the holes! Figure there must be a reason for this so will leave it as it is.

Back to my orginal question - planning to cut the tiles (I have nippers and guage), should I start with the row that is being cut or start higher and work down?

somehow I missed this thread it was probably siliconed by the plumber, 'cos he probably didn't fancy drilling tiles I normally remove basin by pulling a cheese wire through the back of the basin, cuts the silicon and then you can remove it