Row of cut tiles

[Jonnycat]

Howdy, I'm doing a tub/shower surround, doing the wall from the tub to the ceiling. The next bunch of rows I stick up will include the top row, which will all have to be cut. Since the ceiling is not parallel with the row of tile, each cut will be different.

So here's my question. When you have this situation, do you measure and make all of your cuts ahead of time, then stick them all up one after another? Or do you cut a tile, stick it up, cut another tile, stick that up, and so on?

I know either would probably work, I'm just trying to figure out which way I want to go.

Cheers,

Jon

[jay]

and it up to you i normally cut each one and lay one at a time but if your confident to cut all first go for it

[garretridge]

you could go that way or measure them then cut them all numbering them as you cut then just stick at the same time 1-2-3 etc so on!

[frogeye]

Since the ceiling is not parallel with the row of tile, each cut will be different.

Jon

I think you have answered your own question there Jon. Each cut will be different. You may be lucky and if you offer up a cut tile it may fit in the adjacent gap. I have certainly done this to save resetting the cutter. But I think that these cuts define the job - your eye will focus here eventually and any gaps will stick out like a sore thumb.

I can't see that you are going to save a whole lot of time by pre cutting the tiles, so I would recommend slowly, slowly, one at a time.

Just my opinion of course

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

i usually cut as i go ,but as jay Say's it's up to you

[Dave]

One at at time is my way... unless i can be very sure they are all the same i di cut a few at once to save walking backwards and forwards to the cutter...not very often you get a flat ceiling though.

Oh! and welcome to tilersforums....i gather you not in the uk..where abouts are you..?

[marke]

yes as above normally one at a time although usually before i stick (presuming the cut is correct) i mark off the next tile in the row against the tile i just cut. does that make sense? so cut in hand i mark the next tile along from the edge of the cut tile !!

confused myself it just gives you a nice continuous line at the ceiling

[Jonnycat]

Nice, thanks guys, I appreciate the input.

Is it okay (does it look okay) to stagger the tiles to keep the gap width the same at the ceiling, or should I try to angle the cuts so each tile ends where the next one begins?

One other thing, how do you mark the tile where you want to cut it?

Thanks again!

[Phil Hobson]

as above and I do what Marke does, mark off previous cut.

[marke]

not totally sure what you mean but i always have the next tile start where the last one finished.. ceilings tend to have fairly gentle slopes in one way or another so just keep the cut nice and close but dont step the tiles that looks awful mate

oh and Berol colour tip pens

[Aqua Tiling]

cutting as you go is best, also the best way to measure is to hold the tile back to front and mark it in the gap

[marke]

only prob is if you mark the back you have to transfer then to the front . i just hold the tile upside down mark the cut on front , that means ya you marked your leading edge off your last tile then you hold up the tile make one mark and its cut, fluid simplicity

[Phil Hobson]

Sorry, I overlapped your last post, but to answer your last question. If you offer the tile to the ceiling on the left side of your top full tile, mark allowing a joint width, and then do the same to the right side.Hope this makes sense,there are other ways, but I prefare this method.

[marke]

yeah PH spot on thats how to explain it

[beanz]

I tend to just do one at a time, because space is usually an issue, but if you have the room, you could lay out the whole row (remembering to space the tiles correctly) and mark the 1st and last tiles, then use a straight edge to get all your cuts marked in one go.

[Phil Hobson]

Good one Beanz, I do that a lot, OK if ceiling is constant.

[beanz]

Good one Beanz, I do that a lot, OK if ceiling is constant.

Yeah true. If it has a dip in it, it's not so good hehe!

[Jonnycat]

Aye, it did have a dip in it, but I got it done last night. Took about two hours and 25 tiles to get 14 that still aren't perfect, but it's up by the ceiling so I can live with it.

I did get good at backbuttering, though.

I do need to come up with a more consistent method of marking the tiles; think I'll pick up a fine marker today so I do a better job cutting the tiles
where the side wall meets the back wall.

Thanks a TON for the information, it really helped me to get going on this.

[beanz]

The side wall will be easier, as you can get yourself level with the tiles, and this makes the marking more accurate. You could try using a hop-up when you're doing the ceiling cuts (next time anyway), just to get you up level with the tiles.

[timeless john]

Johncat - where are you based?

Just a note when marking the tile - use a marker on the glazed side but a pencil on the back (if your numbering them).
The moisture in the adhesive can bleed the ink through the back of the tile and discolour the glaze on the front! ( I've got the 't' shirt)

[marke]

I never knew that TG something i would never have thought of ! i dont mark my tiles that way but its a useful nugget of info to know cheers

[marke]

I meant Timeless John ,TJ

[Jonnycat]

Cool, thanks John, I'm probably going to do my tiles at the tub ahead of time so I don't rush them; I'll use a pencil for those.

And I'm in the states BTW.