What notch to use

[Do it Properly]

Guys

I need some advice please on what type and size of trowel to use for the following: (please specifiy square notched, round, thick bed solid bed, etc)

Highly polished Cappuccino marble tiles (12mm thick) 305mmx457mm.

These are going on both the floor and walls. Floor = Ply, UFH, SLC (Mapai FibrePlan). Walls = Aquapanel.

Also I was going to start with tiling the floor as opposed to the walls - is this advisable?

Finally, was going to go for a staggered / brick formation on wall and floors - any advice as to how to plan the layout?

Thanks!!

[enduro]

Guys

I need some advice please on what type and size of trowel to use for the following: (please specifiy square notched, round, thick bed solid bed, etc)

Highly polished Cappuccino marble tiles (12mm thick) 305mmx457mm.

These are going on both the floor and walls. Floor = Ply, UFH, SLC (Mapai FibrePlan). Walls = Aquapanel.

Also I was going to start with tiling the floor as opposed to the walls - is this advisable?

Finally, was going to go for a staggered / brick formation on wall and floors - any advice as to how to plan the layout?

Thanks!!

I would use a 10mm notched trowel on the wall, spread adhesive on walls and also onto the back of the tiles before fixing to the wall so you get maximum coverage onto the tile. Also make sure it is a white flexible adhesive. I would do the walls first so you dont get a mess all over it. Always start from the centre of the wall and try and have even cuts into the corner. On the floor i would use a 20mm solid bed trowel.

[Phil Hobson]

Hi dip, go for trowel that will give you as near as possible solid bed. If you are picking up joints, ie. bonding floor joints to walls, you might find it easier to lay the floor first. You will only pick up joints on two walls, you can pick up every other joint on the other two walls. Make sure you make a staff, so you know exactly how your cuts will fall. Capuccino is very veiny so solid bed is recommended. Good luck. Hope this makes sense, if you go to my albums you will find a similar job.

[Do it Properly]

Guys

I forgot to add in that on the floor I have used Dittra matting - I don't think that this changes anything, but thought it best to mention it.

[Rob Z]

DIP, I say it the same way that Phil did-the best trowel is the one that gives good coverage for your substrate and tile/stone.

With that said, I usually use a minimum of a 1/2" X 1/2" on floors. Ditra doesn't really change much on the coverage as long as you fill in the waffles as you go along.

Layout really is job specific. Sometimes it makes sense to align all on one wall if the other side of the room has vanities, the toilet, narrow entrances to the shower and so on, that will lessen the effect of a non-centered layout. If you can give us a picture or diagram we might make some recs that are out of the normal "center everything" approach.

[Do it Properly]

Sorry guys, what about spacer sizes? 5mm on floor and wall? Any suggestions great appreciated!

[faithhealer]

Sorry guys, what about spacer sizes? 5mm on floor and wall? Any suggestions great appreciated!

Personally no bigger than 3mm.

[grumpygrouter]

Sorry guys, what about spacer sizes? 5mm on floor and wall? Any suggestions great appreciated!

Grout joint size is really a personal preference thing. As you are using Ditra, you have removed one of the reasons for requiring a larger joint for the floor as the ditra will allow for the movement a larger joint would have been required for.

My suggestion would be to lay out a few tiles in your chosen style with different joint sizes and see which one looks best to you. Bearing mind your chosen grout colour can influence the appearance of your joint size too.

[Rob Z]

DIP,

Grout spacing is both an aesthetic concern (generally a narrower joint looks better than a wider joint for a given tile) and also a practical concern. Some tiles have so much variation that a tighter joint such as 1/8" is nearly impossible. Some tiles, such as mexican saltillo and similar rustic tiles, look better with a wider joint-up to 1/2" or even 3/4".

I try as a point of pride in my work to get the joints as tight as possible given the condition of the substrate and the consistency of the dimensions of the tile.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

as above mate