Brick tiling - please help!

[popeye]

Hi I am very much a newbie - so bear with me........ I have read many of the thread here and find them really useful.

I am tiling my bathroom but would like to do it brick Bond style - I have the tiles 300 x 400mm and would like to have the pattern horizontal, (400mm ) but after measuring it would mean I am left with just 40mm at the ceiling- thats working up from the bath wall. Would it look odd if I cut the tiles so there was just over half a tile over the bath and at the top??

Thought about fixing the tiles vertical, but then at the wall I am left with some cuts of just 90mm.

Also like normal tiling should I start from the centre, I kinda guess it would be neater the have the full and half tile on one eall and the cuts on the other end........ takes some working out!! my brain hurts, thanks guys in advance

[diamondtiling]

There is nothing wrong with dropping the tile over the bath so you dont have a 40mm cut at the ceiling, as for marking out the walls try and move your vertical centre line to allow for larger cuts at the corners, you need to try and create a wrap around effect with brick bond fixing.

What is the finish on your walls and what adhesive are you using?

[popeye]

Thanks - the walls are plasterboard, so they should be pretty good to work with. the adhesive is a unibond from b&Q . When you say dropping the tile over the bath - do you mean behind the bath??

[diamondtiling]

Not behind the bath as that would create problems, leave the tile that goes around the bath out and fix the row above that one, use battons if need be to support whilst drying, fit the cut tiles to the bath later, an alternative is to mark your horizontal line above the bath where the top of the first row will be, fix the cut tiles around the bath allowing for a 3mm gap for silicone purposes then tile away.
Is that adhesive ready mixed? if so its not up to the job and you need to change it for a bagged adhesive.
You should also consider tanking around the bath area.

[popeye]

Thanks diamone I did consider tanking around bath........ think I will get some bagged adhesive as the tiles are pretty heavy. I did plan to use a batton. Did you mean to cut the tiles around the bath (1/2) to increase the size of the tiles near the ceiling?

[nybor62]

as diamond says that adhesive not adequate for that size tile,i would go for a standard set white powdered

[diamondtiling]

Thanks diamone I did consider tanking around bath........ think I will get some bagged adhesive as the tiles are pretty heavy. I did plan to use a batton. Did you mean to cut the tiles around the bath (1/2) to increase the size of the tiles near the ceiling?

Your tiles are 300mm, if you come off the bath with a full tile you are left with a small 40mm cut, if you drop the tile on the bath by 100 to 150mm that will leave you a decent sized cut at the ceiling of at least 190mm wide which will be much more pleasing than the small infill tile. Make sure that you are left with a good sized tile at the floor as well. Are you tiling the floor? If so you could always fit a skirting tile to match the floor, this will allow you some more leeway when working out.
Take your time and play around with different lines, you will get it right soon enough plus you have a myriad of information right here on TF.
Post as many questions as you like, none of them are silly ones.

[wildcard]

Did you mean to cut the tiles around the bath (1/2) to increase the size of the tiles near the ceiling?

Yes so you have good equal cuts top & bottom.

[popeye]

Thanks diamonds - I am tying to plan more - I normally just jump in with DIY!! Great forum

[Phil Hobson]

Old saying in the tiling trade but very true, never fix your first tile, untill you know where your last one will go. Preparation is everything, take your time. Plan your room, it will pay off. Keep asking,

[popeye]

Just had a thought - if I reduce the first row of tiles above the bath, I will then have a row of narrower tiles around the bathroom on all the walls? which may look odd! Another alternative I thought of, was using the tiles vertical, think it worked out I would have 1/2 tile finish below the ceiling.

[why tile]

Thanks - the walls are plasterboard, so they should be pretty good to work with. the adhesive is a unibond from b&Q . When you say dropping the tile over the bath - do you mean behind the bath??

unibond(slop) wouldnt hold a vynl tile on the wall avoid at all costs

[diamondtiling]

Just had a thought - if I reduce the first row of tiles above the bath, I will then have a row of narrower tiles around the bathroom on all the walls? which may look odd! Another alternative I thought of, was using the tiles vertical, think it worked out I would have 1/2 tile finish below the ceiling.

You wont have a strip of narrow tiles around your bathroom, there will be two cuts that will extend out after the bath edge, these will be cut to fit around the bath.

[popeye]

Thanks again - told you my head was scambled. The phot makes it clear !

[Mike]

Thanks diamone I did consider tanking around bath........ think I will get some bagged adhesive as the tiles are pretty heavy. I did plan to use a batton. Did you mean to cut the tiles around the bath (1/2) to increase the size of the tiles near the ceiling?

what are you going to do with your batton? smash the tiles? lol you're better off using a batten

[popeye]

lol! think I will have the option of smashing the tiles if it all goes pear shaped!