Help!: Tiling internal corners

[spongebob]

Can anyone help please. I have just had my shower re-tiled, and there was a half inch gap at the internal corners, which the tiler had filled with grout [he said he couldn't cut the tiles that small]. The grout looked bad, so he has now fitted a chrome corner strip, top to bottom on all four internal corners of the shower.
My questions are:
Is this a "normal" thing to do? {i've never seen this before]
Is there a better option, such as a curved corner tile [if there is such a thing?]
Is the chrome edge a safety hazard?
Thanks for all your help!

[Colour Republic]

Have you paid this guy?

the internals should have been siliconed not grouted

the tiles should have been set out so to avoid any small cut, so you wouldn't have this problem in the first place if he knew what he was doing.

Chrome edge in the corners?? never heard of somebody doing this before, sounds like a quick fix bodge to me

sorry I have been so negative Spongebob but sometimes it really grates when people try to pass themselves of as professionals

[diamondtiling]

Tiles can be cut to any size, he is pulling a fast one with that lame excuse. Your corners should be grout free and filled with silicone instead for expansion reasons. The trim is a "get me out of jail card" get him back to fix it.

Pictures would help.

[Phil Hobson]

Sorry spongebob, half inch cuts are not a part of good tiling. Bad setting out imo, get him back tell him to put it right

[SandyFloor]

Sounds like he's started tiling from the bottom of the walls using whole tiles to save cutting and then found the walls aren't plumb when he got further up...oh dear!

[spongebob]

Tiles can be cut to any size, he is pulling a fast one with that lame excuse. Your corners should be grout free and filled with silicone instead for expansion reasons. The trim is a "get me out of jail card" get him back to fix it.

Pictures would help.

He has left the chrome trim taped up to dry. He says if I am not happy he will re-do the whole shower. I feel bad about this, because he is such a nice guy, and has done other work for me with no problems. How can I tell him he should use silicone on the corners without peeing him off??

[spongebob]

Sorry spongebob, half inch cuts are not a part of good tiling. Bad setting out imo, get him back tell him to put it right

Should the tiles start in the middle and then work outwards, or should the centre line be in the middle [as mine are]?

[spongebob]

The tile lines are centered in the middle of the shower, not sure if this is right or not? It's a shame because he is so nice, and has done other jobs for me. He seems quite exasperated with the whole thing, but he wants me to be happy. Is there any other option [apart from starting again], such as corner tiles or something else?

[hillhead]

Tell him simply he's wrong.If he's willing to re do it let him at no extra expense to you.

[Colour Republic]

He has left the chrome trim taped up to dry. He says if I am not happy he will re-do the whole shower. I feel bad about this, because he is such a nice guy, and has done other work for me with no problems. How can I tell him he should use silicone on the corners without peeing him off??

The problem is that he may well be ok at other trades but it sounds as though he isn't very good a tiling.

The fact this is a shower is even more cause for concern because of possible failure. He may be a nice guy but if it leaks and damages other areas of the property who are you going to turn to?

There are some rules regarding setting out but can be adapted to suit the area in question

[Scott]

If he is prepared to rectify it and not walk away from the job as lots of others would/have then lets give the guy some credit.

He may not have done it the correct way but we all have to start somewhere!

Spongebob if you can take a picture it would help, you will need to resize it to get it on the forum or use a different method like facebook.

[Colour Republic]

If he is prepared to rectify it and not walk away from the job as lots of others would/have then lets give the guy some credit.

He may not have done it the correct way but we all have to start somewhere!

Spongebob if you can take a picture it would help, you will need to resize it to get it on the forum or use a different method like facebook.

I know i'm being grumpy and you're right he does deserve some credit for offering to do it all over again, but I know I wouldn't have tackled a shower before I was sure it would stand up

[SandyFloor]

He has left the chrome trim taped up to dry. He says if I am not happy he will re-do the whole shower. I feel bad about this, because he is such a nice guy, and has done other work for me with no problems. How can I tell him he should use silicone on the corners without peeing him off??

If it's only a shower I wouldn't hesitate have it redone. The fact is showers are really prone to leaking if not finished properly and one of the main areas of leakage is the corner. As there is movement in walls the grout in the corners will crack (even flexible grout) and that is why the corners need silicone as it is very flexible. The water will then leak under the shower and rot your subfloor, joists and travel into the walls causing mildew which will cause your tiles to fall off anyway. A little water can really cause a lot of damage. You also need to ensure there is a silicone joint between the tiles and the shower tray for the same reasons.

Sorry to give you bad news but showers really need to be finished right.

[Scott]

I know i'm being grumpy and you're right he does deserve some credit for offering to do it all over again, but I know I wouldn't have tackled a shower before I was sure it would stand up

Your right you are being grumpy

[Daz]

As others have commented, it sounds as though the he doesn't understand setting out. If you can post some pics from all around the room we'll help you / him through it .

Good luck.

[Phil Hobson]

Should the tiles start in the middle and then work outwards, or should the centre line be in the middle [as mine are]?

Hi spongebob, in general tiling terms it is always good practice to centre every wall, if poss (not always poss) but if you centre a wall and it gives you half inch cuts. Then you centre your tile, over the centre line. This gives you acceptable cuts either side. Hope this makes sense if not PM me and I will try to explain in more detail.

[Daz]

Hi spongebob, in general tiling terms it is always good practice to centre every wall, if poss (not always poss) but if you centre a wall and it gives you half inch cuts. Then you centre your tile, over the centre line. This gives you acceptable cuts either side. Hope this makes sense if not PM me and I will try to explain in more detail.

Phil, I bow to your experience and the proven quality of your work. However, I do question the "good practice" element of your advice.

I would usually choose a main focal point and centre around that. I would then check every other wall with a view to carrying the illusion of a full tile around every internal and external corner and shift left / right to get that look taking into account all other items that could affect the cuts. Does that make sense?

[SandyFloor]

The folded tile look is the way I was taught and practice (not that I do many bathrooms anymore). Another one is no tile cut should be any less than 20% of it's uncut size.

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. What I always do is set out the entire room or floor and try to balance it off as well as possible avoiding silly little cuts. For example I might offset the centre line of a bathroom so the grout line or centre of tile line up with a WC or basin as long as it doesnt knock the ballance of the rest of the job too much.

[Phil Hobson]

Phil, I bow to your experience and the proven quality of your work. However, I do question the "good practice" element of your advice.

I would usually choose a main focal point and centre around that. I would then check every other wall with a view to carrying the illusion of a full tile around every internal and external corner and shift left / right to get that look taking into account all other items that could affect the cuts. Does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense Daz, I know what you are saying. Main focal point, usually the window should take priority, but in my experience no two jobs are the same. In theory though, centred walls are correct. Unless using brick-bond, then I would recommend wrap around effect.

[doug boardley]

As Phil Hobson for me, if tiling back from a centre line gives slither cuts, centre the tile from the centre line and work back imo. On window walls I always use the centre of the window gap as my focal point too

[faithhealer]

sorry to read Spongebob, at least he is offering to put it right. Ask him to leave a 2mm gap in the corner for a good quality silicon. Please get back if you ned more advice. That trim has to go I'm afraid

[grumpygrouter]

Phil, I bow to your experience and the proven quality of your work. However, I do question the "good practice" element of your advice.

I would usually choose a main focal point and centre around that. I would then check every other wall with a view to carrying the illusion of a full tile around every internal and external corner and shift left / right to get that look taking into account all other items that could affect the cuts. Does that make sense?

I can tell where you did your training Daz!!

[Ceramico tiling]

was the substrate waterproof?

[spongebob]

Hi spongebob, in general tiling terms it is always good practice to centre every wall, if poss (not always poss) but if you centre a wall and it gives you half inch cuts. Then you centre your tile, over the centre line. This gives you acceptable cuts either side. Hope this makes sense if not PM me and I will try to explain in more detail.

Thanks Phil this was very helpful. The guy came round today and has agreed to re do the whole shower, and he is going to centre the tile as you suggested!

[spongebob]

sorry to read Spongebob, at least he is offering to put it right. Ask him to leave a 2mm gap in the corner for a good quality silicon. Please get back if you ned more advice. That trim has to go I'm afraid

I thought he had used grout in the corners, but he says he used silicon [I just couldn't see it under all that trim!]
He is now re doing the shower from scratch for me!

[Colour Republic]

I thought he had used grout in the corners, but he says he used silicon [I just couldn't see it under all that trim!]
He is now re doing the shower from scratch for me!

He may mean he glued the trim on with silicon. the space line in the internal corner should not be grouted at all, if you ask him to leave it clean then silicon the corner it will hold better and take up any movement.

Some people grout the internal corner then silicon over the top, whilst this offers some degree of water protection it doen't allow the wall any movement and as such tiles can become crushed and tent in extreme cases.

Hope you get it sorted and glad he's prepared to make you happy

good luck