Low height walls

**davemul** · 13-07-2011

Hi guys, me again! sorry

I need a bit of concrete advice on setting out my bathroom walls for tiling. The bathroom is in an old cottage so LOOOW ceilings. Wall height after floor is tiled will be about 2 metres MAX (size of room is about 3m by 2.5)

Being a old cottage, all the joists/studs wont be perfect so nothings gonna be perfectly level (ie ceiling line!)

regarding height...

what will be the best way to set out? tiles are fairly large long oblong ones.. 40x 60 perhaps, id have to check.

Is the best way to level fit a baton one tile (plus grout) up from the floor?

or should I try to measure to get a full tile from the ceiling join and work my way down as far as a full tile will go, then baton.

regarding width i guess use a measuring stick with tile widths and grout marked and try to determine a starting position which leaves me with the least amount to cut on each tile on the left and right side?

oh and lastly! what pattern... brick or stacked... I STILL cant decide!

thanks all and sorry !

**peteablard** · 13-07-2011

Hi,
Personally i'd avoid leaving a full tile gap round the bottom incase the floor runs out, it's a pain having to shave a few mm off a tile if the floor raises or ending up with a gap if it drops away. Even on new builds it's very rare to get a floor that is 100% level all round so in an old cottage there's virtually no chance!! IMO you're best off setting out from the centre of the wall horizontally either using the edge of the tile or the centre of the tile depending on which leaves you the biggest cut top and bottom. I'd then measure down and baton the wall leaving the bottom cut out, piece these in when the top has set.
Cheers and good luck

**peteablard** · 13-07-2011

oh and i'm a fan of brickbond !

**Brian the Tile** · 13-07-2011

yes the main thing is to spend a little time before you start and work out the best way so you get decent size cuts to the sides and a decent sizeto the ceiling is most important as it will sureley run out,iwould also say brick bond with that size tile,just remember take your time with it and you will get a good result good luck

**whitebeam** · 13-07-2011

Are your walls lime mortor

**Phil Hobson** · 13-07-2011

I was wondering the same thing Mark, old building and all. Weight issues could be a problem

**davemul** · 13-07-2011

Hi gents, thank you all for the advice. ive just been to get all the tiles and marmox.. OUCH WALLET OUCH

Walls were lime plaster and lath.. and knackered. Ive taken it all down and will be boarding the whole shebang with Marmox ( i sound like a bloomin sales rep for them!)

Actually I might do a work in progress picture thread if no one minds? is there a specific forum I should put it in?