Edge tiles

[ag1975]

I've been tiling a friends bathroom with my partner and have ended up with a difference of about 20mm on the length of one wall. We weren't sure of the best way to go about the job, but we started with a full tile in the most visible corner of the wall and ended up with roughly 75mm tile at the top and 55mm tile at the bottom of the other end. It doesn't look great but it's in the corner next to the door frame so not too visible.

What could we have done to avoid the slightly odd look of the tiles tapering in in the corner?

Thanks in advance

[suave]

u shud a centered the wall

[mattle40]

As a general rule, walls always run out unless you board yourself so never start with full tiles

When walls are particularly bad as this sounds quite bad, try to make the cut as big as possible so the grout joint is further away which hides it a little.

[swanman]

Allways centre walls

[ag1975]

We thought about centring the walls but thought it a good idea to start with a full tile.

So ALWAYS centre the walls in all cases??

[Bri]

We thought about centring the walls but thought it a good idea to start with a full tile.

So ALWAYS centre the walls in all cases??

Not in all cases but it will always help with your setting out if you find the centre of the wall first. Remember also they there are 2 centre points, 1) by placing a grout line on the centre line and 2) placing a tile over the centre line. Option 2 effectively moves your setting out over by half a tile which will (in most cases) help to eliminate small cuts.

[mattle40]

Yes a lot of times you may find it more appropriate to centre say a window or basin etc

But the key is always a good set out

[ag1975]

Not in all cases but it will always help with your setting out if you find the centre of the wall first. Remember also they there are 2 centre points, 1) by placing a grout line on the centre line and 2) placing a tile over the centre line. Option 2 effectively moves your setting out over by half a tile which will (in most cases) help to eliminate small cuts.

Thanks.

We did actually centre the wall, but thought a full tile would look better (it doesn't ).

So when should you start with a full tile?

[mattle40]

Very rarely, pretty much as a last resort if it's the only way that looks right

[Gall.B]

Never on a plain wall.

Preperation/setting out is key pefore even contemplating fixing a tile.

A situation that changes setout is if a border is involed or pattern i.e. brick bond.
Then the cuts have to turn the corners.

The more time you spend on setout the better the overall finish.

[ag1975]

I shouldv'e mentioned...it's a brick pattern. We started on the longest wall, with a full tile top row/half tile 2nd row down and finished with 70mm tile top row and half tile 2nd row. We finished the top row with 75mm tile as it'll be inside the shower cubicle.

The wall we have the tapering tiles on is next to this wall. As we started with a full tile on the first wall, we decided to start full tile again on the 2nd wall.

Does that make sense?

[Gall.B]

pics would help.

[ag1975]

I'll take some and put some on tomorrow.

[timeless john]

Does it make sense?
Unfortunately it's the setting out that can make or break any tiling project for DIY or otherwise.
And since you also added in post 1 - 'it doesn't look great' - I wonder why your asking after the horse has bolted!
Sorry if I sound negative but it's just another case of the 30 minute makeover.

[ag1975]

Does it make sense?
Unfortunately it's the setting out that can make or break any tiling project for DIY or otherwise.
And since you also added in post 1 - 'it doesn't look great' - I wonder why your asking after the horse has bolted!
Sorry if I sound negative but it's just another case of the 30 minute makeover.

You do sound negative

It's our first go at tiling and the person we're doing it for said the way we've done is it ok with her so we're not too worried. Thing is, we're (me in particular) have just started out in property renovation and looking to become multi-skilled and do as many jobs as we can ourselves, so we're very much beginners. Next job I'm doing is my parents bathroom and thanks to this forum I've got more idea about what I'm doing already.

Just saying!

[Mike]

Good luck with your next project but your best to ask questions first before you start prepping and tiling


tapatalk on my HTC

[Gall.B]

If you are operating in property development and charging for it you should really know what your doing, we are after all talking about skilled trades.

20mm seems a bit much to me are the tiles level & plumb

[Phil Hobson]

As all above setting out is a crucial part of any tile installation, never fix your first tile, until you know where your last tile will go.

[Bri]

As all above setting out is a crucial part of any tile installation, never fix your first tile, until you know where your last tile will go.

You need to add that to your signature Phil, it's a great saying.

[timeless john]

As all above setting out is a crucial part of any tile installation, never fix your first tile, until you know where your last tile will go.

I see your still quoting that old phrase I taught you!

I still use the one you initiated many years ago on completion of yet another masterpiece - 'Another monument to man's dexterity in the face of adversity'.

I can see a separate thread starting.

[ag1975]

As all above setting out is a crucial part of any tile installation, never fix your first tile, until you know where your last tile will go.

The thing is, we DID know how the tiles were going to look and it's worked out how we thought it would, trouble is it looks a bit crap. I wasn't sure about the layout myself and if I'd have done it myself I'd have found out the best way to do it. However I'm not the boss so left it to him to make the decisions

I'll know for next time, this forums very helpful.

[Phil Hobson]

[QUOTE=timeless john;570495]I see your still quoting that old phrase I taught you!

I still use the one you initiated many years ago on completion of yet another masterpiece - 'Another monument to man's dexterity in the face of adversity'.

I can see a separate thread starting.[/QUOTE

[ag1975]

We've only bought one property so far and a lot of the work was done by someone else ie the plastering, tiling, plumbing, kitchen/bathroom etc We did the garden, painting/decorating and other general stuff. I'm ok with the decorating so that was fine.

My mate and his partner manage the company and I'll be learning the trade side. I've already learnt a lot from the first house and I'll be getting on a few courses and getting practice in wherever I can. I wouldn't try and do a pro job without knowing I could do it and I know how skilled these jobs are, so I know it'll take time

[ag1975]

If you are operating in property development and charging for it you should really know what your doing, we are after all talking about skilled trades.

20mm seems a bit much to me are the tiles level & plumb

We've only bought one property so far and a lot of the work was done by someone else ie the plastering, tiling, plumbing, kitchen/bathroom etc We did the garden, painting/decorating and other general stuff. I'm ok with the decorating so that was fine.

My mate and his partner manage the company and I'll be learning the trade side. I've already learnt a lot from the first house and I'll be getting on a few courses and getting practice in wherever I can. I wouldn't try and do a pro job without knowing I could do it and I know how skilled these jobs are, so I know it'll take time

Tiles are level and plumb but the walls aren't square.

[hutchinsons]

sometimes centering wont work with broken bond especially with smaller tiles with bad walls.. always try to avoid the small cuts to bad walls. it looks so bad when the walls run out..

[Gall.B]

More prep on the walls next time, especially fixing broken bond.

[deanotile]

If you are going in to developing it may pay in the long run to get the professionals to do the work. Time is money and a pro will save you time and do the job to a pro standard

[ag1975]

If you are going in to developing it may pay in the long run to get the professionals to do the work. Time is money and a pro will save you time and do the job to a pro standard

Thanks for the tip, I'd thought of that for the property that was just done out. The guy that did most of the work isn't qualified in any trade but can do a good enough job for the standard needed. He only charged £10 an hour but it did seem to take him a long time to do the work.

Just taken some pics of the bathroom we're doing now but the battery went on my camera so couldn't get as many photos as I wanted and didn't get the wall with the tapering tiles in the corner. Opinions on the layout and anything else are appreciated


photo (95).JPGphoto (93).JPGphoto (90).JPGphoto (92).JPGphoto (89).JPGphoto (88).JPG

[deanotile]

looks okish how long is a long time?

[ag1975]

looks okish how long is a long time?

It took him about 40 hours to tile the bathroom walls and floors, which is roughly 3.5 x 2.5m. The surfaces didn't seem too bad so he didn't have to do much with them.