Haven't tiled for many years - about to start again today!

[seriph1]

Hi folks

Steve here from Kilmore (Australia) - as per subject, I have not tiled for many years but am beginning again today on a kitchen job I am trying to complete for my client.

It is a chilly 8 degrees C here today and hope it wont be too cold for the adhesive. It is a splashback (or backsplash if you're American) job and I am using some stunning white handmade Italian subway (6 in. by 3 in.)tiles.

here is a pic of the area - modest but should come out nicely if I do the right things.

Thanks

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Welcome Steve - hope you enjoy your tiling . Most adhesives have a setting temperature of above 5 degrees so you may have to add some heat to your working environment. Here in the Uk it's always in the 90's Fahrenheit so it's never an issue for us!

 

[John Benton]

Welcome Steve - hope you enjoy your tiling . Most adhesives have a setting temperature of above 5 degrees so you may have to add some heat to your working environment. Here in the Uk it's always in the 90's Fahrenheit so it's never an issue for us!

Hello Steve, what has made you come back to tiling?

As Timeless John has mentioned it's generally around the 90s although during the colder winter months I've known it to drop to mid 80s and a fleece is required for working in

 

[Ian]

Welcome along to TF

 

[Qwerty]

Welcome Steve

 

[seriph1]

Thanks for the welcome folks - silly me had no idea it was so balmy in the UK!



Well .... the day has been a great one with some skills revisited and a new couple acquired.

I love it when a plan comes together ... the reason I haven't done much tiling is because I mainly make and supply/install period architectural interiors. Life is changing for me and as this is the last kitchen installation I plan to do, I felt it appropriate to 'touch' every aspect of the job so I can truly say the work was mine in total .... immature I guess, but there it is ...



Also, as the job is only a couple of square metres and the tiles are handmade Italian, local tilers didn't seem much interested in doing the work.

It has turned out OK

cheers

 

[Ceramico tiling]

Looks like your back in the game m8!!

 

[Bubblecraft]

Hi & welcome to TF

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome....

 

[DHTiling]

Helloooo . welcome.. could you not cut the thin slice under the window , instead of soldier coursing them.?

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

:welcome: Steve great looking splash- back are them tiles upside-down ?

 

[seriph1]

I could cut them any way they needed but everything is so terribly out of square in the space that vertical was the only way to disguise it. Once the grout is on it should be fine.

 

[seriph1]

Diamond. Yes mate. Upside down and inside put

 

[seriph1]

Ceramico - thanks mate. Got into the rhythm eventually and enjoyed it a lot.

My bosch multitool with the appropriate fitting proved a godsend. Didn't lose a tile which is just as well at $200 psm!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

$200 in Australian money is worth what in Italian Euros?
They must be antiques!
There is certainly a lot of sentiment gone into this job.
Careful not to get any silicone on the wood units as it may not show the 'hotspots'.

 

[seriph1]

Thanks for the advice re silicon. Going to really take my time with that aspect.

$200 AUD is about $140 euro. These are expensive tiles but true handmade from Italy. I sourced them on the clients request but usually research everything I do. Just didn't have time for these. My contacts got back to me after the tiles were bought. I can get a very similar item for $57 psm. Client would've been perfectly happy but too late. Only represented a saving of a couple of hundred dollars overall.

I usually source everything from floor to ceiling. I don't add a whack to purchases as a rule though. The wife thinks I'm mad but that's another story



Going to do a funky ogee thing for behind the stove. Will come up nicely I think/hope. She bought a tiny baumatic stove in red and black - I made the rangehood. Can't post links to pictures yet otherwise I'd show you all.

Ok plane is boarding.

Thanks again!

Steve

 

[Mallorcaman]

Writing on the forum while checking in, thats dedication. Nice job.

 

[seriph1]

Ok so I have completed this job - almost!

Tiles went on beautifully and as hoped. The time invested in carefully grinding curved tiles (bosch multi tool) really paid off.

Errors: too much water in the grout ruined it. Redid that using a correct measuring device in the form of a 60ml bottle.



Victories:

overall look of the handmade tiles, is stunning.

Grout turned out beautifully and added to my upper arm stamina - all that vigorous polishing the grout off/out.

Variations in gaps (minor) added to the overall effect.

Masking the bench AND close to the bottom of the tiles produced and excellent junction between the surfaces. And fingers (rubber gloves actually) with detergent really does work when removing excess silicon.

Remaining challenge: tried to silicon the exposed vertical edges. Then tried no more gaps ... I was not happy with either outcome.

Any ideas/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Pics will follow when taken/adjusted.

 

[AliGage]

Hi and welcome