Large format popped around edges - Tile Advice

[Bill]

photos please

 

[Gary Lee]

The corners push down about 5mm, the edges about 2mm and the centre of the tile does not move at all

 

[Bill]

tiles are concaved then..........

 

[Tile Shop]

Large format.... UFH.... was the tiler called Kev by any chance?

 

[Middlesex Tiles]

I agree that retailers do need to step up their game - but it can be very difficult.

Generally, I sell the tiles to the householder. The likelihood of them knowing anything about anhydrite screeds and RH readings is little or none. Then when you add in anti-fracture matting, expansion joints, back buttering, notch size, levelling clips, grout joint width etc - it just gets worse! Often the contractor doesn't know these things, so then has to ask the tiler. As I've stated before, most tilers I come across are nowhere near the top of the game as many of you guys on here, so they don't know the answer!

Frequently, my information comes too late. Screed/bifold door levels have already been installed - which can leave no room for certain decouplers or for a deeper bed of adhesive. The cost of install almost certainly hasn't included the matting or levelling clips. Definitely not any sort of premium for a tiler who is capable of a quality install on anything larger than a 60x60.

I'm helping a member of my wife's family at the moment who is doing a large project in South London. Hopefully I got involved early enough to help avoid many of these issues.

My Tilemaster rep is always willing to help regarding RH testing, and the tech guys are always on hand to give fantastic advice whenever needed.

 

[Old Mod]

I agree that retailers do need to step up their game - but it can be very difficult.

Generally, I sell the tiles to the householder. The likelihood of them knowing anything about anhydrite screeds and RH readings is little or none. Then when you add in anti-fracture matting, expansion joints, back buttering, notch size, levelling clips, grout joint width etc - it just gets worse! Often the contractor doesn't know these things, so then has to ask the tiler. As I've stated before, most tilers I come across are nowhere near the top of the game as many of you guys on here, so they don't know the answer!

Frequently, my information comes too late. Screed/bifold door levels have already been installed - which can leave no room for certain decouplers or for a deeper bed of adhesive. The cost of install almost certainly hasn't included the matting or levelling clips. Definitely not any sort of premium for a tiler who is capable of a quality install on anything larger than a 60x60.

I'm helping a member of my wife's family at the moment who is doing a large project in South London. Hopefully I got involved early enough to help avoid many of these issues.

My Tilemaster rep is always willing to help regarding RH testing, and the tech guys are always on hand to give fantastic advice whenever needed.

Sounds like you are willing to do more, which is brilliant, I wish more would even bother to find out.
How about producing a fact sheet to go with your sales, you could include the main bullet points and suggest that they quiz their installer too.

Very recently I heard of a fixer who
was ‘having a go’ at ex large format, he lasted one tile. And was asked to leave.

 

[Old Mod]

I agree that retailers do need to step up their game - but it can be very difficult.
.

Not that I’m cynical or anything do you fear that if you give away too much information, it will harm your sales?
I appreciate it’s a tough question, and you may find it difficult to be completely honest about it.
I thought I’d still ask tho.

 

[Middlesex Tiles]

Sounds like you are willing to do more, which is brilliant, I wish more would even bother to find out.
How about producing a fact sheet to go with your sales, you could include the main bullet points and suggest that they quiz their installer too.

Very recently I heard of a fixer who
was ‘having a go’ at ex large format, he lasted one tile. And was asked to leave.

A good idea - the issues are that I'm no expert, and there are more than one way of doing things correctly . . .

People sometimes just think I'm trying to sell them more stuff!

 

[Simon Dale]

Katrina and I always back butter tiles. I think the use of clips gives people a false sense of security. They have their uses but the fundamentals of tiling need to be met first. We always take up the odd tile to see if it has maximum coverage !

 

[Dumbo]

Sounds like you are willing to

Sounds like you are willing to do more, which is brilliant, I wish more would even bother to find out.
How about producing a fact sheet to go with your sales, you could include the main bullet points and suggest that they quiz their installer too.


Very recently I heard of a fixer who
was ‘having a go’ at ex large format, he lasted one tile. And was asked to leave.

Its not true, my wife phoned and ask me to pick something up for her from the shop and it was half day Wednesday

 

[One Day]

Anyone considered that with very large format tiles, the curing/drying (two different things which affect the other) can vary and affect curling of the tile?
I'm not saying I know it's a fact, but if adhesive cures at different rates and loses water at different rates underneath a large tile, it could potentially curl a tile???

I've been watching this thread from the off, and without a step by step on the OP's install, we're all just guessing.

 

[J Sid]

Doesn't the tile adhesive dry at different rates under all porcelain tiles? Much more noticeable under larger format tiles.
I sure we have all had to lift a tile which has been down a week or more and the adhesive in the middle of the tile still looks to have moisture in it compared to the edges.
Would this mean a 12mm porcelain tile would bend / curl …. I would be amazed.

 

[Waluigi]

Just me guessing but.........Being concave makes more sense with the edges coming up. Clips are used to pull edges down. Tiles try to revert back to their normal state when Heat is applied.

 

[Italy]

now you're going over ....
a porcelain tile does not fold
until you cut it and lose tension.
it is taught at elementary schools.

 

[J Sid]

I've pulled 900x900 tiles flat with clips in wet ufh before and never had a problem but that was on sand and cement screed and layed correctly.
If on a screed with a high moisture level and no ditra I could imagine the adhesive around the edge is constantly damp an not drying and sticking to the tile, tile edges becoming unstuck.