top row of tiles leave uneven gap by ceiling

[Unregistered]

Am having tiling done in the bathroom. The tiles are now all up, although there is an uneven gap where the top tile meets the ceiling (ranging from half an inch to 2 inches). I am told this is because the ceiling is not level. Our tiler is suggesting we put coving to finish it off to conceal these gaps but I don't think this is going to look too good as the tiles are very modern & coving would look out of place. I would be grateful for any other solutions or ideas. I have spent loads of money on these tiles and getting bath replaced and now left with this rubbish finish... help

 

[DHTiling]

If you register ( it's free ) you will be able to reply without having to have your posts approved and also you might be able to show us some pics of what you have...but it sounds like your tiler hasn't set out the datums propperly..

 

[Olz]

Obviosuly its hard to say whats happened without seeing the walls, but it sounds like they havent been set out properly, has the tiler started with a full tile from the floor, they should have been set out with cut tiles on the top and bottom rows to make sure there was no gap. Sounds lilke he's started and finished with full tiles.

 

[Fred]

The tiler should have gauged the tiles so that does not happen. You have to take into account the size of the tile, to where they are going to fix, ie, a good cut as your asking to the ceiling, to the windows, to the bath , boxing in etc, once this has been set out there should not be a problem. In other words, bad setting out by the tiler!

 

[Ajax123]

If it is a modern house I cannot beleive the ceiling is out by 1 1/2 inches from one side of a bathroom to the other. Have you put a spirit level on the ceiling and then on the tiles to see if they are square on the wall?

 

[davy_G]

Your tiler should have set out with the ceiling running off in mind and cut up to the ceiling. Either filling the small gap left (1-2mm) with flexi grout or culk. Half an inch is way too much and 2 inches is totally unacceptable.
Where did you get your tiler? How did he set out the room?

 

[jay]

:welcome: ill wait for pics :8:

 

[Time's Ran Out]

If its an old property and suffered bomb damage during the 2nd World War ie up to 1945, you may well have this amount of difference!
Apart from that it may be that he didn't deem a raking cut aesthetically appealing and decided to finish on a full tile.
Or he may have just made a right mess of it and wasn't worried about getting paid - I'am assuming you've witheld his money!

Timeless John.

PS - If the tiles are level you could always have the ceiling lowered and replastered.

 

[Unregistered]

thanks for the replies. will go and take some pics and come back bit later & register. I think they started tiling near the floor - i remember seeing some sort of wooden baton going around the room and they started tiling above that. The ceiling used to have wooden cladding so I asked them to take it off and replaster / skim the ceiling.

There has been a number of people in there working together - plasterer / tiler / plumber headed up by a guy that was recommended to us. The tiles are level so I presume they did bodge job by not ensuring ceiling was level before tiling. I agree that lowering ceiling is best route - although sounds like a hassle as it has been painted and spotlights are in. Do I have any other options? Someone suggested using the same tile as a border at the top of the wall.

 

[grumpygrouter]

If its an old property and suffered bomb damage during the 2nd World War ie up to 1945, you may well have this amount of difference!
Apart from that it may be that he didn't deem a raking cut aesthetically appealing and decided to finish on a full tile.
Or he may have just made a right mess of it and wasn't worried about getting paid - I'am assuming you've witheld his money!

Timeless John.

PS - If the tiles are level you could always have the ceiling lowered and replastered.

Or he didn't have the skill to cut tiles on an angle?

 

[Olz]

thanks for the replies. will go and take some pics and come back bit later & register. I think they started tiling near the floor - i remember seeing some sort of wooden baton going around the room and they started tiling above that. The ceiling used to have wooden cladding so I asked them to take it off and replaster / skim the ceiling.

There has been a number of people in there working together - plasterer / tiler / plumber headed up by a guy that was recommended to us. The tiles are level so I presume they did bodge job by not ensuring ceiling was level before tiling. I agree that lowering ceiling is best route - although sounds like a hassle as it has been painted and spotlights are in. Do I have any other options? Someone suggested using the same tile as a border at the top of the wall.

Or you could get him back and get him to do it properly, why should you have the cost of lowering the ceiling, it aint going to be cheap having a false ceiling put in and plastered.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

We get a little more detail/information on each post.
As per Oli if he was paid to put in a new ceiling get him back to put it in level - at his expense!

Timeless John.

 

[Rob Z]

Hi unregistered, the photos will help a lot...as John mentioned, it is quite possible for the framing and plaster to be out that much. We do a lot of work in old houses and I deal with this on most jobs :mad2:. We finished one last fall that had the ceiling out about 6 inches in 6 feet :yikes:.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

loved the (bomb damage), & 6inchs in six feet, do you guys live in IRAK, its just crap tiling :hurray:

 

[Rob Z]

No, I just have customers that love to live in million dollar, 100+ year old houses that have settled and shifted every which way but loose, and don't see the problem with floors, walls and ceilings that are so far out of level and plumb that nothing fits right.

That one I mentioned...we mudded everything and our work is flat, level and plumb, but the ceiling wasn't getting redone without taking the roof off.:yikes:

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

100+ that must be all most at the dawn of the usa dude :yikes:

 

[stevee]

my first house in 1984, was over 100 years old,with ceilings like this,adds character:lol:, but are common in some streets,steve

 

[Rob Z]

100+ that must be all most at the dawn of the usa dude :yikes:

Has it been that long?:lol:



Steve..."character" is what the realtors call it...also "charming" "quaint" "historic"......yeah right.:lol:

 

[Time's Ran Out]

loved the (bomb damage), & 6inchs in six feet, do you guys live in IRAK, its just crap tiling :hurray:

Could well be - but without the age of the property it could also be the character of the building.
Why are tilers sounding more like plumbers every day - prepared to criticise other 'tilers' work without seeing or understanding the background to 'unregistered/guest' points of interest.

Timeless John.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

it s not just plummers/tilers john its everyone these days its part of our culture so accept it or you' go mad mate ll

 

[Gazebo]

Could well be - but without the age of the property it could also be the character of the building.
Why are tilers sounding more like plumbers every day - prepared to criticise other 'tilers' work without seeing or understanding the background to 'unregistered/guest' points of interest.

Timeless John.

It makes me chuckle the way tilers winge about plumbers on here.

You guys must have met some pretty rotten plumbers.

But I understand as I have met some pretty rotten tilers.

Gary
[email protected]

 

[White Room]

I know good plumbers

 

[bubblebobble]

As a building contractor I have come across alot of new builds, conversions that have had terrible run out on the ceilings, this is definatley not uncommon.
However, when tiling such a room with said ceiling as suggested by earlier posters the tiles should be gauged ( setout ) to accomodate the deviation within the room...tis simples!
As also said by previous posters we need pictures of the area in question, maybe a picture of a nib or window, which has been tiled; we can then gauge the quality and competency of said tiler by looking at the way in which he/she has approached the setout etc.
One must also remember that IF the room was so out of plumb/level etc, then it would have been prudent to discuss the tile choice and/or remedies before carrying out the tiling.
HTH

 

[Time's Ran Out]

It makes me chuckle the way tilers winge about plumbers on here.

You guys must have met some pretty rotten plumbers.

But I understand as I have met some pretty rotten tilers.

Gary

That's what I want - a good chuckle.
Timeless John.

 

[heatybob]

im a good plumber

 

[Gazebo]

Good for you heatybob, so am I, Have you got a good tiler.? or do you do it yourself.?

Hard to find good tilers, as I am sure it's hard to find good plumbers.

 

[stressedoutlady]

OK i'm back & registered with photos... i'm glad some of you have had a chuckle :smilewinkgrin:

have been looking online for solutions for some sort of coving or trim / edging that might not look too bad. Do you think this sort of thing would work? The website says it would be suitable for bathrooms... i know it says skirting board but could do job maybe?

DX 157 Architrave Moulding - Skirting Board - Interior Architectural Mouldings - House Martin Online

(sorry could only attach thumbnails as image size was too big)

 

[hillhead]

Pics too small to make out but something definetly out up there.

 

[stressedoutlady]

just worked out how to compress...

 

[DHTiling]

How about putting up a plastic ceiling....?