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Tiling help / suggestions brick bond wall/hexagonal terracotta floor..

Hi frds,

Just finishing up a 5 week training course tiling and Ive got my first big job tiling 3 bathrooms and a Kitchen...bathrooms have brick bond rectagonal (is that a word?) ceramic tiles. I cant see any real difficulty in putting them up but any pointers you have would be appreciated.

Secondly the Kitchen floor has hexagonal terracotta tiles (v thick) apart from the sealing and re sealing (again and again!) is there any technique in the layout of these tiles or just treat as per normal square tile?

thanks for any suggestions...

TP2

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brian on June 12, 2008 at 1:06am: Hi John,
I don't think ' rectagonal ' is a word lol :) But I understand what you mean.

The best tip I can give you that you may not have gotten in the class is to snap two lines, one on the edge of the tile, and another on the middle of the tile that is MORE than a trowel width away from the first. This way, you'll be able to lay your tiles on the line every time, and be able to spread your mortar accurately.

As for the Hex tiles, they do require more layout time than a square tile does. You'll want to be sure that you're not ending with the tiny peices along your longest walls, or cabinets. Always figure your ' full tile ' to be cutting the points off, this way there's no small tiles, back buttering and so forth. Hope you understand what I've written, if not maybe I can try again. Pictures are worth a thousand word here for sure !; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Farrell on June 12, 2008 at 6:15pm: Many thanks Brian for taking the time to reply.

Not quite sure what you mean by the second line.. put my first horizontal in where the edge of the tile lines up...then ping another more than a trowels width above it? Yes I do have problems seeing my line sometimes, so I assume that if im laying them on my original line and I keep them evenly below the top line its easier to manage? (I bought myself a v nice laser to keep me straight)! Im also not sure whether they want folded corners or not..which is a lot easier than the diamonds for sure but a pain!.

On the old Hex tiles Im fine with marking out the room and dry laying a few to check my cuts but what Im concerned about is how to keep the grout lines nice and even ... I was shown how to position tiles by eye on my course (no spacers allowed!) but not so sure how that can be done easily with hex's...I think what I will have to do is buy some cheap hex tiles and practice in my workshop! Thanks for your kind pointers much appreciated.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brian on June 14, 2008 at 1:07am: I had some brick work to do today, but it was on a shower wall. So, I drew lines like I described earlier, one in the center, and another 1 1/2 tiles away, large enough to fit the trowel in between ....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Carr on June 14, 2008 at 6:40am: Spot on Brian, that's exactly what I do. As you say it gives you that little bit of room to get your trowel in and apply adhesive.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Farrell on June 14, 2008 at 9:20am: Ah Gotcha...really appreciate the pics, makes complete sense thanks alot!

many thanks all for the replies.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Carr on June 14, 2008 at 12:49pm: where you been doing you course John? Any good?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Farrell on June 14, 2008 at 6:55pm: Place called Essex Tiling Training near Upminster. Took a 5 week course as I am changing careers completely and wanted to setup my own business. So did 2 weeks walls 2 weeks floors and a week working on the specialist tiles (slate/marble etc) ..its difficult to say whether a course is good or not when Im not comparing it to anything else. However I have enjoyed it, they get you tiling within the first hour of starting and really you dont stop tiling floors/walls until the course is over. Its really helped me get a good bit of confidence in understanding what Im doing and Im anal enough to make sure its done right. The baths/sinks/windows are uneven so you have to make sure you setout right. They also state the walls are uneven on purpose but to be honest, there would be no way you would want to tile on such walls in any case so there is no need to make them that uneven. The only weak point of the course is the business setup training and literature.

Im glad I did the 5 week as the 1 and 2 week courses are far too short for anyone (no matter where they do their training) to be effective if you want to startup on your own.

I would recommend their courses though, Im an exLondon city suit boy, and I thought it would be difficult fitting into the 'tools' environment but it has been really great and actually made some very good contacts with plumbers / plasterers etc so well worth it.

I actually finish up middle of next week and Im already booked up by a contractor for 3 bathrooms and a kitchen plus other work at the end of June!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Carr on June 16, 2008 at 8:11pm: I've heard of them, but only through their advertising. Did they go over any patterns during the course?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brian on June 17, 2008 at 12:05am: Looks like John's photos show a diagonal ' pinwheel ' pattern. Very nice. Tough layout.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Farrell on June 17, 2008 at 8:06am: we did diamond on walls..and every other pattern on the floors but havent done brickbond.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Carr on June 17, 2008 at 3:23pm: I reckon with some of the experts on this site we could develop a pattern master class between us, something like the definitive guide to setting out.

That'd some of use to everyone.

Anyone up for the challenge?

Permalink Reply by Dave Carr on June 13, 2008 at 6:02am: For brick bond I always have a couple of chalk lines snapped for the vertical setting out. One for each courses starting position. I also where possible continue the wrap-around of the tiles, just seems to look that bit better.; ▶ Reply to This