http://annandalekitchensbathrooms.co.uk/services Provider of quality kitchens, bathrooms, showers and ceramic tiles to clients throughout the Yorkshire region. The company is situated in Hull. Sat, 30 Oct 2010 12:45:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 http://annandalekitchensbathrooms.co.uk/services/hints/tiling/ http://annandalekitchensbathrooms.co.uk/services/hints/tiling/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 11:29:12 +0000 Administrator http://annandalekitchensbathrooms.co.uk/services/?p=326 Guidance:

In general terms the bigger the tile you choose the larger any area looks. There is a finite size however as a tile too big for an area will look unwieldy.

Tiles which exceed a surface area of 300mm x 300mm should always be fixed using a powdered and not pre-mixed adhesive. White or light tiles such as natural Travertines should always be fixed using a white adhesive to stop “bleeding” of the standard grey coloured adhesive into the tile and discolouring it over time.

Porcelain tiles should always be fixed using an adhesive with Porcelbond included, standard adhesive without this additive will not set correctly due to the density of the porcelain tile and they need air to “go off” while the Porcelbond additive allows the adhesive to set chemically.

When fixing Mosaics it is advised to use a specially designed mosaic adhesive which is white. This is due to the amount of grouting to be done and the fact that the surface area the tile adhesive needs to bond to is smaller than normal.

On wooden floors it is recommended a minimum of 15mm marine plywood boards are used or alternately a 6mm cement board such as the Hardi backer boards. These have to be screwed in 20cm centres (not nailed) onto the existing wooden floor. Anything less than this and you could fall foul of any insurance cover you have. Then you must use a flexible adhesive, preferably one where the flexibility is pre-powdered in rather than using an additive as it is virtually impossible to recreate the same mix twice when using additives and this could give differing levels of flexibility which is not desired.

If you have underfloor heating or are fitting it as part of the tiling you must use flexible adhesive even on concrete floors due to the expansion and contraction of the tiles, if not used your tiles will crack or lift.

When choosing which materials to use always ask about the suitability of the materials to the work being done and what guarantee’s, if any, the products carry. Be wary of using products with a limited or nil guarantees as by law the store providing the goods accept no responsibility once tiles have been fixed. Also insurance terms have been tightened up recently and a sub-standard product being used could nullify any claim, always check before hand with your insurers, especially in wet rooms or heavy water areas.

When tiles are fitted the correct sized notched trowel should be used and the adhesive applied directly to the wall. Sometimes with some natural tiles “back buttering” is also recommended. Never, never, never “dot and dab” the back of the tile in the corners and one in the middle to fix in an effort to save adhesive. The adhesive needs to be in contact with the whole tile to provide a total fix. Tiles WILL fall off if fixed incorrectly and cause damage both to the area around it or you if happen to be stood below it and serious injury can occur.

When picking a Tiler to do the job try to arrange to get 3 quotes which gives you a good idea if you are being priced correctly for your locality. Ask for testimonials if possible, ask them some questions about what they would use to fix the tiles to gauge their skill level. NEVER let the Tiler dictate to you what tiles you can or can’t have, many times I’ve come across tales of customers coming into store saying that the Tiler said they could only have a tile of X size. Any competent Tiler can fit your choice of tiles even if some preparation work may have to be done.

There are many ways tiles can be laid, landscape, portrait or brick bond being the most popular. Borders don’t necessarily have to go right round the room, creating a vertical panel with give a visual point of reference without cutting the room in half for example.

If you have any doubt about the colour of the tiles being ok then always take home some samples so you can see the tiles in the place they are to be fitted. Light can have a major impact on how a tile looks and you can’t carry the light with you !!!!

Always leave enough time to choose your tiles, making a mistake can prove costly and spoil the room. Allow 10 days for delivery if the tiles are not carried on stock.

Do not be afraid to ask the staff any questions as to the suitability of the tiles especially in floor areas. Tiles are graded into groups. A grade 3 is suitable only for light domestic use such as bathrooms and not kitchens, Grade 4 is for all domestic and light commercial use and Grade 5 is practically indestructible and suitable for all locations. Not all tiles are suitable for outdoors always check they are frostproof before purchase. In general terms if the staff are knowledgeable the more information you give them the better your choice of tiles become.

Be wary of Internet purchases as the actual design or colour of the tile is not always a true reflection of what it looks like in the flesh due to the pixilation of monitors and the quality of the initial photograph. Also when buying natural tiles on – line it is almost impossible to judge the quality of that tile and returns can sometimes be difficult to arrange.

All natural tiles vary, it is the beauty of such tiles but unfortunately so does the quality sometimes and poor quality naturals can be almost impossible to use due to grading (i.e the thickness varies substantially especially in slate tiles) or too much filler has been used as in Travertine tiles and they are inheritably weak. With Travertine always check the back of the tile as these are not filled to see how good the quality is. Some have a lot missing and these will break. Remember if it is a lot cheaper than most there is probably a reason why !!!!

When fixing natural tiles they all require sealing to make them impervious to liquids. Always check the sealing requirements but in general always seal before grouting and make sure the tiles are clean before sealing or you will seal in any stains. Some do require sealing before fitting however this is not the norm. Always make sure the sealer is specific for the type of tile used, there is no such thing as a catch all sealer, for travertine use travertine sealers for slate use slate for granite use granite sealers etc, you get the picture.

If you feel you are not receiving good advice then shop around and ask questions, eventually you will find someone who knows what they are talking about. Don’t be fobbed off by a “salesman” attitude, selling tiles is one of the most technical sales you can do and good sound knowledge of the products and alternatives is paramount.

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