Fun project coming up - bit of advise needed

[Tile Shop]

I have a colleague at work who knows that I want to leave my desk job to pursue tiling. So he has allowed me to use him as a guinea pig this weekend. My payment....... Chinese and an unlimited supply of coffee and bacon butties.

I will be doing his bathroom floor. but the shape of it is.....well....... lets just say I've never come across a room this shape before. the angles are just odd and I think the builder of the house must have been on strong amphetamines. Diagram below. Tiles are 500x330 porcelain

I have ordered one of the Rubi Angle finders (smaller version of the Tiletrade T5) to help me out.

The floor is sand:cement screed which I'm going to give a quick once over with diluted APD. but its perfectly flat. Been having a play around with square notch and round notch trowels recently, looking at coverage. But I have also ordered a tiger trowel try.

So can anyone advise on the difference in area coverage between using the tiger trowel and say a 10x10 square, and also if the rubi angle finder really is that simple for measuring awkward cuts?

If anyone can also advise the best way to mark around pedestals and toilets, i'd be grateful.

Thanks

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Only correct way is to have the sanitary units taken out!

 

[Old Mod]

Failing that, either dry lay your floor around it or wait until you've tiles around the outside, then template it with cardboard, Corex or a heavy lining paper.

 

[Tile Shop]

Only correct way is to have the sanitary units taken out!

agreed. but neither of us are plumbers. And he can't afford one at the moment. I realise it may be straight forward for some tilers to do, but I don't have the confidence to attempt it as there will also be a 12-13mm height difference to what it is now. The bog and basin are down to the concrete and the the current yukky carpet has been cut round.....(hmmmm. maybe use the carpet as a template???) Besides, it will be good cutting practice for me.

Failing that, either dry lay your floor around it or wait until you've tiles around the outside, then template it with cardboard, Corex or a heavy lining paper.

Sweet. I have a recycling bin full of large Dominoes boxes I could use

 

[Unused Account 1]

Same as 3 fall cut it dry ,and if struggling with cuts use corex to template cuts as very easy to cut with a stanley knife

 

[Andy Allen]

I just get the rough shape and keep nibbling off small bit till you get it perfect

 

[Old Mod]

You can also help yourself out a fair bit by having at least one joint on one axis, two if you're very lucky, that pass through the centre.

 

[Old Mod]

 

[Tile Shop]

You can also help yourself out a fair bit by having at least one joint on one axis, two if you're very lucky, that pass through the centre.

good point. You can't see it on my cad drawing, but that how it falls around the basin. But shifting it across to do the same with the loo, would leave a very small slither cut to the wall which I want to avoid.

He's also going for Mapei 113 grout. I know its personal preference but you guys has seen it more often than me. Matching grey silicone around the walls and sanitary or stick to white to match the sanitary, bath panel and skirting?

And any thoughts on the angle finder and the tiger trowel?

 

[Spare Tool]

good point. You can't see it on my cad drawing, but that how it falls around the basin. But shifting it across to do the same with the loo, would leave a very small slither cut to the wall which I want to avoid.

He's also going for Mapei 113 grout. I know its personal preference but you guys has seen it more often than me. Matching grey silicone around the walls and sanitary or stick to white to match the sanitary, bath panel and skirting?

And any thoughts on the angle finder and the tiger trowel?

I've had an angle finder in the back of my van for years and never used it, steel ruler off the two corners of the last full tile, then two marks on your tile to be cut works fine..
Never tried a tiger trowel so can't comment on them, long as it trowels the adhesive that's the main thing..
Matching silicone round the room and bases of sanitryware looks better imo

 

[Stef]

The very last option would be to cut round the sani ware.
By the time you monkey about trying to get it to look good the floor would have been tiled.
Colour match the silicone as it should disguise the cut where as white will stand it out more most probably..

 

[Italy]

good point. You can't see it on my cad drawing, but that how it falls around the basin. But shifting it across to do the same with the loo, would leave a very small slither cut to the wall which I want to avoid.

He's also going for Mapei 113 grout. I know its personal preference but you guys has seen it more often than me. Matching grey silicone around the walls and sanitary or stick to white to match the sanitary, bath panel and skirting?

And any thoughts on the angle finder and the tiger trowel?

Tiger trowel is your last problem.

 

[Tile Shop]

Tiger trowel is your last problem.

You have a unique way of filling someone with confidence

 

[Italy]

the risk, the risk is my life.
who does not risk, no scrapes. (Said Italian, chi non rischia , non raschia)

 

[Andy Allen]

Those tiger trowels are ...