B&q Porcelain

[Alan Davies]

Just priced a job to lay 25m2 of porcelain floor tiles, customer has bought tiles from b&q, read some bad reports on these tiles, how true are these reports and anyone got any advice please, first time laying porcelain.

 

[DHTiling]

GOOD LUCK.....:lol:

 

[connors12345]

dont know meself mate. but have heard the same as you... apparently stick to porcelain that is made in italy and spain as all the others are very porous and irregularly shaped
ian

 

[rob hutchinson]

The guys are right, "you get whar you pay for" so explain this fact to your customer& try to supply your own quality porcelbond tile adhesive, at least then you can guarantee your own fixing work. Customers may try to cut corners on the price and quality of the tiles however its essential that you convince them that they certainly can't afford to do this with the actual fixing of them. Good luck mate

 

[Fekin]

I couldn't say exactly where B&Q get their stock from but from my own experiance it was fine to cut, good sizes, only problem I had was that it was polished black porcelain and the boxes were damp, leaving stains on a lot of tiles that needed a lot of cleaning.

 

[Grace'sDad]

I've yet to use B&Q Porcelain but I have quoted for fixing. The (non) customer had a couple of 600x600 black tiles and when I measured them they were 600x598x600x598 if you see what I mean.

 

[rob hutchinson]

Uhmmmm..... sizey!.......at least you will save money by not having to buy cross spacer pegs :lol:

 

[IvegotsTILE]

B&Q have been pushing the tiles Graces Dad was on about on adverts and at the front of their tile section.600=600 black polished porcelain,must say they look great.I was picking some battons up the other day and had a look at them while someone else was looking at them,he saw my tiling t-shirt and asked what I thought.I said"£11.45 a square metre for those tiles,I'll show you why their that price." I opened a box(naughty,naughty) and got the first 2 tiles out and put them next to each other on the floor one was 599 the other 596.All 4 sizes were different. Put the bloke right off.One off the staff saw me and told me off.I said loudly in front of alot of people that they were only good for hardcore.
The tiles looked great but whats the point if when there laid all the joints are out of line.You can't get quality at that price unfortunately.
If you do have to lay them use a big grout joint,its very rare to get B&Q tiles the same size even in the same box.

Good luck you'll need it.

 

[devonmark]

I did a bathroom in white ceramic from b&q and they were frankly a nightmare...never again for me..

 

[Grace'sDad]

Also, don't forget you've NO comeback whatsoever with B&Q gear.
Their get out clause is that they only sell DIY, not trade supplies.

(funny, as they have trade sections at the warehouses now...)

 

[Leatherface]

Porcelain by nature is not porous.
The quality of the porcelain and the way they are polished however can vary.
The polishing process however makes the top layer of the porcelain likely to stain
As a rule all polished porcelain tiles should be sealed with the appropriate sealer.
No probs

 

[MrC]

Also, don't forget you've NO comeback whatsoever with B&Q gear.
Their get out clause is that they only sell DIY, not trade supplies.

(funny, as they have trade sections at the warehouses now...)

You should still have comaback whether you are trade or DIY. If their goods are sub standard (not fit for purpose) or not as described (all different sizes but stated as 600x600) you should be able to get a change or refund.

Their argument may be that as a trader you should notice any faults with the product but thats a little difficult if they are boxed up!

Best option though as you say is stay clear from any suppliers you are not happy with - saves a lot of effort!

 

[brian c]

pmsl SIMON,NAUGHTY BOY BUT QUITE RIGHT M8.

Stay clear from b&Q TILES AS THE GUYS SAY THEY DONT GUARANTEE CALIBRATION OR SHADING.Imust say the white ones seem to be the worst especially shading.

Those porcelain tiles need sealed as they are very porous and a porcelflex adhesive used.

 

[DHTiling]

porcelain tiles are sealed to make cleaning easier because dirt/stains gather in the tiles suface pores....Porcelain tiles are actually not very porous at all..they are a vitrified tile thus meaning glass like so Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%).....

 

[howard]

hi guys only done 1 job with b&q tiles they were white i did not have a problem with them check my pictures out in the gallery i found them ok to work with everybody on here slags b&q tiles off surely they are not all bad tiles b&q would have loads of complaints and do something about it they are a massive company so why would they allow this from there supilers

 

[smokie899]

just layed 36 sq met. in my own house. new house spent a fortune on it first timer so starting from scratch. i seen the price of them about £10 sq met.600x600. could not resist as i am a tiler i took a chance as i could work on themto get the best finnish and guess what they were all the exact same size. could not believe it but they are VERY POURUS. seal several times. good luck

 

[olgit]

maybe the only way is the old brick patern move ??:stupid:

 

[brian c]

just layed 36 sq met. in my own house. new house spent a fortune on it first timer so starting from scratch. i seen the price of them about £10 sq met.600x600. could not resist as i am a tiler i took a chance as i could work on themto get the best finnish and guess what they were all the exact same size. could not believe it but they are VERY POURUS. seal several times. good luck

Thank goodness i have someome else who has the same opinion of these tiles as myself and Reaper72,these tiles need sealed please beleive me.I know what you are implying DH but these tiles need to be sealed especially the edges,this is my opinion btw.

I beleive its something to do with the polishing process opening up the pores.

 

[DHTiling]

I didnt say they didnt need sealing bri...but porcelain tiles are a vitrfied tile and thus are not porous......the staining is only surface......all be it hard to remove...

 

[Grace'sDad]

hi guys only done 1 job with b&q tiles they were white i did not have a problem with them check my pictures out in the gallery i found them ok to work with everybody on here slags b&q tiles off surely they are not all bad tiles b&q would have loads of complaints and do something about it they are a massive company so why would they allow this from there supilers

Fair comment but I believe B&Q insist all their suppliers accept returns on a no-quibble basis. The company I used to sell for refused to supply B&Q because of their demands regarding returns.

 

[brian c]

I didnt say they didnt need sealing bri...but porcelain tiles are a vitrfied tile and thus are not porous......the staining is only surface......all be it hard to remove...

Fair comment Dave,i was begining to doubt myself for a minute,lol:lol:

 

[howard]

yeah your right on that my dad worked in a wallpaper factory and had the same problem with them

 

[Man4Hire]

Hi,

have just laid 25sq meters of the black 400 x 400 Band q tiles. they were all good sizes, no apparent variation and no warping.
Did need porcelain sealer, which B and q don't sell and they don,t sell a decent black grout or reasonably priced adhesive.
Did look good when finished though!
:yes:

 

[IvegotsTILE]

All I will say is look at their displays,theirs only 4 tiles per display and if you look 9 times out of 10 there different sizes.What does that say for them?

 

[grahamster]

I have to lay these 600X600 tiles aswell,do you reccomend 12mm ply or 6mm backerboard for these big tiles,& what would be better,grey or black grout,also would you go for a 10mm grout joint?........Cheers Graham.

 

[GazTech]

I have to lay these 600X600 tiles aswell,do you reccomend 12mm ply or 6mm backerboard for these big tiles,& what would be better,grey or black grout,also would you go for a 10mm grout joint?........Cheers Graham.

12mm backerboard would be my choice Graham, 10mm.. joints are far too wide, aim for 3/5mm depending on wether the tiles are all same size...Black grout would also be my choice.....Gaz

 

[Rosco0110]

Did a kitchen floor with these 600x600 porcelain. Very good tiles for the money, B&q finally somethin decent. Floor must be pretty level before tiling, as these tiles really show off the levels. Remember and seal as they are polished porcelain.
Cream ones did look great once finished. Laying another 30m2 in a few weeks. Youll need a sharp 10mm wheel on your dry cutter aswell.

 

[grahamster]

Ok,cheers Gaz,also forgot to ask would bal flexi rapiset do the job, for adhesive....Graham

 

[Rosco0110]

Just read the lastfew posts. I layed mine with 6mm hardibacker, good job.
I`d probably go for the dark charcoal grey grout for a bit of definition with the black porcelain.:hurray:

 

[GazTech]

Ok,cheers Gaz,also forgot to ask would bal flexi rapiset do the job, for adhesive....Graham

Bal rapid flexi would be perfect Graham, .....Gaz