Bowing Tiles

[b1gbrad]

So I've tiled the floor and shower area of my first wetroom. All going well so far, and I'm please with my results. (More importantly so is the Misuss)! :2thumbsup: :cool4:

However, I've started on the walls. I'm using 600 x 300 tiles. The walls are not very straight, but I can compensate for this by using varying depths of tile adhesive. I'm well practiced at this after doing the floor. It's slow progress but worth spending the time on. BUT, after setting the first row of tiles, when matching the 2nd row of tiles up correctly horizontally and vertically, they edges bow in/the middle bows out!:mad2::icon13::censored:



Have I just bought cheap cr@ppy tiles that bow? Or is this a common problem? Any ideas of how to best overcome/compensate for it? The one's I've set so far I've had to compromise the gaps at the edges and the middle.

P.S. - I have tried to post more pictures on the wetroom thread I've started but they don't seem to get passed by tthe moderators!?!?

 

[jay]

Brick bond is not helping you at all , place two tiles face to face that will show just how bad it is

 

[nybor62]

im with jay on this
how come you aint centred window wall

 

[Gazzer]

As above, check whether the tiles are bowed or is it the tiling ?

 

[b1gbrad]

I worked out the best cuts to not leave slithers around the window, and the least cuts in total. This meant that they were not centred to the centre of the window. But I guess all that can go out of the window (no pun intended :smilewinkgrin🙂 if I were to stack the tiles. So, now I've just got to convince the Missus!

 

[John Benton]

I worked out the best cuts to not leave slithers around the window, and the least cuts in total. This meant that they were not centred to the centre of the window. But I guess all that can go out of the window (no pun intended :smilewinkgrin🙂 if I were to stack the tiles. So, now I've just got to convince the Missus!

The only way to disguise the bows in the tiles is by stacking and I would say that this is a more modern look.

 

[prceramics]

ditch the brick bond mate

 

[Ian]

P.S. - I have tried to post more pictures on the wetroom thread I've started but they don't seem to get passed by tthe moderators!?!?

Other pics sorted, I'll post on that thread to get it back to the top.

 

[kilty55]

i would also advise centre that window whether it be brick or stacked it will look strange otherwise.

place 2 tiles face to face and check for bowing....lots of tiles this size suffer from it and not always just cheapos

 

[Ajax123]

Are these tiles fixed dot and dab or on a notched trowelled bed.

 

[johnryan]

just wondering about the walls. they look like very heavy tiles to go on skimmed plaster. do you know the weight of them? shouldn't be more than 20k per m2 if it is a skimmed wall. if you're going all the way to the ceiling i'd be a bit concerned about that.

 

[b1gbrad]

This is how bowed the tiles are:

So I'm going to stack them - thanks for the advice chaps, and yes I agree it looks more modern that way.:icon14:

But, I'm not sure about centering them to the window. :confused_smile: When stacked, do you centre the middle of the tile to the middle of the window or the edge of the tile to the middle of the window. And does it matter if that then leaves a small 60mm tile on the RHS?

I've used a notch trowel bed and then packed it out with extra adhesive where necessary to keep them vertically straight. Is that the best way to do it?

I've not a clue about the weight of them so I'll check later. But yes, I'm going all the way to the ceiling. Worst case what might happen? Anything I can do to prevent that happening?

 

[Andy Allen]

if there to heavy, worst case they will fall off, damage the bathroom suite, or give you a headache, so before you continue i would check the weight of the tiles, are they porcelain tiles or ceramic? it should say the weight on the box and if they are packed in 1m2 per boxs, if not weigh one tile and times it by 5.5 the number of 600x300 tiles in a square metre..

 

[prceramics]

draw a line in the centre of your window ! dry run the tiles starting from the line see what the cuts look like, if no good start the dry run with the centre of the tile on the line then try again

 

[b1gbrad]

thanks again chaps. I've worked out that it's just over 16kg/sqm. So is that ok enough not to be too worried about it?

I'll have a play with the layouts around the windows.

 

[John Benton]

I guess you've convinced the missus then!!

 

[charlie1]

thanks again chaps. I've worked out that it's just over 16kg/sqm. So is that ok enough not to be too worried about it?
I'll have a play with the layouts around the windows.

16kg pm2 for tiles, roughly 5 kg of adhesive and then about 1 kg of water. What size notch trowel are you using?

 

[b1gbrad]

Yes, Missus is convinced - it makes sense.

I'm using 6mm, but having to pad the adhesive out in places to ensure it's vertical.

 

[charlie1]

Hi brad, for that size of tile I would be using no less than a 10mm notch + back skimming tile, and that's if the walls where in good condition! You are not going to get anywhere near enough coverage with a 6mm trowel. I'm unsure what your pad out method is? Be carefully brad, your over the limit for those walls!!

 

[b1gbrad]

Thanks for the advice - I'll pop to screwfix and get me a new trowel. I've been back skimming the tile and basically just building up the adhesive on the tile (as uniform as possible to avoid any gaps in the adhesive behind the tile) to compensate for the wonky walls. Is that the best way?

I've started with the most difficult wall so it should all be easy of that....yeah right!