Chipped edges/laser cut - Tile Advice

[DS Tiling]

Had a real slow day today. Installing floor tiles in a small bathroom. The tiles were seemingly laser cut. They were a sort of grey pattern printed on a white porcelain like material. The grey seemed very easily damaged to me revealing the white backing. I spent a bit of time sorting the usable tiles and edges as there were quite a few with tiny chiped edges and corners when removed from the box. Wet cutting i tried several of my usual blades but was still left with an unsightly white edge. I had to remove a couple of tiles as the edges went when cleaning the joints with a spacer prior to grouting. Not cheap tiles either so I was told and from a large supplier which I won't name. Anyone know why the edges were so brittle? It was the same in each box so i don't think they had been dropped.

Anyway got there in the end but i wouldn't fancy dropping anything on that floor :mad2:

 

[Proper Job]

alright mate, they sound like seconds to me, i did some mosiac effect tiles for a customer and they did the same thing in the end i used my dewalt 2400 wet cutter left a really nice edge, until cleaning down it just flaked off. From what i have been told its when they glaze the tile it has not bonded with the biscuit due to incorrect firing or mix, this should be checked by the manu.

Seconds are not just imperfections in the glaze on the surface it can be loads of things.

 

[russ]

they sound like the cheap floor tiles B&Q(and other diy stores) sell to me

 

[Proper Job]

i don't touch B&Q tiles the biscuits are s*** and the batches do not match.

 

[DS Tiling]

Thanks for the replies. They are definetly not B+Q tiles. Hadn't thoght about seconds but I am going back next week to do more work for them so will ask diplomatically. They are not a high glaze tile. When you look closely the surface grey pattern looks like it has been printed on. I'm not sure about the manufacturing process for these but not like the usual porcelain where the surface colour extends through the tile.