First time tiling with marble. Advice please - Tile Advice

[Dave]

Render and multi finish. I was going to level it out with tile adhesive

Is it sand/cement or gypsum base coat

 

[Tamar Home Services]

Is it sand/cement or gypsum base coat

The sub base is sand cement. The skim , which the tiled have taken much off, is the multifinish.

 

[Tamar Home Services]

After much thought I have decided to explain to the customer that this is a job I do not wish to take on.

1 I am busy with a huge amount of non tiling work, including work on my own house.

2 I know the customers have an eye for detail and have picked up on issues with the decorating etc. A 2nd rate job would be an expensive mistake for them. And as I don't actually tile that often I don't think it would work too well.

Ive got plenty of other work with the same customer, and he was absolutely fine with me telling him I didn't want to do it. I volunteered my services before I realised he wanted marble lol

 

[Dave]

After much thought I have decided to explain to the customer that this is a job I do not wish to take on.

1 I am busy with a huge amount of non tiling work, including work on my own house.

2 I know the customers have an eye for detail and have picked up on issues with the decorating etc. A 2nd rate job would be an expensive mistake for them. And as I don't actually tile that often I don't think it would work too well.

Ive got plenty of other work with the same customer, and he was absolutely fine with me telling him I didn't want to do it. I volunteered my services before I realised he wanted marble lol

It is probably a very wise decision Hugo and good of you to realise it wasn’t an easy project.

 

[Tamar Home Services]

It is probably a very wise decision Hugo and good of you to realise it wasn’t an easy project.

Well we can't all be good at everything. I have my strengths and with time being of the essence I'm happy to apply them where they are needed.

If he was going with ceramic, porcelain or even a wet room that would have been fine. I've done all of those a few times

 

[Tamar Home Services]

As an aside, this house is particularly special to me.

Originally an elderly gent lived there who I came to consider a friend. I did a small job replacing his chimney cowl then that led to other work. I changed his fascia boards front and back, put jn a couple of upvc doors for him and did other bits around the house.

Then one day in 2019 he collapsed and eventually died.

The police had to use the big red key to gain entry. They completely pulverised the wooden back door into the kitchen and I was asked to replace it, which I did.

The house was put on the market and the market wasn't particularly lively then. Eventually the younger daughter and her husband bought it.

They have huge plans for it. As I work on my own I am getting the small jobs that are either self contained or assisting other trades. In addition as they live in Cardiff I am essentially the key holder as the house is around 15 minutes from me. So I have a very good relationship with the customer.

The elderly gent once said to me "I'm sure when I'm gone this place will be gutted, but for now it suits me fine"

He wasn't wrong, bless him.