Getting metal trim flush?

[Kasheen]

Hello folks,

I've got some aluminium tile trim here which is going to go horizontally along the top of some border tiles.

I've run into a bit of an issue though, how do you get the top of the trim perfectly flush along the whole wall where there might be very slight bumps (the type that when tiling you'd just correct with a tiny tiny bit more adhesive)? For instance, if I was using a white pvc trim I could silicon the top edge (or use grout?) - that way you wouldn't see any tiny gaps between the top of the trim and the wall.

I don't think that this would look right with aluminium trim though, so what's the secret? I've tried pins but they don't grip the wall so well. Again its just at these tiny tiny dips so whatever I use to close the gaps has to be pretty strong because the aluminium doesn't bend quite as easily as plastic.

Thanks!

P.S Incase it makes any difference the trim is the one that looks like a flat strip when it is installed - Square Edge I think.

 

[kilty55]

hi kasheen,i assume your tiles are dado height?

 

[Alan.P]

Decorators caulk and paint, if the walls are painted that is, you'll never see it if the gaps are as small as you say, if they're bigger then maybe the wall could be skimmed ??

 

[kilty55]

ok,im assuming you mean your tiles are dado height,if the gaps are big i would get the wall plastered above it

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hello folks,

I've got some aluminium tile trim here which is going to go horizontally along the top of some border tiles.

I've run into a bit of an issue though, how do you get the top of the trim perfectly flush along the whole wall where there might be very slight bumps (the type that when tiling you'd just correct with a tiny tiny bit more adhesive)? For instance, if I was using a white pvc trim I could silicon the top edge (or use grout?) - that way you wouldn't see any tiny gaps between the top of the trim and the wall.

I don't think that this would look right with aluminium trim though, so what's the secret? I've tried pins but they don't grip the wall so well. Again its just at these tiny tiny dips so whatever I use to close the gaps has to be pretty strong because the aluminium doesn't bend quite as easily as plastic.

Thanks!

P.S Incase it makes any difference the trim is the one that looks like a flat strip when it is installed - Square Edge I think.

Hi, is this trim a listello? any pics?

 

[Kasheen]

hi kasheen,i assume your tiles are dado height?

Hi there, yes half height, dado height... whatever it's called! 😉

Hi, is this trim a listello? any pics?

I hope I'm allowed to put links to products on this forum... this isn't the exact trim that I'm using but it is the same idea: Picture of the trim here.
I'm basically using it to cap off the top of the tiles - don't like the white PVC or Metal quadrant stuff. Its really about a 1mm gap or less sometimes an inch or two wide (only at some points of the trim). Are you wanting pics of the gap?

Decorators caulk and paint, if the walls are painted that is, you'll never see it if the gaps are as small as you say, if they're bigger then maybe the wall could be skimmed ??

The walls are painted white. I was thinking of using white silicon and hoping that the silicon in the gap would look like part of the wall but I'm not sure how that plan would work out... thought I'd see if there was some trick to achieving flushness first. Other previous tile installations around my house have had the trim either siliconed or possibly grouted to the wall on the showing side.

 

[DHTiling]

You can use wedges to hold the trim in place till the adhesive sets.. then caulk the top in..
0 - 5 mm Wedges x 500


What are tile wedges?
These will save you lots of time and therefore money. Used for wall tiling in situations when you are putting bottom cuts in above any uneven surface like rough concrete etc. Using bits of card board and tile nibblings is OK But takes ages. if nothing is used the tiles keep slipping, especially when they have a thick layer of adhesive on them. The trick is to use a wedge instead but obviously you can only insert it the thickness of a tile. Turning it to the side over comes this problem. (see 'in use' picture) Micro adjust the height up to 5 mm. Use on top of each other to go over 5 mm. Great for marble wall tiling where each piece varies slightly and standard spacers will not work REUSABLE

Bag of 500

Weight 240g


'in use' picture

 

[macten]

I'd use the caulk mate - white Silicon will be messy and you can't over paint it.

 

[david campbell]

decorators caulk for me as some silicones can't be painted over

 

[The D]

decorators caulk for me