Hall and cloakroom

macten · Jul 17, 2009

Job I'm on at the moment is ripping out and replacing the basin and toilet in a downstairs cloakroom and tiling its floor and the adjacent hall floor. Finished that bit today.
Will be doing the cloakroom walls and final fit next week.

Cloak room:

Altered waste and feed to fit new bog and started to box in stopcock/water meter:

macten · Jul 17, 2009

Hall:

doug boardley · Jul 17, 2009

why have you got a joint running full lenght of corridor mate? (3rd pic down on second set of pics)

macten · Jul 17, 2009

Nice one Doug, was waiting for someone to point it out (yay you win!) here's the story...

Turned up and customer had drawn out a m2 pattern that he wanted - and to just repeat. So set out and pointed out that his way meant they'd be 4 small squares together when repeated which he did not like (did look wrong)
So decided to rotate the m2 pattern and avoid this which created the long grout line. I broke that up originally but he didn't like the resulting patterns elsewhere (which looked fine by the way)- so I modified it so it was a little broken in places and then he says it looks better continuous (which it doesn't) but did what he wanted as I was getting bored with the conversation at this point and just wanted to get cracking!

macten · Jul 17, 2009

Spooky - ghost post

Hawkofeagles · Jul 17, 2009

I was looking at the pics and thinking 'what a good looking job' and now that doug has pointed the grout line out, thats all I keep looking at but still a nice job, macten

macten · Jul 17, 2009

LOL Hawk thats just how I feel. Hopefully the coloured grout I will be using will take the emphasis off it a bit.
This is my first modular/random pattern I've done. Do you think it's worth putting in my portfolio or burying it on account of that stupid joint!

Hawkofeagles · Jul 17, 2009

I've never done a modular/random patten and I'm not as advanced as alot of the guys on here but that said I would use it in your portfolio. Lets be honest joe public probably won't even notice it and if they do you could always use it as an example of what can go wrong if the customer doesn't take your advice..

doug boardley · Jul 18, 2009

sorry, did mean to add, it does look good tho'

Time's Ran Out · Jul 18, 2009

But that's why youv'e added the thread so people of experience can reply with their views.
If the customer wanted it laid in a particular design and you have informed him that it would lead to a joint running the length of the hallway then there is not alot you can do.
Personally I agree with Doug that it has become too obvious and a shift in the modular pattern to give the impression of RANDOM would have been aestheticaly more appealing.

Timeless John.

PS. What happened to the Clariss Clifft ornaments on the wc. window cill.

Alpha Omega · Jul 18, 2009

What spacers are they ?

Looks nice :8:

stevee · Jul 19, 2009

spacers look like the ones uesd for packing double glazing,looks good tho mate

macten · Jul 19, 2009

The ornaments went in the skip - lol not valuable are they?
Yeah - often use window packers as spacers on floors.
They do a good job, clean up well and last forever.
Added bonus are they are so visible less chance customer walks on setting tiles!

macten · Jul 28, 2009

So I started the walls and took the rad off. Typical, the walls, although not perfect were all okay apart from the on bit behind the rad. Bulged out by about 2cm so decided to just cut the bad bit out and reboard:

Since this nicely exposed the pipes for the rad I explained how it would be a shame to put the naff old one back in and I'd do him a deal on supplying and fitting a towel rad (I get 80% off) so he was happy with that idea.
So altered flow and feed:

macten · Jul 28, 2009

Put a £2 handle on from screwfix:

Had to alter waste for sink and replaced the awful plastic chrome plated bottle trap he got from Wickes which was HUGE! with a much smaller and neater metal one from screwfix which would compliment the diddy basin:

macten · Jul 28, 2009

Got to make a border now using the field tiles.
Going to be a faff to cut them all to size but I'm thinking of something like this:

DHTiling · Jul 28, 2009

Bespoke...luv it...

White Room · Jul 28, 2009

Nice but a lot of cutting

Alpha Omega · Jul 28, 2009

Dave said:
Bespoke...luv it...

Only when it's day rate !!

macten · Jul 30, 2009

Bespoke! - Never again, hangover, no sleep and thunderstorms!
Day rate yes :hurray:
Managed to get them all cut in the soaking rain this morning and started sticking in the afternoon.
Royal pain! My birthday too!

DHTiling · Jul 30, 2009

Pain yes...but well worth the effort don't you agree...this type of bespoke work isn't done by all tile fixers . so enjoy as you might get more now...:smilewinkgrin:

Ajax123 · Jul 30, 2009

I really like that border. :hurray:

Alpha Omega · Jul 30, 2009

Looks really nice

and Happy Birthday :8:

What did you cut them with ?

Gazebo · Jul 31, 2009

Nice work macten, border is great, how did you cut them and get the edges nice.?

I see you scored the painted walls and tiled on them. is this ok to do as I have a similar job coming up and I really dont want to have to sand off all the paint.

I always look forward to your picture posts so keep them up.

:8:
Gary
[email protected]

macten · Jul 31, 2009

Gazebo said:
Nice work macten, border is great, how did you cut them and get the edges nice.?

I see you scored the painted walls and tiled on them. is this ok to do as I have a similar job coming up and I really dont want to have to sand off all the paint.

I always look forward to your picture posts so keep them up.

:8:
Gary
[email protected]

I always score and prime if the paint is good. To test if the paint is good I stick a strip of carpet tape on and leave for 5 mins and rip off. If the paint comes away I usually strip it. If you have to remove the paint on this job coming up Gary then get yourself a heat gun (£10 cheapy one is fine) much quicker and less mess!

macten · Jul 31, 2009

Cuts were done on my Qep bridgesaw. The day before, I rang Qep up to find if they did a kick *** blade for it and they did - called the ultimate. The standard blade would have meant smoothing each cut edge which I wanted to avoid (incidentally I use a diamond file for that - much better than a rubbing block)
My local Topps didn't know it existed but I had the ref# and they found a store that had a couple instock and I picked it up the next day.

The cuts are perfect with this blade - hard to distinguish the rectified edge from the cut edge - this blade was one of my birthday presents, how sad!

Gazebo · Jul 31, 2009

Thanks for that macten,
Yes I do use a cheap heat gun now even though i did say sand it.like you say much less mess.
was the blade expensive.?
Might have to get me one for my Birthday which has just gone but hey a belated present is great.