Newish (2years) Tiler - How Do You Guys Do It??

[McLovin]

Hi Guys & Girls

Iv been tiling for just over two years now. Needed a career change after years of unfulfilling jobs so decided to bit the bullet and go self employed. Started by doing a 6 week course then following a tiller round (chief tea maker) and started with small jobs. Im over two years in now and have not looked back. Still being new I stick to bathrooms (not wet rooms) and floors.

Anyway I have got to the stage where I am not able to ask other Tilers how they do things so opinions from you fine people please.

1: Window reveal - How do you guys keep the cuts clean around the window reveal. I use a rubi cuter but this leaves rough edges on tiles. Wet cutter (best finish IMO) is not an option for most jobs. I use sand paper to smooth off the edges and an electric sander some times but I am never completely happy. Is there another way. The long tiles on top of the window look the worst. I like to butt the trim right up to the tiles. I am after a finish to match the look of a non cut edge of a tile (within reason).

2: Battens - For example if I am starting with a full tile from the bath and run the tiles around the wall I batten it off. Question is how do you guys then work down. I am currently removing the batten when dry and laying the next row and battening it off again. This time consuming and a pain with solid walls. I end up holing the batten in place with Silicon and wooden wedges. Is there an easier way?
I normally work in properties with terrible walls so If i need to pack it out trying to hold the batten in place becomes harder.

Cheers for the gems of wisdom in advance 😀

 

[Unused Account 1]

Hey im in kent ,need any help or advice ,just ask ,no probs

 

[McLovin]

Cheers buddy. I might just do that.

Out of interest how do you address the above.

 

[Unused Account 1]

The window reveal ,the cut edge ,put away drom the trim ,then Silicon back edge

 

[White Room]

For cleaning up the edges I use these Diamond Hand Polishing Pads | ATS Diamond Tools

 

[Unused Account 1]

The battens what i do if you go full tile off the bath is ,put the tile in with spaces dry then batten up to it ,you understand

 

[McLovin]

For cleaning up the edges I use these Diamond Hand Polishing Pads | ATS Diamond Tools

Thanks Pal. What grit do you use? Do you find that they last a while. Sandpaper is not up to the task in my opinion.

 

[McLovin]

The battens what i do if you go full tile off the bath is ,put the tile in with spaces dry then batten up to it ,you understand

I see what you are saying. I do this too but was looking for other ideas of battening to the wall rather than the standard timber batten screwed in.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[White Room]

I use a 400 200 100 and 50 which tends to cover most circumstances....

 

[Flintstone]

Not sure what you mean around the window, cut with rubi or wet cutter are fine upto the trim or window?

 

[White Room]

The battens what i do if you go full tile off the bath is ,put the tile in with spaces dry then batten up to it ,you understand

I use these which suits me Kwik Split Measuring Guides, Set Squares & Levelling Device

 

[Unused Account 1]

Are they sturdy

 

[McLovin]

Not sure what you mean around the window, cut with rubi or wet cutter are fine upto the trim or window?

Hey

For example today I was cutting a 60cm ceramic tile around the top of the window with my dry rubi cutter. Once snapped it leaves a jagged edge which is not even. Once trim is butted up to it and a different colour grout to the tile goes in its noticeable. I sand with sand paper and an electric sander some times. I am looking for other options really. My wet cutter weighs a ton so its not practical to use one most jobs.

 

[Unused Account 1]

Why not put the good edge to the trim when you can

 

[McLovin]

I use these which suits me Kwik Split Measuring Guides, Set Squares & Levelling Device

I am looking at the same thing now. Might pick some up tomorrow. Its the best option I can find.

 

[White Room]

Are they sturdy

Yes mate but some times I have to use a wedge at the back of the stand if the floor is not level, I use an ali screed rule for longer walls.

 

[Unused Account 1]

I just use battens still

 

[White Room]

I am looking at the same thing now. Might pick some up tomorrow. Its the best option I can find.

The only place I know where to get them is from the link I put on.

 

[Unused Account 1]

I tiled outside a house once ,someone already put the batten on the wall ,a piece of 4 x 2 quite funny

 

[White Room]

I tiled outside a house once ,someone already put the batten on the wall ,a piece of 4 x 2 quite funny

What was you putting on flagstones🙄

 

[Unused Account 1]

Stone 40mm like a house from israel ,it was nice

 

[Flintstone]

I think you might need a new wheel on the Rubi, either that or the tiles are cheap ceramics which chip on the edge no Matter what you do.

 

[McLovin]

I think you might need a new wheel on the Rubi, either that or the tiles are cheap ceramics which chip on the edge no Matter what you do.

I replaced the wheel buddy thinking it was that. They are cheap ceramics unfortunately.

 

[Unused Account 1]

Cheap ceramics ,very chippy on edges as ceramic so thin ,

 

[Flintstone]

I think that's probably the problem.

 

[Brian the Tile]

Definitely a new wheel in your cutter and only score very lightly

 

[Spare Tool]

Well someone's got to say it...trade rubi in for a sigma 😉
Can't remember last time i saw a bath level enough to start with a full tile on it, and even if level they've all got a slight curve on em, i always start with the lowest row of tiles from floor off batton and work round and up to the bath, batton out above bath then cut into bath once walls above gone off, but hey apparently I'm behind the times for even using battons, stafs and datum lines 😉

 

[Brian the Tile]

Rubi all the way for me and yes it looks like you are behind the times

 

[Spare Tool]

Rubi all the way for me and yes it looks like you are behind the times

Works for me, given up on the water level and plumb lines now though, got one of them new fangled laser things 🙂

 

[Brian the Tile]

Haha i dont trust them laser things i stick to my levels maybe mits me behind the times

 

[Spare Tool]

Haha i dont trust them laser things i stick to my levels maybe mits me behind the times

Once you got datum line on you can put levels back in the van, if that line meets up around the room the tiles will..100% every time