Skirting Tiles - Fiddly Area

[Tony80]

Hi all, looking for some advice. I am planning to try tiling for the first time in my downstairs bathroom. Had a tiler in previously but he left without putting in the skirting tiles we requested :-( Anyway i have managed to get hold of all the tools so im going to give it a go, its only about 10 tiles. Where it gets tricky is where i want to put tiles flush up against the edge of the raised shower tray. There is some board slightly set back ranging from 15-17mm flush to the edge. My tiles are 10mm - is it possible to pack it with loads of adhesive 5-7mm in thickness? Or is that a stupid idea? 🙂 Open to any better suggestions!

 

[Rich Midge]

You're fine to pack them out as long as it's a powder adhesive you're using. Don't fit them tight to the under side of the tray, leave a Silicon joint same width as the grout joints to allow the tray to flex a little.

 

[Tony80]

Rich thanks so much for your reply! I hadnt considered leaving a slight gap. Ive got one of those plastic trowels that cost less than a quid 🙂 Should i use the deepest 10mm notch? Im not really sure what the different depths set at once you apply the tile..

 

[White Room]

Put adhesive on the back of the tile and on the surface under the shower with your 10mm spreader.

 

[Rich Midge]

A 10mm notch will only give you around a 3mm bed once it's compressed. Spread the board and the back of the tile and gauge it from there.

 

[Rich Midge]

@whitebeam you beat me to it! 🙂

 

[Tony80]

Great thanks to both your replies. Basic stuff i guess but really helpful for me as a first timer! I will let you know how i get on 🙂

 

[Concrete guy]

I never used to tile the front of raised shower trays, I always fitted a piece of uPVC flat board which then looked like part of the tray and provided access to the drain in the future if required.

Being white it doesn't look like an afterthought.

Then just fit the skirtings to the wall and don't worry about "skirting" under the tray.

 

[White Room]

@whitebeam you beat me to it! 🙂

😛🙂

 

[Concrete guy]

This is one of the last jobs I ever did before I packed up tiling. Actually I did the entire bathroom fit, everything bar the plastering, I could never master that at all.

I know it's a curved tray but it gives you an idea of what I'm trying to describe. The curved board around the front of the tray is flat soffit board from a roofing supplier.

 

[Tony80]

That looks really impressive! Ive just been having a search to find something suitable size wise. Width is about 130mm so looks like i would have to trim something down. Im wondering if that would look messier than tiles, especially with my sawing skills!

 

[Concrete guy]

That looks really impressive! Ive just been having a search to find something suitable size wise. Width is about 130mm so looks like i would have to trim something down. Im wondering if that would look messier than tiles, especially with my sawing skills!

Don't try and find something to fit the gap perfectly. I would use plasterboard to pack out the underside of the tray then fit a white upvc board over the front overlapping the bottom edge of the tray. A 150mm deep board would work perfectly.

Then a bead of white silicon along to the top to seal the gap makes it look part of the tray.

I used to fit the upvc with a pair of screws and white screw caps to make it easily removable rather than glue it in position.

 

[Tony80]

It took me a while to understand what you meant but i get it now 🙂 Its a really good idea and sounds like a much simpler and quicker job! This would leave me with just 6 tiles to cut and apply for the rest of the room 🙂 I will have a look for suitable size tomorrow. Im guessing the thinner the better to make it more subtle?

 

[Concrete guy]

It's generally about 6 to 8mm thick or so. You'll find it at window wholesalers and such like.