Too Much Too Soon - Advice Please

[On one]

That's good advice and I will defo do that in future. They were 10mm thick ceramic tiles 600mm x 300mm. I have a hole cutter and had cut the hole then split the tile down the middle of the hole to edge both half moons together around the pipe, but the join showed pretty badly leading client to accuse me of cracking the tiles

Why did you split the tile down the middle? (Honest question,not being arsey)

 

[Weebisto]

Why did you split the tile down the middle? (Honest question,not being arsey)

It's cool - figured that was the only way to accommodate the radiator pipe as it's position didn't allow it to fit between two tiles. Interested - genuinely - to hear best practice

 

[On one]

It's cool - figured that was the only way to accommodate the radiator pipe as it's position didn't allow it to fit between two tiles. Interested - genuinely - to hear best practice

.......cut two slots in the tile with a diamond blade,snap out the 'waste' piece(leaving a 'u' shape in the tile) Fit the tile,refitting the 'waste' piece in behind the rad pipe(keeping the pattern running on the tile)

 

[Spare Tool]

Or better still the radiator shouldn't be fitted till the tilings completed, should just be a couple of capped off pipes for the hole to slip over...but plumbers tend not to give a toss and try and get everything fitted in one visit!

 

[Old Mod]

Hi and welcome to the Forum David.
Fair play for coming on and putting your hands up to a less than perfect outcome.
Why did the split tile become so noticeable? Did you get adhesive between the two halves?
They should of went back together almost seamlessly.
To accuse you of cracking tiles is a bit strong, hope you explained, whilst you share your Christian name with David Blaine, you aren’t actually him, and if the radiator is fitted, you can’t circumnavigate it without some sort of compromise.

I tend to agree with others above, don’t spend more money on courses unless you have to, far better to keep your money to live on and try do a few days a week with another tiler, free of charge.
He’ll appreciate your free labour far more than any organisation will appreciate your fees.

Good luck.

 

[Rookery]

If I were you I'd go and hang around in a tile shop and get chatting to traders. Ask if they want a day or two labour free of charge. You'll learn more that way and at less cost than a course. Be reliable. You can always check back here on things you have 'learned' because as you will find out, not everyone does it right. Also you should not be too ambitious at first. I'd concentrate first on kitchen splashbacks then floors. Neither are generally extremely difficult and will help you to focus on 2 important elements of tiling - 1. Background prep and 2. Setting out. Just my opinion of course.
Good luck.

 

[Italy]

I was thinking of @Andy Allen ...
at 51 and continues to do kitchen splashbacks...
but it is ot from the above discussion.

 

[Weebisto]

.......cut two slots in the tile with a diamond blade,snap out the 'waste' piece(leaving a 'u' shape in the tile) Fit the tile,refitting the 'waste' piece in behind the rad pipe(keeping the pattern running on the tile)

Love it - simple is best

 

[Weebisto]

If I were you I'd go and hang around in a tile shop and get chatting to traders. Ask if they want a day or two labour free of charge. You'll learn more that way and at less cost than a course. Be reliable. You can always check back here on things you have 'learned' because as you will find out, not everyone does it right. Also you should not be too ambitious at first. I'd concentrate first on kitchen splashbacks then floors. Neither are generally extremely difficult and will help you to focus on 2 important elements of tiling - 1. Background prep and 2. Setting out. Just my opinion of course.
Good luck.

Thank you for that - good advice

 

[Weebisto]

Hi and welcome to the Forum David.
Fair play for coming on and putting your hands up to a less than perfect outcome.
Why did the split tile become so noticeable? Did you get adhesive between the two halves?
They should of went back together almost seamlessly.
To accuse you of cracking tiles is a bit strong, hope you explained, whilst you share your Christian name with David Blaine, you aren’t actually him, and if the radiator is fitted, you can’t circumnavigate it without some sort of compromise.

I tend to agree with others above, don’t spend more money on courses unless you have to, far better to keep your money to live on and try do a few days a week with another tiler, free of charge.
He’ll appreciate your free labour far more than any organisation will appreciate your fees.

Good luck.

Thanks a lot