Irregular tiles - any ideas?

54aardvark · 2 Mar 2008

Just when I thought Monday was going to be a nice quiet day putting up a 3 course splashback in a kitchen, I saw the tiles this wifie wants me to put up - I've never seen anything like it!

The "Country Kitchen Wall Tile" from B&Q, (I have posted a link but don't know if it will work - the picture doesn't show how irregular the edges really are) They are irregular all round the edge - a bit like the oatcakes Granny used to make. Its goind to be a nightmare getting vertical/horizontal lines.

Any ideas, particularly spacers and grouting gratefully received.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/n...tail&fh_location=//catalog01/en_GB/categories<{9001021}/specificationsProductType=Wall Tiles/specificationsSpecificProductType=Ceramic Tiles&ts=1204450374775

nstreet · 2 Mar 2008

I guess you could mark a grid on the wall and use this a guide, positioning the tile within each cell of the grid. Other than that you would have to rely on your keen eye.

jefoss · 2 Mar 2008

nstreet said:
I guess you could mark a grid on the wall and use this a guide, positioning the tile within each cell of the grid. Other than that you would have to rely on your keen eye.

a great idea if you have 400 hundred years to do the job!!!

nstreet · 2 Mar 2008

Its a 3 course splash back, not a whole room and with a chalk line it wouldn't take long at all.

Instead of giving criticism helpful ideas would be more appropriate.

Jasonb · 2 Mar 2008

Use a large joint and just eye-ball it, with a decent grip adhesive they small tiles will stay up without the need for spacers. I've done handmade tiles that varied upto 15mm from the nominal 100mm size.

Jason

Diyisfun · 2 Mar 2008

I have floor tiles with edges like that they look good, although of course I finish against an edge

jefoss · 2 Mar 2008

sorry nstreet i consider myself told off!

i would do it by sight and not bother with any of the plumb lines etc.

i agree with jasonb too, leave nice gaps.

gcol · 2 Mar 2008

nstreet said:
I guess you could mark a grid on the wall and use this a guide, positioning the tile within each cell of the grid. Other than that you would have to rely on your keen eye.

And you spread the adhesive on the wall and hide the guide lines. The only way this would work would be to butter the tiles and would, as jefoss rightly says, would take forever. I don't think Jeff was being curt, just incredulous at a daft idea.

jefoss · 2 Mar 2008

gcol said:
nstreet said:

I guess you could mark a grid on the wall and use this a guide, positioning the tile within each cell of the grid. Other than that you would have to rely on your keen eye.

Click to expand...

And you spread the adhesive on the wall and hide the guide lines. The only way this would work would be to butter the tiles and would, as jefoss rightly says, would take forever. I don't think Jeff was being curt, just incredulous at a daft idea.

what he said!

54aardvark · 3 Mar 2008

Thanks for all that, some useful stuff.

A keen eye and a steady hand - not a lot of that around on a Monday morning but we'll give it a bash!

Bilioustrumpstaine · 3 Mar 2008

You asked about spacers, Rubi have wedge type spacers that may be useful

http://www.rubi.com/tienda/Main.cfm?Idioma=ING&Modo=CATA

Also you may find using wooden lolly sticks that you can buy in craft shops these have the advantage of being longer to get a more even line against the tile perhaps.

http://www.bakerross.co.uk/product-Wooden-Craft-Sticks-E279.htm

(Failing there use as a tile spacer you could perhaps start a new career in doll making

)

I bet your tiling isn't going to be as bad as you think, face your demons

54aardvark · 4 Mar 2008

Went OK............ apart from half the wall coming down 'cos the previous skim had blown! - back later in the week to get the other half finished when the plaster is dry.

Turning the tile over, there is a very fine straight edge about 0.5mm thick moulded around the back of the tile so, as long as they are well pushed in, the spacers fitted perfectly.

Yes I know - I'm a Numpty and should have had a closer look before I got all you good people chasing round finding solutions to a non-existent problem.

I shall now go and stand in the corner

!

jefoss · 4 Mar 2008

be good if you could put some pics up when its all done!

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Irregular tiles - any ideas?

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