Tiling a fireplace insert

[Simon Anderson]

Hi folks I was looking for some advice please in regards to some tiling I am planning to do.

I am getting a wood burning stove installed in my kitchen and I plan to tile the fireplace insert to the sides and behind the stove and need some advice.

The measurements of the insert side (return) walls are 370mm deep x 1040mm tall. The back wall is 985mm wide x 1040mm tall.

Originally I was looking to use a flat metro style tile but I am concerned about how to handle the return walls with this type of effect. I am basically looking at 3 different sizes of tiles:

100 x 100
100 x 200
65 x 130

My concern around using the 100x200 is that (assuming a 3mm grout width) I will need to trim 18mm off each tile for the return walls (2 tiles of 182mm) and then on the row below and above I will have 3 tiles so do I trim one to 182mm and two at 90mm or do I just trim all 3 tiles to 120mm - which creates a lot of wastage.

If using the 130mm wide tiles I will need to trim 10mm off all the tiles for the return and then in the row below I will have a 59mm tile/120mm tile/120mm tile/59mm tile.

If I use the 100mmx100mm tiles I guess I dont have to do a brick effect look and the tiles can be more uniform so that I have 3x100mm tiles and then in the corner a 58mm tile.

My main concern is that on the back wall I assume that I will pretty much use the full width of the tile I chose and then have a smaller tile in the corners. This means that if I use the 200mm & 130mm wide tiles which for the side walls I will have had to cut all of the tiles in this location then the sizes on the back wall and on the two return walls will be different - is this an issue or will it not really be obvious??

As you can see I am not a tiler and could do with some advice - basically if you were doing the job what size of tile and layout configuration would you go for?

As a slight aside given the heat this area will generate is 3mm spacing ok and has anyone any advice on flexible adhesive and grout that will do the job. I have previously used Mapei stuff.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Karis]

You don’t usually trim all the tiles the same width, you start with the centre of the tile area & space outwards tiling either from the line or ½ tile either side, you then cut the tiles at either side. But each installation is different & you pick what suits best.

I would pick the largest tiles you can use without leaving thin tile slivers at the edges which looks naff. I usually use 600 x 300 x 10mm granite on fire surrounds but these will most likely be too large for a recess.

Brick bond seems to be all the rage at the moment & in the right circumstances will look good but I personally think it’s a bit retro & overrated; it also creates additional problems over conventional tiling.

3mm spacing is a little wide IMO, 2mm is more the norm for walls but on fire surrounds, I gap at 0.5mm & grout with clear silicone. Conventional grout tends to crack with expansion/contraction caused by the heat & falls out.

Regarding the adhesive; you can get away conventional Rapidset (I use BAL) which is good up to 150 degrees C in most cases but Flexible adhesive is usually only good up to 100 degrees which in your case is unlikely to be enough so you must check the adhesive manufacturers spec sheets. If your temperatures are likely to exceed the above, you need a specialist heatproof tile adhesive (Vitcas).

Why have you chosen a Flexi adhesive? What is the tile base? You must use the correct materials for both the tile base & adhesive in high heat applications.

You should also be aware that stove installation is notifyable building work unless you use a HETAS registered installer. You can DIY but must be aware of & follow the B Regs, notify your LABC & have the fire tested & certified compliant. It’s not rocket science if you know what you’re doing but getting the installation wrong can be lethal.

 

[Sam777]

Hi Karis thanks for getting back to me and sorry I am only replying now but this is my first opportunity.

I had heard of people suggesting silicon rather than grout. Why clear silicon though what does that actually look like? I would have assumed it would make more sense to use white.

In regards to the flexible adhesive I thought I had read somewhere that this was the best solution, however, I assume that is not correct. I will probably use the Victas just to be sure.

I am only planning to do the tiling, the stove will be installed by a proper stove installer and we have already been in touch with BC - all will be done above board.