Tiling

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Right!

Four years since I moved into this new build house, builder wanted stupid money for tiling the bathroom floor etc and as I hardly lived here due to working away, never bothered. Now with lockdown etc, time to sort.

So, question is, pay up or DIY?

I'm pretty handy with DIY, just lazy, and never any time - have it now. Four bathrooms/loos, as follows;

  1. Downstairs loo, tiny, 12 sq feet or so
  2. Upstairs bathroom, 35 sq feet
  3. Master Bedroom ensuite, 35 sq feet
  4. Second bedroom ensuite, 30 sq feet

So, again, should invest in tiling equipment and do it myself or just get a jobbing builder to do it?

At the moment there's basic flooring down, and all the bathroom shitterrs, plinths etc are adjustable for height for tiling underneath. Walls are fully tiled in the showers, half-tiled everywhere else and I will probably fully tile later.

Any idea on costs?
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
What he said, getting tiles straight is an art.

The cost of the tiles has a massive impact. I was looking at some and asked how much they were?

£35

Is that sq ft or sq y?

That’s per tile :eek:
 

Hurricane52

Member
Messages
1,211
It’s one of those jobs I always say never again. But then I forget.

If you don’t find a weirdo who enjoys tiling, my advice is buy the biggest tiles you can and go for dark coloured grout.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Odd thing is I have a bro not 50 miles away, professional builder and very good, but works 7 days, never been here in 4 years, won't let me pay him, but conversely cant do my tiling cos he's working - I'd willingly pay!!

Might have to twist his arm but it is awkward....
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
I've given up on tiling walls. The new floor to ceiling decorative plastic panels are easy, cheap (ISH) and good looking. Tiles with grout? Never again!
Floors on the other hand, tiling or high quality vinyl such as Karndean.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 

Swedish Paul

Member
Messages
1,807
Do it yourself. You only need an electric cutter depending on the tile. It is satisfying, but buy some good knee pads....
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
DIY mate. Had two separate floors done by two separate tilers, utterly useless. The thing with a tiled floor is you can’t rush it. Sure, it will take you 5 days over a so called pro 2 day but taking your time is the only way to lay a floor right.

Make sure the base is good, use the correct bond and get some of those tile screw lifters so you can balance each tile square to the next. It’s not difficult. Cutting, hire the right tool.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
I do know a top notch tiler around the Harlow area. I believe @rossyl will vouch for him (from hazy memory) but no idea where you are.

C
 

Harry

Member
Messages
1,149
DIY mate. Had two separate floors done by two separate tilers, utterly useless. The thing with a tiled floor is you can’t rush it. Sure, it will take you 5 days over a so called pro 2 day but taking your time is the only way to lay a floor right.

Make sure the base is good, use the correct bond and get some of those tile screw lifters so you can balance each tile square to the next. It’s not difficult. Cutting, hire the right tool.
“You can’t rush it” is what you tell your other half when they want it done in the next year Sorry, I couldn’t resist commenting.
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
I’d pay, a bad tiler is more likely to do a better job than a novice trying his hand.
 

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
I do know a top notch tiler around the Harlow area. I believe @rossyl will vouch for him (from hazy memory) but no idea where you are.

C
I would do.

He can certainly tile well. Flat and straight! Might need a bit of artistic direction. But he's bloody good and our bathrooms still look great.

Thanks again for that recommendation. He tiled around Christmas 2013.
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,013
Odd thing is I have a bro not 50 miles away, professional builder and very good, but works 7 days, never been here in 4 years, won't let me pay him, but conversely cant do my tiling cos he's working - I'd willingly pay!!

Might have to twist his arm but it is awkward....

I've got one of them in-law. Exactly the same.

Get a pro, unless rustic-shite is your preferred aesthetic and your house is from the early-amateur period.
 

Ryandoc

Member
Messages
1,839
Come on tiling is a doddle get your hands dirty.

Find the middle of the floor / wall, butter your first tile and bang it down then work out and each side will be equal.
Or you can start one corner just won’t match the other side most likely.