Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 11, 2012 10:39 pm Hi guys, We are thinking of organising our own tiling (main floor - the builder will do the wet areas) rather than going through the builder. The skirting boards are supplied and fitted by the builder as part of the build price and so we assume they would just put these in before handover and then they will leave it to us to get our own tiler in. We have thought about whether it would look better if the skirting boards were done after the tiling went in. However, I don't think that the builder would want to come back after handover to put in the skirtings and so I think we are stuck with having to do tiling after the skirtings are in. Any thoughts anyone? Has anyone organised their own tiling and have you had any issues with the skirting boards? Thanks in advance! Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 2Jun 11, 2012 11:48 pm LynneY Hi guys, We are thinking of organising our own tiling (main floor - the builder will do the wet areas) rather than going through the builder. The skirting boards are supplied and fitted by the builder as part of the build price and so we assume they would just put these in before handover and then they will leave it to us to get our own tiler in. We have thought about whether it would look better if the skirting boards were done after the tiling went in. However, I don't think that the builder would want to come back after handover to put in the skirtings and so I think we are stuck with having to do tiling after the skirtings are in. Any thoughts anyone? Has anyone organised their own tiling and have you had any issues with the skirting boards? Thanks in advance! Hi Lynne, I'm interested in the same thing, but sill undecided re: tiles v's floorboards. Either way, we have a similar dilemma. The floorboards (floating floor/whatever you want to call it) particularly, as I have this silly aversion to the quad that that they use around the edges. The only way I can think of getting around it is to ask for the skirting to be just tacked on, or even left off, to be completed by us after handover. However, that still doesn't solve how to get around the kitchen cabinetry. I don't think that would be a problem with tiling though. The other thing that has been mentioned to me regarding tiling after handover, is how the tiles from the wet areas will match up eg. flow through from laundry into hallway. I'm wondering, however, if I was being fed a load of bull! Dunno. Cheers, MP. Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 3Jun 12, 2012 8:51 am MissyP LynneY Hi guys, We are thinking of organising our own tiling (main floor - the builder will do the wet areas) rather than going through the builder. The skirting boards are supplied and fitted by the builder as part of the build price and so we assume they would just put these in before handover and then they will leave it to us to get our own tiler in. We have thought about whether it would look better if the skirting boards were done after the tiling went in. However, I don't think that the builder would want to come back after handover to put in the skirtings and so I think we are stuck with having to do tiling after the skirtings are in. Any thoughts anyone? Has anyone organised their own tiling and have you had any issues with the skirting boards? Thanks in advance! Hi Lynne, I'm interested in the same thing, but sill undecided re: tiles v's floorboards. Either way, we have a similar dilemma. The floorboards (floating floor/whatever you want to call it) particularly, as I have this silly aversion to the quad that that they use around the edges. The only way I can think of getting around it is to ask for the skirting to be just tacked on, or even left off, to be completed by us after handover. However, that still doesn't solve how to get around the kitchen cabinetry. I don't think that would be a problem with tiling though. The other thing that has been mentioned to me regarding tiling after handover, is how the tiles from the wet areas will match up eg. flow through from laundry into hallway. I'm wondering, however, if I was being fed a load of bull! Dunno. Cheers, MP. One way around that is to supply the entire batch of tiles yourself if they are the same tile for your wet areas and living areas - the tiler is theoretically correct in saying that the tiles you order could be from a different batch and therefore you could find slight colour or textural variations in the tiles. In addition if the tiles have a "natural" pattern to them (whether it be genuine or faux) then you've got buckley's chance of having the living area tiles matching the wet area tiles in the laundry if they're coming from two different batches. The main issues with supplying your own tiles are A) you have to make sure you're ordering a large enough quantity as well as ensuring that the batch that gets delivered are the tiles you want, B) you get no warranty for material defects from the builder (you have to dance with the tile supplier directly for that) and C) if there are defects in the tiles or (god forbid) something goes awry with the wet areas then you might be paying for more tiles if you want the rectification work to be done quickly (getting someone else to take on the responsibility for something is a pita and will delay your build). Some people apparently have nothing better to do than comment on other people's sigs. Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 4Jun 12, 2012 9:06 am Our builder is allowing us to source our own tiler and tiles during the tiling phase through out the build........ maybe ask if you can do that..... that way the skirting boards can go down after it is done in the correct timeling Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 5Jun 12, 2012 1:24 pm We are having our floors ladi after handover and we have just arranged with our builder to have the skirting boards painted and 'tacked on' so we can easily pull them off and have the floor laid and then we will re-attach them properly and fill any holes and give a final coat. It's a bit of work involved for us but everything will be cut to length and we only need to final coat - we got a tiny bit of $ back for them not fitting them properly and it works out better for us to be able to cover the expansion joint with the skirting board around the edges as the expansion joint is required with our floors. Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 6Jun 12, 2012 4:22 pm We too are just having the skirtings tacked on, so we can easily remove them for flooring and then attach them back ourselves afterwards, it is not hard to do. 2/2010 8 acres purchased 11/2011 plans submitted 3/2012 plans approved 13/4 slab done 16/5 brickwork and roof finished 4/6 lock up 29/6 kitchen and bathrooms in 30/6 currently painting Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 7Jun 12, 2012 4:32 pm Despite the incredibly likely outcome of being shot down in this thread , I think I am quite entitled to say this - the whole story about the skirts sitting on top of flooring is overrated! We have gone through this exact experience with both tiling and timber flooring, and I can say that the whole thing was just not worth it. And especially where you'll have tiles. We did the whole 2 storeys Well, that is, of course, if you don't "just" pull off the already painted boards, "just" paint them as-is, "just" reattach, "just" fill, "just" repaint. There is quite a bit of sanding involved IF you really want them to be really pretty. Mind you, most boards needed to be shortened a tiny bit because they were cracking the plaster in the corners when re-installed!! So unless you have quite a bit of spare money to pay someone to do it all after the flooring, OR if you have all that spare time and can DIY it (aka have the tools and a bit of skill), I wouldn't worry. I would never do this again. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 8Jun 12, 2012 4:44 pm I don't disagree with you Lex but in our case we have to leave a minimum 8mm expansion joint around the external edges of our floors and given our humid climate in summer and advice from our flooring retailer, I'm happy to oblige now rather than get 3 years down the track and have floors lifting. Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 9Jun 12, 2012 5:00 pm What type is your flooring? That sounds like the usual gap around full timber flooring, we had that too, it's a must. Well, everyone should have it, it's in the 'timber floor installation manual' or whatever it's called ... My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 10Jun 12, 2012 5:12 pm If your having a timber floor just get the skirting boards tacked on. BUT!!!!! Ask the chippie to pack them up 5mm off the floor. Reason being, if they are sitting on the floor when they get painted there is a small burr of gloss paint that you get along the bottom edge, you can trim it off but you loose that nice straight line. Make sure they don't tack them on at or any higher then the finished height after your floor goes down. Even though they dont gap across the top, when the gloss paint goes on it sticks to the wall so you need to be carefull you don't rip the plaster when removing them. If you are having tiles, unless there and extra thick tile, have the skirting nailed on with a gap under it, I always use a peice of door stop which is 11mm. This will allow your tiler to slide the tiles under so when it's all finished they can caulk between the tile and skirting for a nice clean finish. Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 11Jun 12, 2012 6:58 pm Lex Despite the incredibly likely outcome of being shot down in this thread , I think I am quite entitled to say this - the whole story about the skirts sitting on top of flooring is overrated! We have gone through this exact experience with both tiling and timber flooring, and I can say that the whole thing was just not worth it. And especially where you'll have tiles. We did the whole 2 storeys Well, that is, of course, if you don't "just" pull off the already painted boards, "just" paint them as-is, "just" reattach, "just" fill, "just" repaint. There is quite a bit of sanding involved IF you really want them to be really pretty. Mind you, most boards needed to be shortened a tiny bit because they were cracking the plaster in the corners when re-installed!! So unless you have quite a bit of spare money to pay someone to do it all after the flooring, OR if you have all that spare time and can DIY it (aka have the tools and a bit of skill), I wouldn't worry. I would never do this again. In our case we are already doing all internal painting and filling nail holes In architraves ect.. So won't matter about doing the skirtings too. But can see how it would be harder if all your painting was already done and you had to re do the skirtings 2/2010 8 acres purchased 11/2011 plans submitted 3/2012 plans approved 13/4 slab done 16/5 brickwork and roof finished 4/6 lock up 29/6 kitchen and bathrooms in 30/6 currently painting Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 13Jun 12, 2012 9:31 pm But if anyone else has anything to add then please feel free to do so as we won't be building for a while and so any extra input is always welcome! I love this forum - everyone is so helpful and honest! Lex - I appreciate your honesty and so I don't think anyone should be shootin' you down! Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 14Jun 12, 2012 9:48 pm LynneY But if anyone else has anything to add then please feel free to do so as we won't be building for a while and so any extra input is always welcome! I love this forum - everyone is so helpful and honest! Lex - I appreciate your honesty and so I don't think anyone should be shootin' you down! I second what Lynne said - you all rock! Thanks. Re: Flooring after handover - skirting boards before tiling? 15Jun 13, 2012 7:52 am Thanks, ladies. I felt I had to speak up and mention all the "little" tasks that the whole thing will be made of. Once you break the whole job into separate tasks and have a good think & plan how to do each of them, it kind of changes the mood because you realise that there will be a lot of work and it may take a lot of time (and space in garage for all those boards in different "phases" ). We had to sand our boards before repainting them. And repainting some 250+ meters of loose boards takes a lot of time and space! BUT, if you skip / rearrange some tasks and have plenty of helping hands and a small amount of skirting boards, you might decide to still bite the bullet! We had 2 full floors, every little corner, no skipping of steps, and no help! Mind you, most timber floor installers will tell you that they will attach them as part of their job, but floor installation typically happens right at the start when you get the keys - and by that time you typically haven't sanded the boards yet, let alone repainted (if you wished to sand & repaint). BUT, you might be lucky and have plenty of friends to help, in which case you might be able to get it all ready for the installer. None of the installers who came to quote floor installation wanted to come back to attach the boards after we painted them - they all wanted to attach them before the last coat of floor finish! So, we had no choice but to later pay someone to attach them properly with proper tools etc. because we "plain" people don't have those tools and the skills to handle them. So, having a little quad or that small flat trim would be way easier, and we wouldn't be alone in that. It actually reminds me of toilet windows not being centred - many houses have that just because of the nature of the issue and you just get used to it. It's just "one of those things". I wish I heard all of this before we decided to do what we did! Oh, almost forgot. It actually also matters how thick your boards are. These days many builders use the thin ones (from memory, 12mm) and those break easier when taking them off and also while handling the long boards. It's another factor to consider. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Building Standards; Getting It Right! Is this acceptable in a new house build. Floors where installed by builder. Already chips in board and skirting is not flush 0 182 I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 1933 |