Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Jan 14, 2010 5:14 pm We have ordered 600x600 porcelain tiles. In the wet areas we have the same tile in a 300x 300. The skirtings are ON at slab level. The tiler says that he COULD glue the 600x600 tiles but they may "drum" in some areas and he can't guarentee the overall look because the slab level may not be that good. If they are glued then the tiles are going to creat a small trip step between the floor and the front door, laundyy, back door and the rooms that it butts up to the carpet. Now if he lays a cement bed then this will raise the floor height approx 350mm. The skirting will have to be removed and raised. The appliances will be affected in height, could cause problems. There will possible be a 25mm difference between the carpet and the tiles. SO: Has this happened to anyone else? Do you glue or cement them? How did it turn out? Today is the14th Jan. and we are looking at handover on 1st Feb. If we try to change the tiles to 450 x 450 (we will call Tile shop tomorrow) we will probably be slugged a paperwork fee ($500 and will they be able to get them at all?) OMG www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 2Jan 14, 2010 6:29 pm You can get self levelling compounds that can make the floor flat. Also, don't discount grinding some concrete to reduce the wet area levels. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 3Jan 15, 2010 6:46 am Hi, we had the cement bed layed as our timber floors would have been 24mm about the tiles. However we told our cabinet maker to allow for this and he made the kitchen higher and the builder left the skirting off until the job was done. My parents had their wet area tiles layed higher with an edge where they meet the carpet. You cant notice unless you are looking for it but if the bathroom was to flood... $500 paperwork fee at the tile shop would be a pretty cheap option. Our porclelain tiles are 450x450 and they look great. Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 4Jan 15, 2010 6:58 am Thanks EKT, that's great advice, I will cal the Tile Shop at 9.01am. If they say we can get the 450'sx450 then all will be well (as long as we can ge them by the 1st Feb), as the tiler reckons it will be ok to glue a smaller tile. Good advice re the bathroom. www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 5Jan 15, 2010 7:01 am Not sure if this can help ... one of our friends built and they also had the skirting put in, and then they laid porc tiles after handover. Not a prob at all (for them), I guess it depends on the height of the skirting (theirs was probably 67mm high, 18mm thick). The tiler just added some grout around the edges of the rooms, so that tiles meet the skirting nicely - the "grout line" around the edges is almost the same as the normal grout line for tiles. They have porc tiles all over on the ground floor. They didn't raise the kitchen (we actually measured its finished height once I was there and from mem I think it was just 90cm). When I inquired (looong ago) with a tiler what do they put under the tiles - he said that they can just put more of the glue in those uneven areas if it's not too bad ... but I guess it depends on how uneven it really is (ours seem shocking in one area) ... they need to use special glue for "green" concrete, ie. not quite seasoned (old) enough ... My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 6Jan 15, 2010 7:10 am Thanks Lex, that's encouraging. yes one of he major problems is that the skirting is quite narrow. When we measured it after the tiles were put on cement there would be this tiny strip of skirting left...would look silly. I guess it all may hinge on what the tile people say. Oh the dramas never end. www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 8Jan 17, 2010 9:19 am I suppose trying to take the skirting off is not a good advice because they may be fixed really hard, but on the other hand, what if you try just one small wall to see how it goes? Or ask the SS to help with this? Sorry, no other ideas from me atm My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 9Jan 17, 2010 9:50 am Thanks Lex. SS says it's our problem to be done after handover. Shouldn't we be able to expect that the slab would be flat enough to glue the tiles? and why did they put the wet areas on a cement bed which mean there would be a trip hazard anyway, even if it was flat enough to glue the rest? Is it our problem? I mean we told everyone (CSS, colour selection lady, SS, tradies etc) that we were having tiles including the chippy that put the skirting on. Even the SS knew. So why was the skirting laid at slab level, but I don't think it was in the contract, it was verbal pass on, so probably not a leg to stand on. Aren't they partially responsible for that? Is it an oversight or is this the general procedure? Even the kitchen people raised the kick plate for us to accommodate the tiles. You're right. The skirting could be on tight. It could be a disaster. It's going to cost an extra $1,500 for the cement bed and then we'd have to buy the ply to raise the carpet up again. All this and we can't even be sure that it's all necessary because the glueing could be successful. Oh, it's a headache. Am I being unreasonable? That's my last whinge on it, unless someone has something that may help. www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 10Jan 17, 2010 10:05 am Uuuuh, it's not a whinge and it's not unreasonable ... it's a problem that needs to be resolved Anyway, I know that they have a policy against raising the skirting boards, so I don't think you would have got that even if you asked for it. I think they only lay the skirts directly onto the slab (unless someone intervenes for you, I suppose ). Anyway, I think the key is in finding by how much the levelness of the slab deviates from the Stds & Tolerances (I guess you'd have the doco?). So, if it turns out it's a defect, they have to pay for the fix (ie. fix it). Then you'd be in a better position to make a more informed decision. Also, did they 'automatically' raise the kitchen for you (ie. at no cost) and by how many mm if you know? Was that then added into your contract that the kickboards will be raised by such and such ? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 11Jan 17, 2010 10:38 am The Kitchen plan by the Kitchen Company has it clearly stated on the bottom of the page "bench height raised 20mm to suit porcelain tiles". There dosn't seem to be any charge for it. So if they can do it, then what about the rest of the house? Weird edit-typo www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 12Jan 17, 2010 10:54 am Hmmm... with us, we were told that they don't need to do any changes to the house (eg. skirtings, door frames, staircase adjustment) unless the client is installing full timber floors. This is because supposedly only the timber floors would raise the FFL by a very significant amount (38mm, but this doesn't count any extra height which might result from the levelling of the slab!!!) So, now that your floor does need to be raised by that much (35mm), it rings to me that the slab might not be as level as it should be. If that's the case, they have to level it for you (and pay for the plywood for the carpet because normally it wouldn't be needed (or, would it!? not sure, may need to check)). But, this is all assumptions because we don't know yet what are the deviations from the tolerances (if any) ... My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 13Jan 17, 2010 1:20 pm Umm, not quite sure about all this. But it seems to me, a matter that is best resolved by consulting an independant building inspector. They should be able to inspect and determine whose responsibility it is to get this sorted. Ash. Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 14Jan 20, 2010 7:26 pm Well... We had a concrete guy that will do our driveway, look at the floor and said that he can fill the dips etc and ENSURE that it would be A1 for glueing the tiles to. Should cost about $1200, what do you think Onc? It alleviates the whole cement bed thing for the tiles and the skirting board issue. Just will create a slight trip hazard into the wet areas where they have already laid a cement base for the tiles to slope it to the drain. I can get aroun dthe trip hazard with a mat. Could be the answer. SHouldn't have t do it, but well... www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 15Jan 21, 2010 9:06 am Where height is an issue and voids are to be levelled...self leveling compounds can be feathered off to be flush with the floor. Unlike a traditional screed of sand and cement that must increase the overall floor height. If these dips are only in specific areas you may be able to level them off to the existing height. Yes a tiler can build up some voids with the adhesive but this should only be done in small spot areas not over a few square metres. Regarding the skirtings I always suggrest removing them then sitting them on a tile. A cut you dont see is better than any you do see. Also when you grout it in over time it will tend to crack. If you damage the wall slightly above the skirting when removing them, this is no isse as it will be covered by the raised overall height (well within reason). All depends how they have installed the skiting ofcourse - if it is glued well not much hope of getting it off. Cheers Charlie Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 16Jan 26, 2010 12:19 pm How did you get on themax? I have only just caught up with this issue. Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Tile height problem. Glue or cement 17May 21, 2010 8:37 am Approaching this stage ourselves ... need to make decision for hallways tiling - ceramic or porcelain . Themax, I think you ended up using only glue for your 600x600 porc tiles, didn't you? And does anyone know if tilers can build up a tiled floor to 24mm height, but only using glue (no screed at all) ?? Seeing that most tiles are around 8-10 mm thick, it would mean a "glue bed" which is about 14-16 mm high!! Is that too much? Is it doable?? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Sam There is a much stronger glue than liquid nails. It's called T Rex and will stick your timber to the concrete. Cheers Simeon 1 1557 Hi, Currently building, we are on a sloping block so we have from floor level to the roof in axon cladding. Below floor level to the ground I want to put brick facings /… 0 4495 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair All my inside walls are Fibre Cement & House has Steel frames... Tricky when one wants to hang pictures or do Wainscoating Paneling up the hallway. Those little nail… 0 3161 |