Tiling

28 articles

• Bathroom Floor Preparation for Tiling: Substrate Assessment, Levelling and Waterproofing
• Bathroom Floor Tile Layout Planning
  BS 5385-3:2014 floor tiling; set out from visible centreline, no cuts <½ tile at perimeter; R10/R11/PTV ≥36 wet area slip; falls 1:40-1:80 to wet-room gully
• Bathroom Waterproofing and Tanking: When Is It Required and How to Do It
  Bathroom waterproofing and tanking: when required, liquid vs sheet membrane systems, wet room construction, common failures
• Essential Tiling Tools: Cutters, Spacers, Levelling Clips & Grout Floats
  Essential tiling tools: notched trowel selection by tile size, wet saw vs score-and-snap, levelling clip systems, grout float types
• External Tiling: Frost-Proof Tiles, Flexible Adhesive & Drainage Falls
  External tiling: R11 minimum slip resistance, frost-proof tiles, S2 flexible adhesive, movement joints at 3m max, drainage falls
• Floor Tile Adhesive Selection Guide: Flexible, Rapid-Set and Large-Format Systems
• Floor-to-Wall Movement Joints: Schlüter Profiles, Silicone in Internal Angles and Joint Frequency
  Floor-to-wall movement joints: silicone in all internal angles (no grout), Schlüter Dilex profile range, 3m internal movement joint frequency, BS 5385-1/3 requirements, expansion at heated screed perimeter
• Grout Repair and Regrouting: Removal Tools, Joint Depth and Colour Matching
  Grout repair and regrouting: oscillating multi-tool with grout rake attachment, minimum 20mm rake depth, RCS dust hazard (COSHH), colour matching new vs existing, BS 8000-11 workmanship standard
• Grout Selection Guide: Joint Width, Flexible vs Standard and Anti-Mould Options
• Grout Types and Selection: Cementitious, Epoxy, Joint Widths and Wet Areas
  Grout selection per BS EN 13888: CG2 W cementitious for most work, RG epoxy for pools and commercial; sanded vs unsanded by joint width (3mm threshold); anti-mould additive for wet areas; sanitary silicone for perimeter joints
• How do you install large format tiles correctly in the UK?
  Large format install: 10-12mm notch trowel, 95% floor / 100% wet area BS 5385 coverage, 1mm levelling clips, EN 14411 bow tolerance, 1/3 maximum offset
• How do you install mosaic tiles correctly in the UK?
  Mosaic install: mesh vs paper-faced sheets, white C2 adhesive for glass/marble, 4-6mm fine notch, unsanded grout for ≤3mm joints, joint alignment between sheets
• How do you install outdoor porcelain paving tiles in the UK?
  Outdoor 20mm porcelain: ≤0.5% absorption (BIa), R11/PTV 36+ slip, 4:1 mortar bed + slurry primer, BS 7533 paving design, 1:80 falls, pedestal systems, C2S2 adhesive
• How Do You Plan and Set Out a Bathroom Tile Layout? Working from Centre and Handling Cuts
  Centre-line setting out, half-tile avoidance at slivers, movement joints at internal corners (silicone not grout), BS 5385-3 joint spacing (4.5m floor, 3m walls)
• How do you remove tiles without damaging the substrate or the tiles?
  Tile removal methods: multi-tool/SDS/heat gun, salvage rare on modern C2 adhesive, plasterboard always destroyed, cement backer salvageable, RCS WEL 0.1mg/m³ + FFP3
• How do you set out and install a herringbone tile pattern in the UK?
  Herringbone layout: 2:1 plank ratio, centre-line setting out, 15-25% cut waste, 90° vs 45° variants, common errors (wall start, no centre check)
• Large Format Tile Installation (600mm+): Anti-Fracture Membrane, Back-Buttering, Minimum Bed Depth and Levelling Systems
  BS 5385-1:2018 Annex E for tiles ≥600mm; substrate flatness ±3mm/2m; C2 S1/S2 adhesive; ≥95% bed coverage; back-buttering mandatory; uncoupling membrane over anhydrite/UFH; lippage ≤1mm with levelling clip systems; movement joints 8-10m floors (5m over UFH); cutting workflow for 1200mm+ slabs
• Large Format Tile Installation: Substrate Prep, Adhesive & Levelling Systems
  Large format tiles (600mm+): back-buttering, notched trowel size (12mm for 600x600), levelling clip systems, BS 5385 substrate flatness
• Mosaic Tile Installation: Sheet Handling, Cutting Around Obstacles & Grouting
  Mosaic tile installation: mesh vs paper-faced sheets, white adhesive for glass, unsanded grout for 2mm joints, epoxy grout option
• Natural Stone Tiling: Sealing, Adhesive Selection & Movement Joints
  Natural stone tiling: porosity testing, impregnating sealer before grouting, white cement adhesive for light stone, movement joints
• Swimming Pool and Spa Tiling: Vitrified Mosaics, Epoxy Grout and Water Chemistry Compatibility
  Pool and spa tiling: vitrified porcelain ≤0.5% water absorption (EN ISO 10545-3), epoxy grout mandatory, C2TE S2 flexible adhesive, white cement for light tiles, pool empty 28 days before grouting — NEEDS FIX
• Tile Adhesive Selection: BS EN 12004 Classes, Substrates and Coverage
  Tile adhesive classification per BS EN 12004: C cementitious / D dispersion / R reaction resin; class 2 + S1/S2 deformable for floors and UFH; trowel notch matched to tile size; solid bed and back-buttering for floors, wet areas and large format
• Tile Cutting Techniques: Manual Cutters, Wet Saws, Holes and Mitres
  Tile cutting techniques: manual scribe-and-snap for ceramic, wet diamond saw for porcelain, bridge saw for large format and stone; diamond hole saws (wet) for porcelain pipe holes; mitres at 45°; HSE silica dust control mandatory
• Tile Movement and Expansion Joints: BS 5385 Spacing and Perimeter Detailing
  Movement joints per BS 5385: perimeter joints 3–6mm at all edges, intermediate every 4.5m wall / 8m floor, structural joints mirror substrate; flexible silicone or polyurethane sealant (never grout); proprietary profiles (Schluter Dilex, Genesis)
• Tiling Over Underfloor Heating: Flexible Adhesive, Decoupling Mats & Grout
  Tiling over UFH: flexible S1/S2 adhesive, decoupling mat over screed, 6mm movement joints, heating commissioning before tiling
• What Thermostat Should You Fit with Electric Underfloor Heating and How Is It Wired?
  Floor/air/dual sensor types, Part L requirements, IP ratings for bathroom zones, RCD protection, BS 7671 Section 753, 16A load switching, dimmer incompatibility
• When Should You Use Epoxy Grout and How Is It Applied?
  Epoxy grout (BS EN 13888 RG): 45–90 min pot life, <0.1% absorption, 4–6× cementitious cost, BS 5385-3 install, mandatory for pools / commercial kitchens, cleaning haze critical
• Which tile backer board should you use for UK tiling jobs?
  Backer board selection: cement board (HardieBacker), foam board (Marmox/Wedi waterproof), gypsum H1 (wall only), marine ply unsuitable as direct backer, OSB underlay only