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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