In-door tile installtion question

[C2 Turbo]

Hello All,

The guy that started laying the in-door tile, left the project half way done. Hard time finding a tile guy to finish the tile work.

Found one to finish installing the Marble tiles but the guy just can't seem to get them leveled right.

I am going to make him use a level tool with a bubble but not sure if that's sensitive enough or not?

Is there another tool that we can use where we know all the edges are smooth, with no raised/lowered tiles ?

I am concerned about laying the shower wall tiles too?

Thanks

 

[duneslider]

Laying a flat floor with marble and tight joints is a skilled learned by proper training and lots of practice. A level isn't gonna help him if he doesn't know what he is going...

You could use a lippage control system (MLT Tile Leveling System) but I am sure your tile guy isn't gonna want to invest in the system and I doubt you want to for one job either. Not cheap. If I was still doing it professionally I would get one to speed up production on these type of jobs. There are other leveling systems out there but they are all fairly pricey. I have used several and you can get the QEP one fairly inexpensive but it isn't as easy to use and is sort of a pain compared to others. Still, even with these tools you have to know what you are doing and be able to get it pretty darn close without it.

Seems odd a good installer would leave a job half way through but I guess crazy stuff happens.

 

[C2 Turbo]

Thanks for your prompt reply. Excellent and this is what I was looking for.

How about this Progress Profile tile leveling system? Seems simple and could/would work on both floor vs wall tiles.

What about the plastic pieces that are left behind when they are broken off, is that a problem?

Thanks

 

[duneslider]

The progress system works great, its one of the ones I like that doesn't require the gun(special tool to install). It still is pretty expensive all things considered. They break off down at the bottom so nothing is sticking up into the grout joint. Yes, it works for floors and walls. They all should work on floors or walls though.

Just like normal tile work, you still need to ensure full coverage under the tile. So, like I said before, your tile guys still needs to know what he is doing and not think this is going to make a crappy job good. You still have to get it pretty darn close before tightening these down.

 

[C2 Turbo]

The marble tile has a net thingy stuck on the underside. Once set/installed, though it's hard to take them off but it can be done.

The guy has taken off few tiles like that and then ended up sanding the underside smooth.

Is it OK to go ahead and install this tile without that net thingy?

Thanks

 

[duneslider]

That gives the stone stability. Marble is pretty soft and prone to cracking at that thickness. Not sure why you would need to remove that.

What is this being installed over? Cement board? How flat and smooth is the floor?

 

[C2 Turbo]

Good question.....On leveled ground floor and over the Schluter DITRA system.

http://www.schluter.com/schluter-us...ng-(DITRA)/Schluter®-DITRA-&-DITRA-XL/p/DITRA

 

[duneslider]

I gotta be honest, I can't think of a single reason you would need to/want to remove the mesh from the back of the tiles. With mosaics I would sometimes do it because the were not placed straight on the mesh so I had to hand straighten them all.

Seems to me something is not right if he needs to remove the mesh.

I am a big fan of ditra, the only underlayment I have used for years.

 

[Thezapper]

As far as laying the tiles flat the master levelling system works amazing it turns a diyer into a pro. The shims cost 20.00 a bag of 100 and the leveller/ spacers cost 20.00 for 250 pieces. The floor comes out flat!







Here's a little job I'm doing at home, I'm very happy with the results, you don't need the pliers that they sell you can just use your hands. I would never attempt to do this without the help of these spacers/levers.

 

[jhelrey]

I've never seen those spacers before.

Link to the installation directions, etc. so I can read something 100% completely useless to me at the moment?

 

[C2 Turbo]

I gotta be honest, I can't think of a single reason you would need to/want to remove the mesh from the back of the tiles.

I am a big fan of ditra, the only underlayment I have used for years.

He already has installed the tiles but quite a few tiles have lippage, the lines are not consistent not to mention chipped tiles.

Someone suggested try prying the tiles off and when he did, the tile would have the thinset stuck to it.

It's then that I saw him sanding the back side of the tile, which resulted in removing the mesh as well

Today I met with another tiler (super nice guy with English accent ) and I later told the builder to let the current master piece go.

I will try to take some pictures of his art work and this is a guy who claims, he's be laying tiles for 20+ years.

 

[duneslider]

I've never seen those spacers before.

Link to the installation directions, etc. so I can read something 100% completely useless to me at the moment?

Just google QEP Tile Leveling. The ones pictured have someone else's name on them but they are the same as the QEP version.

Mick the crazy italian invented the leveling system originally as the Tuscan Leveling System (you can google that too) and sold it and then invented a better version MLT Leveling System. All the other ones you see are a copy of some sort of his version. They all do basically the same thing, some are easier to use, some are faster, and prices are all over the board. The QEP type don't require a special tool and are pretty affordable but they can be hard on the fingers but for a small job that probably isn't a big deal but if you are doing hundreds of feet a day it gets old fast.

 

[duneslider]

He already has installed the tiles but quite a few tiles have lippage, the lines are not consistent not to mention chipped tiles.

Someone suggested try prying the tiles off and when he did, the tile would have the thinset stuck to it.

It's then that I saw him sanding the back side of the tile, which resulted in removing the mesh as well

Today I met with another tiler (super nice guy with English accent ) and I later told the builder to let the current master piece go.

I will try to take some pictures of his art work and this is a guy who claims, he's be laying tiles for 20+ years.

Sorry to hear of your bad luck. Hopefully, you can find a quality installer.

They do a lot more tile flooring in europe so a lot of great installer jump the pond to come here to set tile. I think we pay good tiles guys better on this side of the pond from what some have told me.