Tile baseboard?

PeteChristie · 07-11-2006, 11:59 AM

Hi, all.

I'm decided to do a bath re-modle myself... probably my first mistake, as I have NO experience.

I've a new ceramic floor in place and then decided to tile about 3 feet up the walls. I did one wall yesterday, and that's when I relized the floor isn't level. By time I finished the run (about 10 feet), I gained a 3/4 inch gap between the floor and the bottom wall tile.

I haven't a clue how to procede. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much.

Pete

R&D Tile · 07-11-2006, 02:49 PM

Just the first course or up 3 ft. also?

PeteChristie · 07-11-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R&D Tile

Just the first course or up 3 ft. also?

Well... I made all the tiles on the wall level/plumb. That's where my problem comes in. The floor "falls away" from the bottom course.

R&D Tile · 07-11-2006, 08:49 PM

Not much you can do now, you were supposed to see this before hand and start on the low side cutting in the rest to fit, or just leave out the bottom row and start 1/2 a tile up, then come back and cut in the bottom row.

A quarter round tile molding can cover it, but don't think it would look good.

Floorwizard · 07-11-2006, 10:58 PM

caulking will at least prevent moisture from being a factor.
visually, I have no clue what to do.

Bonus · 07-12-2006, 01:00 AM

I don't know if you can do this, the tile setters will let us know, but, how about another, perhaps contrasting, tile laid on the wall along the floor, ie not level but parallel? Maybe with a bullnose upper edge?

PeteChristie · 07-12-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonus

I don't know if you can do this, the tile setters will let us know, but, how about another, perhaps contrasting, tile laid on the wall along the floor, ie not level but parallel? Maybe with a bullnose upper edge?

I was wondering the same. Something like a baseboard treatment. Can tile be successfully fastened to tile?

PeteChristie · 07-12-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R&D Tile

...you were supposed to see this before hand and start on the low side cutting in the rest to fit, or just leave out the bottom row and start 1/2 a tile up, then come back and cut in the bottom row.

Sadly, I learned this a day too late.

Thanks for the info. I think there's another bath remodel or two in my future.

Pete

KUIPORNG · 07-12-2006, 10:57 AM

I learn from the book regarding tiling saying that, very import, The best layout is to have all tiles being at least half of its size... tiles against edges should never be whole tiles due to the leveling problem... anyhow... probably this talk is no practical use anymore for you... Just want to let everyone know, layout is extremely important for sucessful tiling job...

redline · 07-12-2006, 04:20 PM

Who installed the floor tile?
Is the wall tile level?

PeteChristie · 07-12-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redline

Who installed the floor tile?
Is the wall tile level?

That would be me. And yeah... the wall tiles are level.

redline · 07-12-2006, 07:04 PM

Is it an option to remove the floor tiles and then level the floor?

Did you notice the 3/4 drop in the floor before the floor tiles went down?

You could still cut the tiles to fit the slope area but it may be noticable.

Will this be an open area or will a vanity, cabinet or toilet be in this area?

If it is an open then it will be noticble and you may be able to buy some exterior plastic trim to install here. You could use caulk to adhere the plastic trim piece to the tile. I would taper the trim peice so that the slope is not as noticable. On end of the trim piece should be full width and then taper by 3/8".

Bonus · 07-13-2006, 01:52 AM

No-one has said why a tile base wouldn't work, I know that adhesives exist that will stick a tile to a tile, I've just never done it and don't know what the future issues may be. (expansion/contraction, movement) If you were careful with the glue you could grout the verticals and caulk the horizontal, and it might look pretty sharp. Comments?

J187 · 07-13-2006, 10:02 AM

I think this is the type of thing where if you want really good opinions, you've gotta come w/ a photo. Its too hard to visualize without. That said and without seeing the pics, I can't see why a tile base would like bad. I prefer the looks of them sometimes in fact.

Is there a gap throughout the whole wall? If its a small enough area, you may wan't to see if they make the tile you bought in a slightly larger size and replace the bottom wall tiles with those. They would be 3/4 larger than the other tiles, but I think it would blend in better than anything. Some of the tile I found at the store I went to came in like 10 diffrent sizes. Like 4x4, 5x5, 8x8, 10x10, etc. etc.

KUIPORNG · 07-13-2006, 10:37 AM

I agree with J187, if I understand him correctly, replacing the lower row of the wall tiles with bigger floor tiles (cut to fit) seems the best remedies to this problem... Try to level the floor seems overkill this small project, making a from small to too big... considering all the facilities in the bathroom, like toilet, sink, bathtub, shower...etc. may be affected... J187's suggestion seems make most sense and easy to do...