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A real Amateur's tiling confession

1762 Views 11 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Meanderthal
Now I never called myself a real Jack of all trades but i've completed a lot of really fine remodeling around my 125 year old home. Proud to show off my work.
But I thought that floor tiling was a snap well it almost is!
First mistake was assuming the floor was really, really level after laying down cement board. After reading all the helpful hints and watching all most every you tube about tiling I thought man I can do this. I laid my straight edge 6 footer and could see some small space under the edge " but " not much.maybe 1/8 or a hair more.
I was good to go? First mistake I was laying 6" x 24" porcelain tile when working with this type of tile, man you better be flat, real flat but this was not the real mistake I made. I was able to lay my tiles pretty flat it took a lot of re fitting and beefing up areas. Here is the real kicker no where on all the You tubes was it mentioned to be very carful of the razor sharp edges of the tiles.
Here is my error or stupidity as, I call it. I would plop the tiles in their right place and then a wiggle here and another there. using my fingers as tools to move the tiles into the position and then insert the spacer to keep the grout lines straight and true to my chalk line. I only had 45 sq. ft to do but when I had cut, fitted and adjusted the tiles into a nice pattern all was well " EXCEPT "my finger tips were shaved to where I was bleeding on five fingers. two or three on each hand. The razor edges slowly removed my skin a layer at a time.
So I say to you beginners ware a pair of tight fitting gloves.
For the next I, guess 5 or 6 days anything I touch or bump with my finger tips hurts like hell real sensitive pain and bleeds. do I ware a band aid yes sometimes but cuts like these need air to heal and beside washing your hands and off falls the bandages.

Live and learn Robert 75:vs_OMG:
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:vs_smile:What doesn't kill you will make you stronger!

Those long thin plank tiles are difficult to lay---
Sounds like you triumphed in the end though? The pain and suffering is only temporary. The tile glory is forever.
Sounds like you triumphed in the end though? The pain and suffering is only temporary. The tile glory is forever.
Thanks today's better
robert 75
Sounds like you triumphed in the end though? The pain and suffering is only temporary. The tile glory is forever.
Holy Cow Brettman
I know a match takes the fun out of these projects.

robert 75:surprise:
Thinset (and all portland cement based products) are caustic and will do a fine job of eating your finger tips even without sharp tile edges. And yes, I learned this the same way you did.
Those $5 packs of nitrile dipped gloves you find at the big box stores? Those things are GREAT.
Good thing floor tiling isn't a snap or I would be out of a job.
If you're not drawing blood, your heart's not really in it.
If you're not drawing blood, your heart's not really in it.
Hey I love it, Like my coach said in My football days " I don't see any blood get back in there "
I never knew who's blood he was referring too?
robert75:vs_worry:
I never knew who's blood he was referring too?
robert75:vs_worry:


That's because it didn't matter!



When I did my first tiling project, I wish I would've known that you don't need to let RapidSet slake for 15 minutes before spreading! Boy, did I waste a lot of thinset and buckets! Fortunately, the tile is holding well, after a few years.
I have grout induced corrosion burns on my fingertips right now.

I started working with painters gloves on but they wore through right away and by the time I felt the pain it was already too late. I googled it and found a discussion on another forum where some pros said that vinegar would neutralize the process but two of my fingers were already bleeding and I suspect it would have been a painful experiment.
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