tiles or skirting boards first?

[Calm]

I am getting a room built by a builder.

He is completing everything, apart from the floor tiles. I am going to try laying them myself.

Mark, the option of tiles or skirting first does not matter.

You state you are going to do the tiling.
What size tiles are you using?
How are you going to cut the tiles where required?
Do you know how to start the room - lay it out?
Have you ever laid or cut ceramic tiles before?

The answer to these questions should let you decide which is the best way for you.

I used to do tiling at weekends with my BIL and we always had the skirting on first and the painters had finished. Usually we were the last tradies in the house.

[Buggermedumplings]

Mark, the option of tiles or skirting first does not matter.

You state you are going to do the tiling.
What size tiles are you using?
How are you going to cut the tiles where required?
Do you know how to start the room - lay it out?
Have you ever laid or cut ceramic tiles before?

The answer to these questions should let you decide which is the best way for you.

I used to do tiling at weekends with my BIL and we always had the skirting on first and the painters had finished. Usually we were the last tradies in the house.

Excellent and most important point when tiling. We spent a number of hours measuring and laying out the floor tiles so we would have to cut against each wall, end up with most of the tile around door jambs and looked ok down the long hallways etc. We also had to take consideration of WC/Bathroom wall tiles (As they are the same) so making sure they suited bath hob, shower base took time, but all worked out perfectly.

[silentC]

Tiles are polished porcellin 500x500 so as long as you lay them all level, should not have gaps.

You should have a gap every 500mm then

I went around and did an inspection of mine on the weekend. I found one place where a hairline crack has developed between the grout and the wall. This is at the front door threshold where there is no skirting to cover it anyway. I must say, the tiler did a very neat job of getting the cuts consistent against the skirting.

My tiles are 500mm square too. They're not slate but they do have an uneven surface, like most non-porcelain tiles I guess.

I still think you could have done yours either way. If the grout, tiles and skirting are all the same colour, no-one would ever pick the difference. I'd imagine that if you're fussy enough to lay them all level, you would be fussy enough to cut them all neatly as well.

Maybe we should post pictures of the results?

[Buggermedumplings]

You should have a gap every 500mm then

I went around and did an inspection of mine on the weekend. I found one place where a hairline crack has developed between the grout and the wall. This is at the front door threshold where there is no skirting to cover it anyway. I must say, the tiler did a very neat job of getting the cuts consistent against the skirting.

My tiles are 500mm square too. They're not slate but they do have an uneven surface, like most non-porcelain tiles I guess.

I still think you could have done yours either way. If the grout, tiles and skirting are all the same colour, no-one would ever pick the difference. I'd imagine that if you're fussy enough to lay them all level, you would be fussy enough to cut them all neatly as well.

Maybe we should post pictures of the results?

True, it was less work though as I did not need to cut all tiles against the walls mm perfect (I needed to save time as I laid close to 250m2!). I'll take a pic and post.

[silentC]

Ah, so what you're all saying is that it's a way of covering up sloppy workmanship?

To be honest, I've never done a large area. I didn't watch the tiler do it, but he is known for being very fast. I don't think it would take him any longer to cut them at 452mm +/- 0mm than at 450mm +/- 2mm. I suppose it's all a matter of practice.

I'll get some pics of mine, then we can compare...

[rwbuild]

IT's not uncommon to put down mdf in wet areas - especially next to tiled showers as if there's any leak it will show the signs well before major damage is done to anything else.

Thats the most stupid thing I have ever heard in my 55 yrs in the building industry!!!!!