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FAQs

I get asked many questions and some of these tend to get asked more than others. In an attempt to help you with a few things people often ask I've compiled a list of the questions with my answers.

If you have a question that's not addressed here please click here to ask me anything you want to know.

Q: Where do tiling jobs go wrong?

The number one cause is failure to follow the adhesive manufacturers' instructions. Read them. The manufacturer has probably spent years finding out the best way to use his product. "Professional" tilers are the worst for this because they "know it all".

Surface preparation is essential. Failing to clean the surface properly leaves a weak link in the system. Kitchen grease and bathroom scum have virtually no tensile strength and guarantee a failure.

The next most common reason for failure is tiling tight into corners. All buildings suffer some degree of movement, and if the tiling is tight the tiles will develop stress cracks and "blow" off the wall. It is quite possible that the tiles will stay there held by the grout but completely free of the wall. Go into a few pub loos and knock on the tiles. IMO about a quarter of all the premises I visited (for research purposes, honest) had this problem to some degree or another. The tiles will sound "hollow" and may have lots of near- parallel cracks. The secret is to leave a gap of about 6mm around the edges of the wall and grout it. The grout is compressible enough to accommodate the movement. You could use silicone sealant, particularly if the area is going to experience a lot of water.

Q: Can cement irritate my hands?

Most bags of cement sold a warning to this effect. Some people are rather more sensitive to the free lime than others. It can be especially irritating if you get it in your eyes. I am not aware of any long-term health problems, but it is possible that cracked skin will leave you vulnerable to dermatitis. Speaking personally, I find a bit of quality hand-cream after mortar work stops my hands going flaky.

Q: What is a Rawlplug?

It is a fastening which allows you to fix objects to brick, masonry, or concrete. A hole is drilled into the floor or wall, an insert (now normally plastic) is put into the hole, and a screw is driven into the insert. The screw expands the insert sideways, and it grips the inside of the hole tightly.

Q: I need to remove some screws that have strange shaped heads, what do I need?

If the screws have a star shaped centre, then these are TORX or star screws. Most of the standard "screwdriver bit sets" contain 3 or more of the most popular size. If the heads have a small "pip" inside, they will be security screws. You will need a Security Bit Set. SCREWFIX sell a standard sized 33 bit set (D18983) at around £10, but for £15 you can get the 75mm long set (D95315). These are better for removing recessed screws.

Q: What is PTFE Tape?

It is a thin white tape, that is wrapped around pipe threads (usually on radiator tails tapered threads, or occasionally on an olive that is giving trouble), to stop leaks and seepage. Wrap in direction the part or cap-nut turns.