| |
Posts Tagged ‘cracked tile<’
Mr-Skill often baulks at situations requiring him to drill holes through tiles, simply because it is such a risky task. The alternatives are to use contact adhesive or two-sided tape, neither of which are ideal in the long term. Fred is one of our regular London tilers, and he advises that drilling through tiles is quite straightforward once you know what to do.
Your Choice
Essentially, there are two safe methods of making holes through your tiles. Well, you could add a third if you decide to rather find a tiler and leave the problem to them! The first method is to locate your holes precisely on the grout line that separates one tile from the other. The other way is more nerve-racking, because it involves drilling through the tile-face itself.
A somewhat nervous Mr-Skill says that before you choose one of these two options, make sure you have a spare tile to replace the broken or cracked one should things go wrong. Nothing is more eye-catching than looking at a broken or cracked tile, or having to use a mismatched replacement one.
Decision Time
Should you find that you have no back-up spares, you need to choose between using the grout line, and drilling through your lovely tiles. You could of course elect to get a tiling quote to sort the problem, but that could prove quite expensive when all you need is a couple of holes!
Enter Fred Again!
Fred is against using grout lines for drilling holes, and that is because you have limited space in which to work, and grout is not the ideal medium to hold a plug and screw either. He goes on to say, “Imagine the consequences of the bit jamming in the grout line as you drill. Rather mark up your holes as desired on the tile face itself. Then, you need to test to see that the tiles you plan to drill through don’t have air space where they attach to the wall. A simple tap with your knuckle will soon confirm if there are any hollow gaps to be avoided.” Thanks for the tips, Fred!
Easy Does It
Once your holes are marked (and checked), stick two pieces of magic tape over each marked hole in the form of a cross. This is to stop the tile from crazing as you drill. Gently tap a pointed punch to create a small guide hole for you to drill out further with a new masonry bit. Now drill slowly and make your hole to the desired depth. Once you have drilled through the tile – you should feel this happen – you can safely use the hammer function on your power tool.
Tags: adhesive, cracked tile, depth, drill, drilling, find a tiler, grout, guide, hammer, hole, london tiler, plug, power tool, replacement tile, safety, screw, spare, tap, tile, tiling quote
Posted in Project Advice, Tiling & Flooring | Comments Off
Wise old Mr-Skill has often come across water-damaged ceilings, and he rightly advises that the first thing to do is to find and repair the source of the problem. It may be a leaking pipe in the loft, or perhaps a cracked tile on your roof. Once the cause of the problem’s sorted, the damaged ceiling should be allowed to dry out naturally. If it has suffered significant damage, you may need to replace that whole section entirely – simply find a roofing expert right here on Mr-Skill.
Weighing your Options
If you are going to go the route of a DIY repair, there are some important considerations. Maybe that’s all too difficult for you, in which case you can find a painter or decorator here on Mr-Skill. Ceiling and roof work in general are difficult areas to work with, and that’s why it is advisable to call in the experts.
Steps to Ceiling Recovery 
- A proper repair of the damaged area is essential, as simply leaving the moisture to evaporate will not prevent further leaks. Assuming that the source of the leak has been eliminated – this could mean getting a painting quote afterwards – you can now commence the recovery process.
- If you can access the area above the ceiling board, prepare to inspect the area from on top. Drying out the water-damaged area is important, and there is no real substitute for time and some movement of air in the affected space. Attempting to paint too soon will simply result in the water marks re-appearing through the fresh paint, no matter how many coats you apply.
- If the damaged ceiling has severe blackening or water staining, try applying bleach to the area on a sponge or cloth. If the old paint starts to peel or crack, you must scrape the entire area until you get back to raw ceiling board.
- Once the ceiling panel has dried out thoroughly, and you have removed as many of the water marks as possible, apply a liberal coat of universal undercoat. Allow this to dry properly too.
- After a day or two, you can go ahead and apply a good quality ceiling paint with a roller. Allow to dry naturally, and apply as many coats as necessary to cover the old problem zone.
Good as New
One of our regular London painters tells us that he never ceases to be amazed at what water damage can do to a ceiling and how difficult it can be to put right. After all, nobody enjoys walking into a room with a blackened ceiling!
Tags: access, ceiling, ceilings, considerations, cracked tile, DIY, find a painter decorator, leak, leaking, leaking pipe, London painter-and-decorator, moisture, movement, naturally, painter, painting decorating quote, roof work, undercoat, water marks, water-damaged
Posted in Painting & Decorating, Project Advice, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | Comments Off
A leak anywhere in your roof is more than just an irritation. That is because if the source of the water intrusion is not quickly and smartly fixed, you could soon face problems that are more serious. Most conventional roofs are a latticework of timber beams, brandering and protective membrane over which the tiles align to offer protection from the elements. What starts out as a small leak can turn into something expensive if not quickly fixed.
 Find a roofing-gutters-and-drainage expert on Mr-Skill Mr-Skill correctly states that a problem roof left unrepaired could end up as a major roof job or even a replacement. He says you should not take a chance – rather find a roofing expert to come and assess the extent of the problem. Water has a strange habit of running wherever it likes, so quite often the source of the leak may be tricky to locate. Roofing experts are skilled and trained to know all that there is to do with issues in your attic space.
The Challenge
Roof repair is not something you should take on lightly yourself. Apart from working in a confined space, it is also dark and airflow is restricted too. One false move could lead to a serious injury or damage to a ceiling in your home. Looking for the problem is quite in order though, because this will enable you to relay your findings, so that a roofing quote or estimate can follow. However, most experts are going to want to check themselves just to make sure they are quoting correctly.
Check the Roof outside First
Sometimes a leak can be as simple as a cracked or broken tile, and it may be possible to see this from outside your home. You will already have an idea roughly where the leak is in your roof, so a sight check may confirm the problem area without too much trouble.
Climbing on the Roof 
If you feel confident enough to get up on your roof, you will have a chance to observe the leak area from close quarters. Remember to wear non-slip shoes and to position your ladder safely, preferably with someone to hold it for you while you climb up. Fred is one of our regular London roofing experts, and he has been on more roofs than most of us have had hot dinners. He has always been cautious though, and that is because he treads carefully while up on a roof checking for problems.
Tags: brandering, broken roof tile, cracked tile, estimate, find a roofing-gutters-and-drainage expert, ladder, latticework, leak, london roofing-gutters-and-drainage specialist, membrane, quote, repair, ridge tiles, roof leak, roofing-gutters-and-drainage quote, safety, tile, timber beam, water
Posted in Project Advice, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | Comments Off
Posted in Tiling & Flooring on Jul 19
It’s quite amazing how even knowing about a cracked tile in the home can have us wondering just what to do about it. One of our London tilers summed it up quite nicely when he mentioned how his colleagues seldom thought to offer the homeowner a couple of extra tiles to hold as spares for future breakages. Easy for him, we hear you say, but how difficult is repairing a tile in any case? The answer – quite simple, if you observe the following advice offered by Mr-Skill: 
Taking Stock
Throwing your arms up in frustration is not going to solve the problem, but following these simple steps is likely to have you smiling. Even so, some people are simply not motivated to make repairs like this themselves. If this describes you, rather find a tiler to do the job for you. Mr-Skill has a number of experts lined up. They have all been pre-screened, and the good news is that there are some great discounts on normal prices but you ought to move fast!
What You’ll Need
A special epoxy glue and catalyst set – buy this at any hardware store, but make sure you choose one suitable for ceramic tiles. Also have a putty knife or paint scraper available to mix and apply the resin.
Buy a small sample tin or bottle of oil-based paint to match as closely as possible the tile colour. Oh, and get yourself a small tin of clear polyurethane lacquer too, not forgetting a fine-artist’s brush. If this all sounds complicated, you could also get a tiling repair quote on Mr-Skill.
Step 1
Clean the tile and surrounding area thoroughly, and make sure the wall or floor surface is dry before you start the repair.
Step 2
Mix sufficient epoxy glue and resin together, observing the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Now fill the crack with the mix, using the paint scraper or putty knife.
Step 3
Wipe off any surplus above the crack line and leave the repair to dry completely.
Step 4
Now you can carefully paint over the repair and leave this to dry as well. 
Finally, it is advisable to apply a coat of polyurethane lacquer over the painted area and leave it to dry. Job completed, and it’s time to pop the kettle on and make a nice cuppa to enjoy while you admire your handiwork. Don’t forget to thank Mr-Skill for this wonderful free advice.
Tags: brush, catalyst, clean, cracked tile, epoxy, find a tiling expert, fixing, floor, glue, homeowner, lacquer, london tiler, paint, paint scraper, polyurethane, putty knife, resin, tile, tiling quote, wall
Posted in Tiling & Flooring | Comments Off
Posted in Tiling & Flooring on Sep 01
No matter how hard one tries to avoid it, eventually a tile gets cracked or broken. This is why tillers in London and other professionals always leave a few spare tiles behind after they have finished. A damaged tile is not that difficult to replace as long as you work carefully, and avoid damaging adjacent ones as well. If you are nervous or “all thumbs” though, it could be wiser to call for tiler quotes on Mr-Skill.
The following method applies to all ceramic tiles, whether on the floor or walls, or even on the ceiling:
o Wear safety glasses – tiles can shatter and the shards are sharp as glass. Protect the surrounding tiles with cardboard secured with tape.
o Carefully rake out the grout around the damaged tile using a carbide-tipped tool designed for scoring – your local tile shop should sell these. Be careful not to chip the edges of surrounding undamaged tiles. The tool you use must be narrower than the grouting.
o Using a new 6 mm masonry bit not set on impact, drill a series of holes through the tile in suitable places. Work a flat screwdriver into the holes, then lever out the pieces carefully. Do not rush the job. If you do, you will soon find out why you are wearing eye protection.
o Tidy up the place where the tile used to be, using a small hammer and a large flat screwdriver. Be very careful not to break another tile. Lay the new tile loosely in the space from time to time to make sure that it lies evenly, slightly below the level of the other tiles.
If the above scares you, rather do not attempt the job. It could be wiser to find a tiler at mr-skill.co.uk.
o Buy the smallest tub of pre-mix tile cement that you can find. This is the glue that tillers use to glue tiles underneath a lintel. Better still, ask a friendly tiler for the small amount you need.
o Apply cement, both to the tile, and to the surface where it will lay. After scoring the cement with a notched trowel, gently bed the tile. You may have to take it up to add or remove cement – the idea is to bed it firmly down and level with the other tiles. Using a piece of soft wood, adjust the tile so that the grout space is even. Barricade the tile, so that nobody can walk on it.
o The next day, mix a little matching grout and fill the gaps around the new tile that you fitted. When it is no longer tacky, wipe off the excess with a dry cloth, smooth off the grout with a wet finger, and the job is almost done. You just need to buff the tiles up a few hours later.
Tags: bed, broken, buff, cement, chioped tile, chip, chipped, cracked, cracked tile, drill, find a tiler, glue, grout, lay, pre mix, rake, replace broken tile. broken tile, tile, tiler quotes, tilers london
Posted in Tiling & Flooring | Comments Off
|
Subscribe to our RSS Feed