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Tile mistake

dockelly | Posted in General Discussion on May 3, 2006 03:56am

Hi All
I made a mistake with my tile job and wondered if you had a suggestion I may not have thought of. I placed an 8 x 10 wall tile, thinset onto durock and later discovered I should have cut it to allow for bullnose tile. Luckily there is only one tile and not a column of them. So my question is how to remedy the situation. The tile is firmly set, thinset is dry. I wonder if I can cut it with either a circular saw with a masonry blade, or a dremel tool. I have no problem removing the tile all together, but I’m not sure how easy it will be to clean the surface of the cement board, and figured the less I have to clean the more likely I’ll be successful. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin

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Replies

  1. User avater
    gdcarpenter | May 03, 2006 03:59am | #1

    I'd recommend cutting the grout around the tile, if you have already grouted, and breaking out the old tile. The thinset will not be that hard to remove from the Durock. Much easier to cut an new tile than to cut the old one in place, not to mention the dust.

    Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

    1. dockelly | May 03, 2006 04:07am | #2

      no grout yet, and would gladly sacrifice the tile. wasn't sure thinset would come off cement board easily.

      1. Rich | May 03, 2006 04:12am | #4

        I had to do this once and tried to break the tile.  Turned out the weakest link in the chain was the durock, big chunks of it were coming off with the tile and thinset.  But I patched the holes with thinset and tiled over it.

        1. KirkG | May 03, 2006 04:34am | #5

          Cut the body of the tile with a diamond blade if you have room for it. then under cut using the Fein Multi tool. If you just recently set it, you may be able to just pop off the tile. Patch the durock voids with a little thinset and then you are good to go.

        2. dockelly | May 03, 2006 04:34am | #6

          that's what I'm afraid of. I think I'll try the dremel, worse case scenario I end up taking the whole tile off anyway.

  2. User avater
    RichBeckman | May 03, 2006 04:11am | #3

    What gdcarpenter said.

    Rich Beckman

    Another day, another tool.

  3. User avater
    JeffBuck | May 03, 2006 04:39am | #7

    pop it ...

    the quicker the better.

     

    I use a shark-something or other ... japanese pry bar.

    has a little nail pulling cat's paw head ... and a nice wide/flat curved pry bar end.

    Sears sells them now ... about 6 or 8" long.

     

    tap tap tap the corner of the prybar maybe 1/3rd in from a corner ... tap tap tap ...

    usually pops any "pop-ible" tiles. Depending on conditions and TSet used ... even a coupla days can go by and you'll still get a successful pop. Most definitely next day service.

     

    and ... it'll either pop or crack ... so just bust it outta there ... and scrape all the TSet ridges flat as can be ... I use an old 1" wide chisel ... then either backbutter the new piece ... or ... preferably ... use a small similar notched trowel and trowel a new layer on.

    I prefer to trowel again ... as I tend to set the tiles proud of the existing when I backbutter.

     

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. dockelly | May 03, 2006 04:54am | #8

      did as you said. came off pretty easy, the thinset behind the tile was still damp, cleaned up really nice. start again tomorrow, thanks all for the help.
      Kevin

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | May 03, 2006 05:11am | #9

        man ... yer quick!

         

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. dockelly | May 03, 2006 05:34am | #10

          JeffYour all over this board! I've been reading other messages and you keep popping up. Makes me wonder, do you "hunt and peck" the keyboard, or do you know how to type? If yes, how and when did you learn?
          KevinPS just read my post and sounds like I'm being sarcastic, I'm not. I don't know how to type so I have been thinking of buying a "teach yourself typing" program.

          Edited 5/2/2006 10:38 pm ET by dockelly

          1. User avater
            IMERC | May 03, 2006 05:40am | #11

            they don't work...

            I can prove it..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

            Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          2. BryanSayer | May 04, 2006 12:13am | #16

            Don't worry, I took an ENTIRE YEAR of typing in high school. Manual typewriter. By the end of the year, I was up to the blazing speed of...24 words per minute!I got a C in the class. I think you had to get to 48 to get an A.The girl beside me was doing 60 plus.

          3. User avater
            IMERC | May 04, 2006 03:03am | #17

            I do 4 or 5wpm....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

            Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          4. WNYguy | May 04, 2006 03:06pm | #18

            Guess I'll continue the "tile-setting" to "typing" hijack here.

            I've worked in a couple newspaper newsrooms, and was always amazed at how many reporters and editors can't "touch type."  They have to look at the keyboard, using maybe two fingers from each hand.  These are folks who knew they were going to type for a living!

            Nowadays, the schools teach typing in grade school.  They spend a little time with printing and cursive, then go right to the keyboard ... at least in my kids' school district.

            The two most useful classes I took in high school were four semesters of mechanical drawing, and one semester of typing.  Managed 40wpm in high school, and have maintained that.  That one little skill has saved many HOURS over a lifetime.  I still have to look at the keyboard for numbers and symbols, though ... should've taken TWO semesters of typing!

            Allen

            Edited 5/4/2006 8:07 am ET by WNYguy

          5. BryanSayer | May 04, 2006 06:17pm | #19

            I still look for number and symbols too, and I did take the two semesters!Plus, I'm a statistician. You'd think I'd know where the numbers are, at least plus or minus 2.5%...

          6. User avater
            JeffBuck | May 03, 2006 05:48am | #12

            I knew nothing about typing till I got the first computer ...

            shortly there after I found this place.

             

            been ... maybe 6 or 8 yrs?

             

            anyways ... I hunt and peck ... kinda ... I taught myself. My wife can't stand to watch ... but she'll admit my "self taught method" is quite effective ... for me.

            Pretty much "middle fingers" ... with some thumbs , fore and ring fingers thrown in.

            I gotta half-start at the keyboard to compose these masterpieces!

             

            not bad for a drummer ... maybe I'll pick up a guitar?

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

          7. User avater
            gdcarpenter | May 03, 2006 05:50am | #13

            I call it 'Eagle' typing - circle and strike.Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

          8. dockelly | May 03, 2006 05:52am | #14

            I'm the same. When I see my secretaries type, I think I should learn, sure would save time in the long run. Thanks for the tile help. Calling it a night, no need to reply.Kevin

          9. atrident | May 04, 2006 09:02pm | #22

            Dang,you use that many fingers? you are good, and havent made too many mistakes on the table saw.

          10. User avater
            McDesign | May 04, 2006 09:05pm | #23

            Speakin' o' that, I took my 8-yr old daughter for her first ride in a manual-transmissioned car. 

            She watched closely and said, "dady, was this car designed for aliens?  It has five things to do and you only have four limbs"

            LOL, the sweetie!

            Forrest

          11. ClaysWorld | May 03, 2006 10:55pm | #15

            They do work.

             I used a program called Mavis Bacon teaches Typing. My computer programer buddy gave it to me a couple of years back.

             I spent one month at about 10 to 20 minutes a day for that month. At the end of the month I could type about 20-25 wpm. from there on it's just a matter of continuing to practice the format. It makes it so much easier! Knowing the keyboard and symbols.

             It was a very early program- like # 2 and last time I looked it was like #9. It a small time investment to get a great return- now if I could just spll. But spell check helps.Or get to use your word processing program and it can self correct.

          12. User avater
            McDesign | May 04, 2006 07:48pm | #20

            I've got that same Mavis CD - I'll have to finally try it, now that you had success with it. 

            Forrest

          13. ClaysWorld | May 04, 2006 08:55pm | #21

            Since this is a tile thread I'll keep on subject.

             So you get done with a week or two of tiling and realize why you just want to do it on a per project basis. IE. your fingers are cracking and splitting from the water and cement. So you decide this is the best excuse to lay low and let your fingers heal.

            And what do you propose to fill the time with----typing class.

             See fingers feel better already.

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