Harry,how you doing?
Hey,that job looks great.Like the wall niche.Personally,I enjoy installing floor tile on bathroom walls,practical too.

You say you used Durock.I prefer the concrete backer-board with the foam inside such as Unipan brand with the Edgetech sides.This stuff cuts so easily and straight with a plain old utility knife.
Are there any disadvantages to using the board with the foam in it?As compared to the Wonderboard or Durock brands?Also,I find that with the board I mentioned,you can screw near the edges without it crumbling or splitting like the Wonderboard does.

Hey, where are Harry's photos? I don't see anything.

John,

There's a small picture on the homepage cover that you have to click on..you don't see it?It's a bathroom project.

Hi John and Ron ....
Those tiles were installed for a family of lawyers, so I hope they stay on the wall for a long time.

Ron ... I never used the "Unipan" brand although I've probably walked by it many times but maybe I'll give it a try sometime. Who supplies it?

Hi Harry
That's a beautiful tile job you've done there...especially like the angles on the tub deck....what's your secret?...no not about the tiling..how do you manage to get someone else to grout! :rolleyes:

Brian

Someone else to grout?? .... that's easy Bri, he's my younger brother and I use what all big brothers use to get things done ..... "physical violence".

Ahh...that explains it...I have a bad back and my older brother is a chiropractor..that's guilt for you eh?...so...how many tile did it take to cut the hole for the water tap?...pretty close to the edge of the tile to get in one try...especially with porcelain...or did the stuff cut easily? I usually cut a square hole with the water saw, then score a circle with the mini-grinder. and then nip out the rest. It that how you do it..or do you have a tried and true method or tool I don't know about?
Brian

Bri ... heard about your computer virus over at John's site, I had the same thing going on with mine too. Seems these social-idiots have nothing better to do with their time than to send viruses?

Anyway ....
The tiles in the photos were very hard material but my 4 1/4" grinder did it in record time. I just cut a circle out and finish the edge from the back of the tile (all with the grinder). The smaller holes were done with a drill bit and they took the longest to do.

I wish I had a better camera because usually the light is bad in these places and photos hardly ever turn out.

Harry,

Hate to say the words,"Home Depot",but they carry a lightweight concrete board(with the little chunks of foam in it)by National Gypsum Co. called Perma-base.Comes in 3x5 and 4x8 as 1/2" only.About a dollar a sq.ft.

My tile supplier used to sell this and before that the Unipan brand which I think was from Georgia-Pacific but they switched to Wonderboard so that they would have a different brand than H.D. and could sell it cheaper.So I've been buying Wonderboard but don't really like handling or cutting it.It's like Durock.

Harry,

The H.D. where I saw the backerboard I mentioned is the 24 hr. one at St.Clair and Weston(the old stockyards).Don't know if they all carry it.

By the way,would you know of a place that sells 1/4" backerboard?I keep hearing about this size but have never seen it.Have run into a few occasions where I could have used it.

Ron
I've used the National Gypsum Co. product which I think is the same as the Durock ... just your run of the mill CBU.

Both companies (heck , they may be the same company for all I know) make 1/2' and 1/4' as well as a flexable cementboard, but very few suppliers carry the 1/4" .... you can order it though. I don't use it much except for counter-tops.

I've been talking to Cashway in Barrie, Ontario and they are trying to get into tiles on a grander scale and are willing to bring in supplies by bulk at a competitive price ..... so approach your local supplier to see what they can get for you.

Yeah, good lookin' work. But I knew it would be before I looked. One thing, though. I ain't fallin' for that old "using the beer box for a bucket" line.

I hope you don't mind my stealing that lovely photo of you and posting it in our album on my board. Ive got to have your permission, so I'll steal it now just in case you say no.

Your friend,
John the Clepto

Harry,

My local supplier is my father and brother's store in Aurora;Tilemaster.They don't respond too quickly to my special requests,such as tools from Germany and Italy.They've never had a request for 1/4" backerboard.

If I ever need it,I'll ask for your connections to get the stuff ordered.

Regarding the differing concrete backer boards,Durock and Wonderboard are dense and heavy whereas a board such as Perma-base is lighter and has little white chunks of foam distributed in its matrix.Have you never used this type?Also has wrapped edges,"Edgetech" it reads on the edge of the board.Find that these are easier to cut and to fasten.

Still would like to know if the heavier board are considered to be better and why.

By the way,John is right,the Home Depot bucket in your photo...not good.

John... you can take whatever photo you want, but if it's the one with me standing there, make sure you use your photo enhancement program .... I need all the help I can get.

Ron, I think John was talking about my beer bucket, I mean, .... grout bucket. I had to use my cooler because I was all out of buckets.
I don't know what to tell you about 1/4" vs 1/2" cbu except I have always gone with the "thicker is better" theory.

Next time I'm down in Aurora I'll stop in Tilemaster and say hi.

Geeez, I came all the way over here thinking there was gonna be more pichers of Harry with Home Depot buckets and maybe other HD stuff.

Oh, well. Going back to JB. They won't let me in the private club section over here anyway, so my feelings is hurt. I do set the occasional tile now and again, ya know!

Hey CX .... give me a chance to set it up, I just got here. Man, you've got the patience of a builder. Wait a minute ... you are a builder.

Harry

Everyone from JB is raising hell cos they can't get into the secret forum. Better watch out, they'll wreck the place and drink all your beer.

Rob